"Elijah J.McCoy" {May 2,1844-October 10,1929}

He was born in Colchester,Ontario Canada.His parents were George & Emillia McCoy,former slaves from Kentucky who escaped through the Underground Railroad.George joined the Canadian Army,fighting in the Rebel War and then raised his family as free Canadian citizens on  A 160 acre homestead.
At an early age he showed a mechanical interest,often taking items apart and putting them back together again.Recognizing his abilities,George & Emilla saved enough money to him to Edinburgh,Scotland,where he could study mechanical engineering.After finishing his studies as a "master mechanic and engineer"Elijah returned to the United States which had been just seen the end of the Civil War-and the emergence of the "Emancipation Proclamation."Elijah moved to Ypsilanti,Michigan he was unable to find work as an engineer.Elijah was forced to take on a position as a fireman/oilman on the Michigan Central Railroad.As a fireman,he was responsible for shoveling coal onto fires which would help to produce steam that powered the locomotive.As an oilman,Elijah was responsible for ensuring that the train was well lubricated.After a few miles,the train would be forced to to stop and he would have to walk alongside the training applying oil to the axles and bearings.In an effort to improve efficiency and eliminate the frequent stopping necessary for lubrication of the train,Elijah set out to create a method of automating the task.In 1872 he developed a "lubricating cup"that could automatically drip oil when and where needed.He received a patent for the device later that year.The "lubricating cup"met with enormous success and orders for it came in from railroad companies all over the country.Other inventors attempted to sell their own versions of the device most companies wanted the authentic device,requesting "the Real McCoy.In 1868,Elijah married Ann Elizabeth Stewart she,passed away just four years later.He married for the second time in 1873 to Mary Eleanor Delaney.They moved to Detroit where Elijah found work.Mary helped found the Phillis Wheatley Home for aged Colored Men in 1898.He remained interested in continuing to perfect his invention to create more.Elijah sold some percentages of rights to his patent to finance building a workshop.He made continued improvements to the 'lubricating cup.' The patent application described it as a device which 'provides for the continuous flow of oil on the gears