4440rk:: Ethal's Visit To Deadwoon, SD circa 1892
quote: 4440rk:
zipperzap: What was the sheriffs name, that was in Deadwoos? I would be very interested to know. Great family history
Ethel Maye McCoy at about 18
Her eldest brother Milton was Sheriff Milton McCoy, or McCay ... maybe even McKay. That has posed a problem for my dad's family since shortly before and after the Civil War.
When dad's family came to America, in 1830, from Canada, they founded Buchanan, Michigan. Most used the Scot surname McCay - they came down from Upper Canada - a few used the surname McKay (don't ask me why - don't know - probably had some past problems up in the Hudson Bay area ... they were a pretty 'active group of lads!'
Anyway, shortly after the Civil War, where Ethel's dad, Herman McCay fought with the Western Iron Brigade - first with the 19th Indiana that was combined with a few other Western units and into the Black Hats - later under Joe Hooker, in I Corps, Army of the Potomac.
After the war he wanted to work for the Union Pacific Railroad and changed his name to McCoy, since McCoy was Irish and the railroad (Union Pacific) was only hiring Irish and black laborers (following this?) - when the railroad was built he sent for his family and they came west and settled first in Nebraska. Milton was the eldest of the five McCoy boys - Ethel's big brother. He became a very good horseman, cattle rustler and all around cowboy. When he got tired of that - or - was about to get caught for a little branding shuffle he headed for South Dakota. He was the sheriff there around 1890 until, we don't know. Anyway, Ethel went there for a visit in 1892.
She used to tell a story about that visit - about how as soon as she got into town as a pretty eighteen year old girl, she hunted him down in his office on Main Street. Almost the second they broke their greeting embrace a deputy, or a citizen, rushed into the office and excitedly told Milton that Dirty Bob Grey (I can't recall the actual name) was down in one of the town's many saloons. Milton told her to stay there and he hurried out the door and on down to the saloon.
Ethel, being Ethel, followed him undetected to the swinging saloon doors and peeked inside. There she watched Milton, gun drawn, slowly walking down the packed bar looking carefully at each seated man. When he arrived at the right one he shot him in the head - most everyone ran out the front doors knocking her down - and then Milton ordered two men to pull old 'Dirty Bob Whoever' out by the boots. She said she could remember the red trail his head left through the drag trail of sawdust and peanut shells that traditionally covered all saloon floors.
Later she asked Milton why he had 'dealt so harshly' with the man - Milton said he had murdered two men and it was safer than disarming him. Then Milton told her that she'd have to behave his orders better, or he would put her on the next stage out. Ethel said the rest of the stay with brother Milton was uneventful.
The records are scarce to none, prior to 1894 because a fire burned the whole business district down that year. Prior to that another fire levelled the town in the 1870's. Trying to trace records or families there is next to impossible unless you find/use sketchy church records. Milton wasn't `a church goin man.'. All I know of Milton is that one story from Ethel. Wish I knew more.
[:D]
zipperzap: What was the sheriffs name, that was in Deadwoos? I would be very interested to know. Great family history
Ethel Maye McCoy at about 18
Her eldest brother Milton was Sheriff Milton McCoy, or McCay ... maybe even McKay. That has posed a problem for my dad's family since shortly before and after the Civil War.
When dad's family came to America, in 1830, from Canada, they founded Buchanan, Michigan. Most used the Scot surname McCay - they came down from Upper Canada - a few used the surname McKay (don't ask me why - don't know - probably had some past problems up in the Hudson Bay area ... they were a pretty 'active group of lads!'
Anyway, shortly after the Civil War, where Ethel's dad, Herman McCay fought with the Western Iron Brigade - first with the 19th Indiana that was combined with a few other Western units and into the Black Hats - later under Joe Hooker, in I Corps, Army of the Potomac.
After the war he wanted to work for the Union Pacific Railroad and changed his name to McCoy, since McCoy was Irish and the railroad (Union Pacific) was only hiring Irish and black laborers (following this?) - when the railroad was built he sent for his family and they came west and settled first in Nebraska. Milton was the eldest of the five McCoy boys - Ethel's big brother. He became a very good horseman, cattle rustler and all around cowboy. When he got tired of that - or - was about to get caught for a little branding shuffle he headed for South Dakota. He was the sheriff there around 1890 until, we don't know. Anyway, Ethel went there for a visit in 1892.
She used to tell a story about that visit - about how as soon as she got into town as a pretty eighteen year old girl, she hunted him down in his office on Main Street. Almost the second they broke their greeting embrace a deputy, or a citizen, rushed into the office and excitedly told Milton that Dirty Bob Grey (I can't recall the actual name) was down in one of the town's many saloons. Milton told her to stay there and he hurried out the door and on down to the saloon.
Ethel, being Ethel, followed him undetected to the swinging saloon doors and peeked inside. There she watched Milton, gun drawn, slowly walking down the packed bar looking carefully at each seated man. When he arrived at the right one he shot him in the head - most everyone ran out the front doors knocking her down - and then Milton ordered two men to pull old 'Dirty Bob Whoever' out by the boots. She said she could remember the red trail his head left through the drag trail of sawdust and peanut shells that traditionally covered all saloon floors.
Later she asked Milton why he had 'dealt so harshly' with the man - Milton said he had murdered two men and it was safer than disarming him. Then Milton told her that she'd have to behave his orders better, or he would put her on the next stage out. Ethel said the rest of the stay with brother Milton was uneventful.
The records are scarce to none, prior to 1894 because a fire burned the whole business district down that year. Prior to that another fire levelled the town in the 1870's. Trying to trace records or families there is next to impossible unless you find/use sketchy church records. Milton wasn't `a church goin man.'. All I know of Milton is that one story from Ethel. Wish I knew more.
[:D]
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the iron brigade was a most respected fighting unit of the civil war. it has battle honors for gainesville, second bull run, south mountain, antietam, fredricksburg, chancellorsville gettysburg, the wilderness, cold harbor, petersburg and appomattox. it was said to be unwaivering under fire as they formed their lines and advanced. the rebs called them that damned black hat brigade [:D]. cool history 0 -
Yep - I'd give a million to hear him tell how they leaned into shot and shell
as if it were a Noreaster Gale! ... Sadly, I have no such letter/story from him.
I can't imagine the stories lost from that (any) war! According to his enlistment
papers he was there for the Second Bull Run and mustered out shortly before
Appomattox - the irony is that he was close to the Tomlinson men at Gettysburg.
I often wonder how close - if they ever caught a glimpse of each oher - forever
unanswered, also.
[8D]0 -
you really ought to think about joining sons of union veterans. a wealth of knowledge is available from them. i belong to sons of confederate veterans and for 25.00 a year alot of stuff is archived for you to use and look at. anything concerning the civil war catches my attention quick. extreemly brave men on both sides. 0 -
I've been appoached a number of times at our S. California CW reinactor's meets in
Vista, CA http://www.todayslocalnews.com/?sect=tln&p=2782
I should, but I just don't have the time. I didn't have the time before - I really haven't
any time now.
It is a lot of fun but I'd need one fewer job and five fewer grandkids ... and about
20 MORE years than now!
[:D]0 -
Deadwoos? Deadwoon? I'm feeling really comfortable with the spelin around here today![^] 0 -
Most saloons had the same kind of doors as you'd see on the merchantile store or the druggist's of the day. In summer, screen doors could be put in place if they wanted to put up with the dirt and noise from the street. I've seen only one reference to a 'swinging door' and it was too vague to determine if it was the split, bat-wing type depicted in movies or not. Hollywood "invented" the half-door for dramatic effect, else how could Joey Starrett peek under the door and warn Shane of the backshooter?
Great story zip.
Clouder..0 -
quote:He Dog:
Deadwoos? Deadwoon? I'm feeling really comfortable with the spelin around here today!
When I get tired I generally tend to drop terminal consonant .
[:D]
If I get a chance today, I'll tell you about Ethel and the Sheriff - out at her ranch in Greeley, CO, and later of her head railroad camp-cook job up on the Moffit snow shed construction job.0 -
Send me your notes, zip. I'll take really good care of 'em.[:D]
Clouder..0 -
Actually, most of my notes for Ethel are stored in my head - I've heard the
stories - as did my mom - so many times while growing up, I know it all
by heart. When I was putting all the oral histories to digital recordings my
mom used to laugh. She said that all those tellings and retellings made us
a number of Rocky Horror Picture Show clones - family-wise. My brother
took her a 'Midnight Rocky's' once and she was amazed at how much energy
went into so little - and yet most of those folks would/could not save their
family histories for future generations.
... I think she's right.0
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