Gillett

September 19, 1899 Salida Colorado
The entire community was startled Friday afternoon by the news of the death of Hon. J. B. McCoy. Few except his closest friends knew of his serious illness until Friday forenoon when it began to be known that his condition was serious. He had been ill for five days, the disease developing into pneumonia which speedily resulted in his death at 12:30 Friday afternoon.
J. B. McCoy was 69 years of age and one of the best known men in Chaffee county, having been for more than ten years a prominent member of the county bar. He came to Salida in 1887 from lowa and during his residence in Salida has enjoyed a lucrative practice. At the time of his death he had a larger clientage than at any time previous. He leaves four children, Mrs. Gertrude Holowel) of Denver, Captain Charlie McCoy of Louisiana, Taylor McCoy of Salida and two small boys who are now at school in Denver. All are present to attend the funeral.
The funeral service will be held this afternoon at the home of the deceased on upper F street at 2 o'clock. The interment will be made at Fairview cemetery. The Masonic fraternity will have charge of the service. Rev. Ohl, excellent grand prelate of the order in Colorado, officiating.
The deceased was prominent in the Masonic order, being at the time of his death high priest of Salida Chapter Mo. 17, Royal Arch Masons. He was past master of the Blue Lodge and had served in time past as secretary of the several bodies.

September 22, 1899

May 24, 1901
"Two months ago Taylor McCoy, a young man employed in the mines of Dr. F. A. McGlure on Mount Shavano, twenty miles west of this city, disappeared, and investigations revealed the fact that he had been lost in a storm while on the trail with a large consignment of supplies for the camp. His packed burros were found securely fastened to a tree near a deep ravine in which snow had drifted to a depth of several feet, and the general supposition was that his body would be located at the bottom when summer suns had created a thaw.
Searching parties were formed who worked diligently for ten days or two weeks in the hope of securing a clue to his whereabouts, but they were compelled to abandon the search for a time. Dr. McClure, however, maintained the hope of finally locating the body and never made a trip to his camp without leaving the trail for this purpose.
On Wednesday his search was rewarded. McCoy’s body was discovered in a sitting position near a large boulder just about one hundred feet from the trail and not over one hundred yards from the cabin door. His coat was buttoned closely about neck and body and the cap was pulled down over head and ears.
Coroner Sheldon of Buena Vista, was at once notified of the discovery and that gentleman, in company with F. B. Churcher, of the undertaking firm of Haight & Churcher, repaired to the scene at 6 o'clock yesterday morning.
The body was brought to this city at 9 o’clock last evening and taken to the undertaking rooms of L. Wens and prepared for burial at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning under the auspices of the Woodmen of the World, of which he was a member, and in which order he held a $2,000 policy.
McCoy came to Colorado from Abbington, Iowa, in 1889. After locating in Salida he was for some time employed as a mail clerk on the narrow gauge between this city and Ouray. Resigning this position he devoted a greater part of his time to farming and mining.
He leaves to mourn his death three brothers, Charles A. and J. E. McCoy, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Mark McCoy, a lad 18 years of age, with whom he was batching when lost, now residing with a sister, Mrs. A. K. Hallowell, at Canon City.
Mr. and Mrs. Hallowell and Mark McCoy arrived in Salida from Canon City yesterday afternoon and will be in attendance at the funeral."