Isaac McCoy
Isaac !McCoy was a Baptist missionary.
Contents
History
!McCoy was a Baptist missionary known for pushing aggressively into the territories of native nations. He established a series of missions; first in Fort Wayne, then the Carey Mission on the St. Joseph River, and finally the Thomas Mission in central Michigan. This was in the context of the Black Hawk War in the region.
He had particular success in converting the Odawa nation.
He was also a prohibitionist, and believed that interaction of native nations and white settlers was culturally and religiously detrimental. He believed that segregation was necessary and advocated for voluntary removals. "No band of Indians has ever thrived when crowded by white population." (Trail of Tears, p. 34).
Legacy
The Carey Mission, while short lived, drew renown to the nearby settlement; it eventually developed into Niles, Michigan.
The Thomas Mission eventually developed into Grand Rapids.