William M. Copeland. The Copeland family had its establishment on American soil in early Colonial days, and with the passing years its branches have reached out and taken root in many parts of the country. In South Carolina they first found American homes, and a son of the family moved to Virginia in Revolutionary war days. It was in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, that William Copeland, grandfather of the subject, was born in 1789, and he died in Logan County, Illinois, in 1854. His son, William, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1818, and he died at Clarinda, Iowa, in January, 1907.

William Copeland was a carpenter by trade and his work took him into various sections of the country. In young manhood he went to Shelby, Indiana, and there married Rosanna Baker, who was born in Kentucky in 1822, and died in Page County, Iowa, on November 21, 1876. In 1849, following his marriage, young Copeland moved to Waynesville, DeWitt County, in the expectation that Waynesville was due to be chosen as the capital city of the state. He was the proprietor of a hotel there for. a while, and his son, William Marshall Copeland, was a great favorite with Abraham Lincoln in those days. In 1853 the Copelands moved to Page County, Iowa. There Mr. Copeland bought a tract of Government land among the Pottawatomie Indians, and he carried on his trade as a carpenter as well as working the farm during the remainder of his life. He was a republican and a member of the Christian Advent Church and served on its official board through many years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served 2½ years in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry. This regiment was particularly unfortunate. It was literally shot to pieces and those who escaped with their lives were taken prisoner at Lexington. Mr. Copeland was later exchanged and joined the Twenty-fifth Missouri Regiment Volunteer Infantry, serving to the close of the war, when he again took up farm life.

William Marshall Copeland was born at Shelbyville, Indiana, on June 14, 1847. Between the years of 1853-8 he attended a subscription school in Page County, Iowa, following that with attendance in the public schools during three winter terms. He then went to a graded school at Clarinda, finishing his schooling in the winter of 1864. He made the best of such advantages as came his way, and before he saw the inside of a school he could read well and was an excellent speller, which training his mother gave him. When he was seventeen years old he went to work with his father and assisted him in carpentering in Page and Taylor counties, as well as helping on the home farm. In 1871 he left home, thinking it time to begin to make his way alone. He went to Winfield, Kansas, making the trip alone and on horseback. For two years he worked at carpentering in and about Winfield, acquired a farm of his own, and then returned to Page County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and cattle dealing for four years. In 1878 Mr. Copeland went back to Kansas to his farm. After two years he sold the place, moved to Sumner County, Kansas, where he bought another farm. This, too, he sold after a year of possession, and then he engaged in the grain business, which occupied him successfully for fourteen years. In 1895 he withdrew from all business. One year of idleness was all he could endure, and in 1896 he was elected to the office of clerk of the District Court of Sumner County, Kansas, serving one term of two years, when he was elected sheriff, serving fourteen months.

It was during that time that Mr. Copeland made acquaintance with Oklahoma, for his business took him to Washita County a number of times. With the close of his term he immediately came to Cordell, and he has since that time, 1900, been engaged in the loan and insurance business. His activities extend throughout Washita and several adjoining counties, and the business increases steadily.

Since coming to Cordell Mr. Copeland has served ably as a member of the council, and he has been prominent in many ways in the community. He was chosen a delegate to the National Republican Convention from the Seventh Congressional District of Oklahoma in 1916. he is republican in his politics and a member of the Odd Fellows.

On February 14, 1876, Mr. Copeland was married to Miss Mary C. Kizer, near Winfield, Kansas. She is a daughter of Sebastian Kizer, a farmer, who is now deceased. To the Copelands five children have been born. Stella married C. E. Lucas and lives 4½ miles southwest of Cordell, where her husband is prominently engaged in farming and stock raising. Carl is an actor and makes his headquarters in New York. William S. is engaged in business with his father. Christopher C. is connected with the Rumley Threshing Company, and has his headquarters at Parsons, Kansas. Dr. Julian I. is a dentist.

The Copeland family is prominent and popular in Cordell, and they enjoy the esteem and consideration of a wide circle of friends in the county.