McKoy, Allmand Alexander

11 Oct. 1825–11 Nov. 1885

Allmand Alexander McKoy, politician and superior court judge, was born in Clinton, the son of Dr. William and Ann Hall McKoy. He was the grandson of Allmand Hall, a Wilmington printer and newspaperman. McKoy attended The University of North Carolina during the years 1846–47 and afterwards probably read law for a time. At any rate, he opened a law office in Clinton, but until he built up a practice he also taught school. The legislature voted him a seat on the Council of State for the period 1856–57, and he was elected a member of the state senate for the session of 1858–59. In 1864 he was commissioned colonel of the Seventy-third Regiment of Infantry, Senior Reserve, but did not see active service. As a Democrat he was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1865–66.

McKoy was a candidate for Congress in 1868 but was defeated by Oliver H. Dockery, a Republican. In the general election of 1874 McKoy won a seat on the superior court bench. Reelected in 1882, he served until his death. It was noted in 1885 that he had had the fewest reversed decisions of any judge then serving.

His wife was the former Lydia Anciaux Howard of Atlanta; married in 1851, they were the parents of five children: Thomas Hall and Susan Howard, who lived to adulthood; and Ann, Carrie, and John, who died young. The McKoys were members of the Episcopal church.