Travels in Baptist History-3 Rice McCoy (Part one) by Jim Curran

Jim Curran 03/02/21

Travels in Baptist History-3 Rice McCoy (Part one)Rice

(some spellings show Royce) McCoy, brother of Isaac McCoy is believed to be the first white child born in the Northwest Territories near the site of Cincinnati. “His name appears in the minutes of all the Regular Baptist Churches in the western part of Washington County and eastern Orange Counties. It has been said he was a faithful minister of the gospel, indefatigable in his labors and a most humble Christian. His zeal for the promotion of benevolent institutions and practical Godliness made him many enemies in his church.” (Salem Newspaper) His brother John would write: Brother Rice has been for a number of years past a faithful Minister of the Gospel, indefatigable in his labors, and I think the most Meek and humble Christian I ever saw.” To his son then at the mission station in Missouri with Isaac McCoy, John wrote that: “the religion of (Rice McCoy) had long professed appeared to be his support, and his only comfort, while all earthly comforts and objects seemed to fail and prove delusive, he is now out of reach of persecution and calumny. His zeal for the promotion of practical godliness and the promotion of all the Benevolent institutions made him many enemies among the advocated of old Daniel Parker” He would pastor four different churches in Washington and Orange counties- all at once. He pastored Elim and Union in Washington County, Indiana both of which were gone by the 1890’s. I am unsure of the site of Union- Elim- there is a cemetery remaining. https://www.findagrave.com/…/elim-baptist-church-cemetery He would pastor Mill Creek from it’s formation on June 5, 1822 until June 28th 1834. It is located just outside of Salem Indiana. The fourth church I have been unable to determine with certainty. Rice is buried in the Livonia, Indiana cemetery next to his wife Malinda (more on the two of them tomorrow) Most of the stones in this area of the cemetery are so weather beaten so as to be illegible. Rice’s however took a providential tilt forward and looks almost new as the front was shielded from the elements. For this family so touched with tragedy it is a bit unique- There are plowed up cemeteries, lost gravesites and tombstones- but God knows where each is ready for the resurrection. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20227237/rice-g.-mccoy