Alva Review-Courier -

Elijah McCoy was born in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1844. His parents were former slaves who had run away from their Kentucky master in 1837.

Utilizing the series of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad, George and Mildred McCoy settled in Canada and raised 12 children. In 1859 they relocated to the United States and became hired hands for a farmer in Michigan.

Meanwhile, young Elijah showed a special interest in how things worked so his parents arranged for him to travel to Scotland when he was 15 years old to become an apprentice to a mechanical engineer.

Armed with an engi...