Charles Franklin McCoy
was born December 5, 1862, at Pond Run, Scioto County, Ohio, where his father, Charles A. McCoy, was then residing. His mother's maiden name was Annette Thomas. They had six children; four died in infancy and two survive. When our subject was two years of age his father moved to near Dunbarton, Ohio, and bought the Moses Buck farm on Brush Creek. Mr. McCoy had a common school education. He spent the winter of 1881 at the Manchester high school, and attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware from 1883 to 1886. At the close of the year, he left that institution and engaged in work on his father's farm, on account of his father's ill health. In the fall of 1887, he went to Bethany College, West Virginia, and graduated there in the classical course in June, 1888. In the fall of 1888, he taught school at Purtee's school house, and two winters at Jacksonville. In 1891 his health gave way and he went to farming. He began the study of law in the same year with John W. Hook, and continued it with Chas C. Swain and Wm. C. Coryell. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1894. He located at West Union in March, 1895, and began the practice of law. He was elected prosecuting attorney on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1896, by a majority of 115. He was re-elected in 1899 by a majority of 107. In March, 1900, he entered into a partnership with Hon. F. D. Bayless, under the firm of Bayless & McCoy. He has always been a Republican, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On March 9, 1892, he was married to Miss Minnie A. Young, daughter of Leonard Young, a former recorder of Adams County.
A friend gives this statement as to Mr. McCoy: "His moral character is above reproach. He is upright and honest in all his dealings with his fellow men. His habits are correct and pure. He maintains a high degree of character in the church of his choice, the Methodist Episcopal, of which he is a prominent and useful member. As a citizen he looks to the best results for himself and the community. He is enterprising and ever ready and willing to do his full share of labor for the advancement of the community in which he is a good and successful lawyer. As such, he is painstaking and thorough; and as a prosecuting attorney, he does his duty thoroughly. It is believed he has filled that office with as much credit as any predecessor he ever had. He comes up to the full measure of a good man and citizen."
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900