Mercer - Otie McCoy
Source: Crawfordsville Review Tuesday March 28, 1916
The following account of the death by drowning of Mrs. Otie McCoy MERCER and her babe at Ismay, Montana has been sent: Mrs. Otie Mercer, wife of CC Mercer was drowned near Ismay, Mon March 13 while returning from a neighbor's house where she with her baby had gone to spend the day. While there, the creek raised. The neighbor with whom she had spent the day started with her to take her home in a wagon. In crossing the creek, the horses stopped and backed, overturning the wagon and drowning the mother and babe and both horse, the neighbor had a narrow escape. The mother's body was not found for several days and was discovered by the distracted husband who stood on the banks. The babe has not yet been found, although volunteers are still watching for the body. Otie McCoy was born in Crawfordsville Jan 27, 1885 and at the time of her passing away was 31 years 1 month 16 days. When two years of age she came to Lebanon living here until she was 19. When a mere child she united with the First Baptist Church here and was sec of the Sunday school for some time. When she went to Indianapolis she took her church letter to Ceta later taking her church letter to Carlisle, Mont. When on their claim 25 miles from Carlisle she found there was no Sunday school or church there and she and her husband established a Sunday school at their home. ON the 3rd Sunday there were 14 people present. This was in 1914. The Sunday school grew until on Easter Sunday that year there were 30 some coming a distance of 15miles. The pastor of the church at Carlisle, later organized a church at their home and church services were held there until last fall when a nearby house was secured for the purpose of holding church services. Otie was a faithful Christian worker, a devoted mother and loving wife. Her demise is mourned by her husband, 3 children her foster mother, Mrs. Richard McCoy, two sisters and a brother and many friends. Her marriage to CC Mercer took place at Indianapolis, July 5, 1903. - typed by kbz