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Outline

Elijah McCoy (1844-1929) By: Kaleigh Bennicke & Jerrica Swim

Childhood Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario in Canada. He was born to George and Emilla McCoy on May 2nd 1844. His parents were former slaves that had escaped from Kentucky. They had came to Canada in search of freedom and a new home. Elijah grew up on a farmland of one hundred sixty acres. His father was given the land because of his loyalty to Canada in the 1837 Rebel war.           (The Real McCoy) By: Wendy Towle

Studies In Canada, Elijah was allowed to go to school. He went to a school in Colchester for black children, where he learned to read and write. But Elijah’s interest was in machines and how they worked. Elijah’s parents noticed his love for machines so they sent him to a school in Scotland when he was sixteen. While he was away, the Civil War started. When it finally ended, Elijah could live anywhere in America. (The Real McCoy) By: Wendy Towle

His Invention Elijah settled in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He wanted a job that involved machines but could only find a job at the Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman/oilman. While he worked, he noticed that trains had to be stopped every time they needed oil, which wasted time and money. Elijah invented a device to oil the machine while it was moving. He called it an oil cup. The oil cup was soon used on engines, train locomotives, steam ships, ocean liners and in factories. Soon no engine machine was used until it had Elijah McCoy’s invention. (Out of the Past Into the Future pg.31 Author: Robert FFrench  , The Real McCoy By: Wendy Towle)

His Later Life Later on in his life, Elijah married Ann Elizabeth Stewart. She died four years later. He then married Mary Eleanora Delaney. In 1882, Elijah left the Michigan  Central Railroad and moved to Detroit. He served as a mechanical consultant. He continued to make new inventions like a ironing board.     (The Real McCoy By: Wendy Towle)

His Death In 1929 Elijah McCoy died. A few years before, his wife Mary and him were involved in a traffic accident. Mary died of her injuries. Elijah was alone and when he died, he was forgotten. But in 1975, the city of Detroit celebrated Elijah McCoy by putting a historic marker where his house was and naming a street  Elijah McCoy Drive so that everybody would remember him and his invention which is still used on machines today. (The Real McCoy By: Wendy Towle)

Bibliography The Real McCoy By: Wendy Towle Out of the Past into the Future pg.31