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with him in June, 1865, just after returning home,
and the accuracy and breadth of his thoughts of the
war and its far-reaching results impressed me almost
beyond earthly, although I little thought that within a
few months he would be looking down upon these
issues from the height of that land where war is
unknown. And thus as these twenty-seven years of
his labor as pastor of the Lost River church were
making up the record for eternity, the Holy Spirit
was adding His imperishable seal to this ministry; and
time after time came revivals of religion that brought
many souls into the kingdom, giving the church a
steady growth that after the close of the pastorate,
left it united and strong in numbers and faith. And
so too when the call came to him in the autumn of
1885, when he was about 64 years of age, "to come
up higher" he quietly laid down the sickle, ceasing to
reap, and with arms full of sheaves, and with him
bearing the confidence and love of the people he had
so long and faithfully served, he rose to be greeted by
his King with that blessed approval that is the crown
of life."
Elder William McCoy was par excellence the domes-
tic evangelist of his Association--indeed of his section
of the State. He was born in Clark county in 1814;
in his youth he was anxious for an education, and
in his young manhood he assisted his brother Isaac in
teaching both the Wilmington and Charlestown
schools, county seminaries. For a time he was a
class-mate with the Hon. W. S. Holman in the Wil-
mington school. He also taught at Jeffersonville, and
Page 211
during the time assisted in forming the Baptist church
there. He moved from Jeffersonville to a farm and
while there was urged by a negro Baptist minister to
enter the ministry. This persuasion but re-enforced
a previous conviction, and he was soon licensed by
the Salem church to preach. He was ordained in
1844 and at once became the pastor of Mill Creek
church--a pastorate continuing forty-seven years, and
till his death. He reared a family of six children,
one of them being the Rev. J. E. McCoy, well and
favorably known in the State. His wife still (1906)
survives him. His travelling for many years was on
horseback; after roads were built he used a buggy.
His manner of preaching was calm yet earnest, and
so sincere and kindly was he that he was welcome
in any home in his wide circuit--whether it was Bap-
tist or not. He wrote a good deal for the denomina-
tional papers, especially the Journal and Messenger.
He died at the age of seventy-six, loved by hundreds
and thousands whom he had helped in their christian
life. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev.
C. F. Dame, then pastor at Salem.
FREEDOM ASSOCIATION (COUNTIES OF MONTGOMERY,
PARKE AND VERMILLION).
This Association was constituted in 1840. Benedict
says that "it came out in favor of the cause of benev-
olence in the midst. of those who oppose it." It does
not seem to have sent delegates to the Indiana Baptist
Convention till 1854 when it was represented by A. D.
Billingsley; in 1855 the Rev. Gibbon Williams was a
