Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 932 - 933

JOHN COPNER, who is worthy of more than a mere mention in a work of this nature, is an "Ohio man" in the broadest and best sense of the term. He arrived in this section of country when a large proportion of the soil of Sedgwick County still rested undisturbed by the plowshare, and while the primitive dwellings of the settlers were few and far between. The township of Salem in which he located had been but recently organized, and gladly welcomed within its precincts every man who was blessed with ambition and brains. In this category the subject of this sketch was placed at once, and has proved himself equal to the demands made upon him.

            The childhood home of Mr. Copner was near what is denominated Foster's Crossing, in Warren County, Ohio, where his birth took place on the 3d of February, 1824. His father, Samuel Copner, was a native of Salem, N. J., and married Miss Lucinda Huff, of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, who was of French ancestry, and probably born in France, settled when a young man in Salem, and there reared a family of sons and daughters who grew to a worthy manhood and womanhood, and were prominent among the best people of that section. The mother of our subject descended from an excellent old German family, the first representatives of whom in this country crossed the Atlantic at an early day, and were subsequently among the pioneers of Warren County, Ohio. 

            Samuel and Lucinda Copner became the parents of ten children, of whom the following survive: Sarah A., the wife of H. R. Chenoweth, of Huntington County, Ind.; Jarvis, of Finney County, Kan., and John, our subject. The father departed this life while in his prime, passing away on the 25th of January, 1848, while a resident of Warren County, Ohio. The mother survived her husband for a period of thirty-six years, remaining a widow, and passing her last days in this township, at the home of our subject. She lived to be eighty-four years old, and died Oct. 12, 1884.

             John Copner was reared to manhood in his native county, receiving a fair education, and by a thorough course of reading has become well informed and keeps himself thoroughly posted upon matters of general interest. In conversation he is pleasing and intelligent, and takes the sensible view of life and its responsibilities. While not countenancing idleness in any way or manner, he still believes in giving due attention to the culture of the mind and tastes, and very nearly approaches in his ideas the model laid down by our best thinkers and reasoners.

             Mr. Copner, in 1840, when a youth of sixteen years, commenced an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, which he subsequently followed many years. He chose his wife among the ladies of his own county, being married, Dec. 30, 1848, to Mrs. Nancy J. (Andrews) Newland, widow of Samuel Newland, of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Spray) Andrews. Mrs. Copner was born in Wayne County, Ind., May 16, 1824. Her parents had been married in South Carolina, whence they removed first to Ohio, and from there to the Hoosier State during its pioneer days. Alexander Andrews had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and came to his death by an accidental shooting during a turkey hunt, Oct. 3, 1829, in what was then called the "New Purchase" on Blue River. The parental household included twelve children, and Mrs. Copner it is supposed is the only survivor. Of her union with our subject there are six children, namely: Warner F., Henry C. and Cassius L., living, and three deceased Samuel A., Jesse S. and Isaac J.

             Mr. and Mrs. Copier left Ohio for Illinois in 1858, and located in Pleasant Plains, where Mr. C. followed tailoring, and officiated as Postmaster by appointment of President Lincoln, from 1862 to 1866. In 1871 he determined to cross the Mississippi, and came with his family to Sedgwick County in August of that year. Shortly after their arrival they settled on a pre-emption claim on section 19, Salem Township, and which Mr. C. a year or two later exchanged for the place which he now occupies. This lies on section 20, and comprises eighty acres of fertile land under a good state of cultivation. The buildings, stock and farm machinery, are creditable to the proprietor, and will bear fair comparison with any of the kind in this section. The period of nearly twenty years, during which Mr. Copner has labored industriously for the establishment of a homestead, and the securing of a competence for a rainy day, has been pregnant with what should be, at least to him, most satisfactory results. He and his little family had much to contend with during the early days, and there is very little in connection with pioneer life which they do not thoroughly understand. From an humble beginning Mr. Copner has budded well, and received not only the reward of a good conscience, but the highest regard of the people around him. Mr. Copper was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, when he took up its principles, and there we find him today. In religious belief Mr. Copner is a Universalist, while Mrs. C. has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1849.

             Mrs. Copner, together with Mrs. M. O. Martin, Martha Glaze and Mary Tomlin, were the original organizers of the first Sunday-school in this township, the meeting being held in a log house situated on section 29, Salem Township.

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