Background
Toy was born in Buffalo, New York in 1866.
Toy was born in Buffalo, New York in 1866.
Toy was among the cavalrymen ordered to capture Chief Big Foot who, on December 29, 1890, surrounded the Sioux camp on Wounded Knee Creek with the intention of arresting the Sioux chieftain and disarming his followers. Toy was a sergeant assigned to Company G commanded by Captain Winfield Scott Edgerly. Toy was cited for "bravery displayed while shooting hostile Indians;" lieutenant was changed on the final citation after being returned by the War Department.
Captain Winfield South Edgerly said Sergeant Toy did "deliberately aim at and hit two Indians who had run into the ravine." Toy was presented the medal in a public ceremony, which was featured in Harper"s Weekly.
Later in his career, Toy served as an orderly to President Theodore Roosevelt and was later promoted to ordnance sergeant. In January 1911, Toy was placed on the retired list after more than thirty years of military service.
He died on August 5, 1933 and is buried at Riverdale Cemetery in Lewiston, New New York His grave marker identifies him as a captain.
The appropriateness of the award of the Medal of Honor to Toy, as well as to the others awarded for Wounded Knee, was challenged more than 100 years later.