The subject of this sketch, who has passed to his rest, is well
remembered by the people of Marion county, where he so long labored not only
for his own advancement but also for that of the community at large,
therefore, it is with pleasure that we give a record of his honorable career
in this book, believing that it will be an inspiration to the younger
generation who peruse it.
Eli Copple was born January 8, 1820, in
Washington county, Indiana, the son of David Copple, who was born in Germany
and when a young man came to America with his parents, locating with them in
North Carolina. Later they came to Clark county, Indiana, where the parents
died. David Copple grew to manhood in Clark county, Indiana, where he
married Lavina Huckleberry, of German-Irish extract. David Copple and wife
located in Washington county, Indiana, in 1818, and fourteen years later
they came to Marion county, Illinois, where they both died in Centralia
township. He was considered one of the valued and leading citizens of the
community in which he lived. They were the parents of twelve children, all
but one of whom grew to maturity, namely: James lived in Centralia township
and was twice married, first to Jane Wells and second to Emily Huckleberry;
Elizabeth married Jacob Breeze; Angeline married Henry Bingaman, and they
are living in Crete, Nebraska; Eli, our subject; Christiana married M. P.
Hester, of Centralia township, and they are both deceased; Samuel is
deceased; John Harvey is also deceased; Edmund is a farmer living in Grand
Prairie, Illinois; Julia married Marion Roper, who is now deceased, but she
is living in Grand Prairie; David, now deceased, was a farmer living in
Centralia township; Pollie A. is living in Kansas, having married David
Roper, who is deceased. Eli Copple was reared in Centralia township, Marion
county, Illinois, and was among the successful farmers of that vicinity,
having come with his parents to this county when twelve years of age and
located on what is known as the Seven-Mile-Prairie. He was reared among the
wild scenes of the frontier and developed thereby a sturdy manhood. He was
first married in 1840 to Martha Flannagan, a native of Jefferson county,
Illinois, who died in 1850. Two children, who grew to maturity, were born to
them. Arminda married William Dolson, who is living in Fullerton, Nebraska;
Loretta married A. J. Hartley, of Irvington, Illinois. The subject of this
sketch married a second time, his last wife being Sarah Dolson, daughter of
Allen and Mary Louisa (White) Dolson, the wedding occurring in February,
1851. Mr. Dolson was a native of New York, near Albany, on the Hudson river.
His wife was born in Georgia. Allen Dolson was the son of Peter and Rachael
(Quinby) Dolson, both natives of New York. Mr. Dolson was a farmer. Allen
Dolson came west when a boy alone, going to the Platt river country,
Nebraska, having lived among the Indians for a time. He descended the
Missouri river in a canoe to St. Louis, later to Carlyle, Illinois, and then
went to Grand Prairie, Jefferson county, Illinois, where he devoted his life
to farming. He entered government land. He came to Marion county, where he
and his wife both died. The following children were born to them: Sarah, the
subject's wife; Robert, Elizabeth, Melville, all deceased; Mary is living in
Kansas; Christina, deceased; William, living in Nebraska; Harvey is living
in Kansas. The subject and his second wife were the parents of seven
children, namely: Charles, a farmer living in Fullerton, Nebraska, was first
married to Lucy Jackson, second to Sarah Averill; Mary married Joseph
Baldridge, and she is now deceased; Julia is the wife of Harvey Baldridge
and they are living in Seattle, Washington; Willis is living in Centralia
township on a farm, having married Henrietta Patton; Elmer, living in
Centralia township; Robert, living on a farm in Centralia township, married
Lillian Ethel Leonard; Ada May married T. S. Kell and they are living with
the subject's mother on the old home place, the parents of one son, Cecil
Edward.
After a very active and useful life, replete with success
and honor, Eli Copple passed to his reward August 14, 1905.
Our
subject started in life under none too favorable circumstances, but his
father gave him one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and he worked hard
and became successful. He was thrifty and a good manager, and at one time
owned as much as two thousand acres. He carried on a general farming and
stock raising business and was eminently successful in both, becoming known
as one of the leading citizens of Marion county. In 1874 he made a trip to
France and imported a large number of Norman horses of a very fine quality.
Besides raising some fine horses he always raised many good cattle, hogs and
sheep. He was an organizer and leading member of the Farmers' Club of Marion
county.
The subject cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison
and since that time was a loyal Republican. He was a faithful member of the
Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal subscriber of the same. He erected
his first substantial and commodious brick home in 1872 and he and his noble
and faithful wife made all the improvements about the place. No man in the
county was better or more favorably known than he and everyone remembers him
as a very polite and kindly gentleman, as well as a very able business man,
and therefore his influence for good in the county was very great.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 569-571.