Though I have not lived in Barber County since starting college in
      1930, my grandparents, John R. and Elizabeth McCoy, were pioneers
      who homesteaded there. My parents, Harve and Jennie McCoy, were 
      married in Medicine Lodge and their children, Clay, Gretta (Vance),
      Louise (McClellan), and I grew up in the community. Our grandparents,
      parents, and brother, Clay, are buried in Highland Cemetery, as are
      other relatives. The people and the area hold a special place in our
      family heritage.
        John R. and Elizabeth McCoy came as homesteaders in 1881. Born in
      Ohio County, West Virginia, in 1839, John served in the Union Army 
      in the Civil War, as a First Lieutenant in the West Virginia First
      Calvalry. Migrating to Illinois, he married Elizsabeth Knight, a
      native of England, in 1868.
        In 1879 he came to Kingman County, Kansas, as a herdsman for a Mr.
      Riggin who brought registered Shorthorn cattle to graze on the lush
      grass along the Ninnescah River. A dug-out in the red hills southeast
      of Kingman served as a home for John and Elizabeth and their children,
      Ida (Kinkaid), Olive (Hull), Henry, Harvey (called Herve), and Harry.
        Bad times befell the cattle venture when Texas Fever decimated the
      herds. The drouth of 1880 was another blow. In 1881, perhaps after
      hearing good reports of Barber County from Tonk Mills and Nick Sherlock
      and another resident who were given refuge in the McCoy dug-out when a
      blizzard caught them on a journey to Wichita. John decided to move on
      to Barber County.
        His claim was one and one-half miles north of Medicine Lodge. Again,
      a dug-out provided a home, Bessie (Kidd) was born there.
        By 1883 the hardships of living on the claim prompted John to sell
      the land to a neighbor, Lilah Fields. The deal netted $200 with which
      he bought a lot in Medicine Lodge and built a house. There Nelly
      (Benefiel) and Mary (Thomas) were born. JOhn worked as a cattle hand
      and as a carpenter. He built a number of houses and constructed some
      business buildings in Pixley. The Presbyterian Church and Eldred Post
      174, GAR, were special interests of the family.
        When the call came in 1899 for Army volunteers for the Spanish-
      American War, Harve and Harry McCoy enlisted and served two years in
      the Philippines. Upon his return, Harve ran a restaurant in Medicine
      Lodge. In 1905 he married Jennie Stone, a native of Pennsylvania and
      cousin of the Stone families in the area.
        Then came June 23, 1907. That day a devastating tornado ripped
      through the town, destroying property and injuring many. John McCoy 
      died from his injuries. Elizabeth, though injured, recovered and lived
      a long life, until 1934.
        In 1913 Harve and Jennie and family moved to their farm seven miles
      west of town and there the children grew up. In 1937 they moved to
      Wichita where Harve was a grocer until retirement. He died in 1950,
      Jennie in 1956.  
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 294 
     Submitted by: Harvey H. (Bill) McCoy