William John McCoy (September 30, 1834 – June 28, 1897) was an American farmer, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Grant County.

William J. McCoy
Portrait from History of Grant County Wisconsin (1900)
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Grant 2nd district
In office
January 1, 1883 – January 3, 1887
Preceded byDaniel Bartlett Stevens
Succeeded byReuben B. Showalter
In office
January 7, 1878 – January 6, 1879
Preceded byJoseph Bock
Succeeded byJoseph Trotter Mills
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Grant 4th district
In office
January 3, 1876 – January 1, 1877
Preceded byDelos Abrams
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born(1834-09-30)September 30, 1834
Argyle, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 28, 1897(1897-06-28) (aged 62)
Lancaster, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeBeetown Cemetery, Beetown, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Julia Edwards
(m. 1858⁠–⁠1897)

Biography

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McCoy was born on September 30, 1834, in Argyle, New York.[1][2] He moved to Beetown, Wisconsin, in 1852 and to Lancaster, Wisconsin, in 1880.[1] McCoy died on June 28, 1897.[1]

Career

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McCoy was elected to the Assembly in 1875 and served four terms.[1] Additionally, he was Chairman of the Beetown Board for five years between 1869 and 1876. He was a Democrat.[2]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (1875)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Grant 4th District Election, 1875[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 2, 1875
Democratic William J. McCoy 735 55.06% +12.72%
Republican John Brackett 600 44.94%
Plurality 135 10.11% -5.22%
Total votes 1,335 100.0% -0.67%
Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin Assembly (1877)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Grant 2nd District Election, 1877[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1877
Democratic William J. McCoy 922 45.92% +0.56%
Republican William B. Clark 721 35.91% −16.94%
Greenback Goodpel Lamson 365 18.18% +16.38%
Plurality 201 10.01% +2.52%
Total votes 2,008 100.0% -24.79%
Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin Assembly (1882, 1884, 1886)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Grant 2nd District Election, 1882[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1882
Democratic William J. McCoy 1,335 61.24% +20.52%
Republican Daniel B. Stevens (incumbent) 795 36.47% −20.69%
Greenback Goodpel Lamson 50 2.29% +0.17%
Plurality 540 24.77% +8.34%
Total votes 2,180 100.0% +54.39%
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin Assembly, Grant 2nd District Election, 1884[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1884
Democratic William J. McCoy (incumbent) 1,333 50.34% −10.90%
Republican Charles H. Baxter 1,235 46.64% +10.17%
Prohibition Ezra Abrams 80 3.02% +0.17%
Plurality 98 3.70% -21.07%
Total votes 2,648 100.0% +21.47%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, Grant 2nd District Election, 1886[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 2, 1886
Republican Reuben B. Showalter 1,133 47.01% +0.37%
Democratic William J. McCoy (incumbent) 1,111 46.10% −4.24%
Prohibition Andrew Cairns 166 6.89% +3.87%
Plurality 22 0.91% -2.79%
Total votes 2,410 100.0% -8.99%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Wisconsin Items: W. J. McCoy". The Weekly Wisconsin. July 3, 1897. p. 4. Retrieved May 7, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b c Bashford, R. M., ed. (1876). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 467. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Bashford, R. M., ed. (1878). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 470–471. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Heg, James E., ed. (1883). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 491. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Heg, James E., ed. (1885). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 431. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Timme, Ernst G., ed. (1887). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 498. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Delos Abrams
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant 4th district
January 3, 1876 – January 1, 1877
District abolished
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant 2nd district
January 7, 1878 – January 6, 1879
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant 2nd district
January 1, 1883 – January 3, 1887
Succeeded by