Daniel McCoy, president of the State Bank of Michigan, and formerly a lumber manufacturer and dealer, at Grand Rapids, was born July 17, 1845, in Philadelphia, a son of John and Mary (McGowan) McCoy, and was educated in the public school of that city. In 1867 he came to Michigan and began dealing in lumber supplies at Romeo.

October 18, 1869, at Romeo, Mich., he married Gail L. Ayer, daughter of Alvan B. Ayer, of that place. To this union of Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have been born four children, viz: Helen Francis, wife of Max Grab, residing in New York City; Ralph, who was educated at Orchard Lake Military academy and Cornell university, and is now a lieutenant in the Seventh U.S. infantry, stationed at Ramport City, Alaska; Katherine, educated at the Mount Auburn institute, Cincinnati, and Gerald, a student of the Grand Rapids high school.

Mr. McCoy commenced lumbering on the south branch of the Manistee river, the firm being composed of James A. Remick, of Detroit, John G. Riggs, of Saginaw, and himself. The logs were floated down the river to Manistee, and there cut into lumber. In 1873 Mr. McCoy went to Clam Lake, where he began lumbering operations with Charles M. Ayer, under the firm name of McCoy & Ayer, remaining in that partnership until 1883, when the firm dissolved and Mr. McCoy continued in the business alone. In April, 1883, he removed his headquarters to Grand Rapids, has since resided in this city, and in 1894 wound up the business. He has operated saw-mills, planing-mills and a narrow-gauge logging railway in Lake county; also a farm near the city, out toward Reed’s Lake. He has been connected with the Grand Rapids Edison Light & Fuel Gas company since the organization of that corporation, and its president continuously. He was president of Clam Lake village, when living there; and after its incorporation as the city of Cadillac he was elected its mayor for three successive terms. He was also chairman of the Wexford county republican committee, and since his removal to this city has been the presiding officer of the Kent county republican committee one term, and is one of the prominent and influential republicans of western Michigan. Mr. McCoy is a representative, go-head, energetic, progressive citizens, one of the class who give vigor and strength to even so progressive a city as Grand Rapids.