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Jim P. Copeland, planter and minister of Pike County, Ark., is a native of
Arkansas, born in Pope County, May 8, 1837. His father, a farmer and school
teacher by occupation, was born in 1801, and August 9, 1825, was married to
Miss Sarah Webb, a Native of Tennessee, born in 1803, and the results of
this union were eleven children, viz., Newton W., Paulina D., David M.
(deceased), Sarah V., Jim P., Meredith W., Minerva K., Mary M. (deceased),
Harriet W.., John W. (deceased) and Elizabeth (deceased). In 1828 he
emigrated from Tennessee to Pope County, where he took up land and began
farming. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Pisgah Lodge No. 250. He
served in the Mexican War, in Capt. Moffit's company, Yell's regiment, and
participated in the battles at Cerro Gordo and Buena Vista. In his political
views he was a stanch Democrat. He and wife were both members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he has held office as steward
and class leader for a number of years, and was on of the charter members of
the church at Sulphur Springs. His wife died October 17, 1873, but Mr.
Copeland is still living at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, in good
health, although he has been blind since 1876. His son, the immediate
subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, attending
the common country schools. January 11, 1857, he married Miss Minerva
Corethers, a native of Pope County, and daughter of Andrew N. and Frances
Corethers, and the same year purchased 160 acres of good land, and settled
down to farming. In 1861 he enlisted in the late war, in the Confederate
cause, under Gen. Churchill, in Company I, First Arkansas, McNair's brigade,
and participated in many severely fought battles, among the principle ones
being Oak Hill, Elkhorn, Corinth, Richmond, Perryville, Murfreesboro,
Chickamauga (where he was wounded through the left arm), Dug Gap, and
Resaca. At one place he had his right leg broken. He was then paroled by
Col. Stevens, and returned home, and in 1865 emigrated to Dallas County,
where he remained until 1870, when he moved to Pike County, purchased 240
acres of land, and commenced farming, and preaching the gospel ... He was
one of the charter members, and assisted in organizing the churches at
Pisgah and Brocktown. He is a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, of
which his entire family are members. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Copeland has
resulted in the birth of eleven children, viz., Eudora S. (deceased), Mary
A., Jim P., Jr., John S., William D., Robert T. (deceased), Patrick H., Guss
Garland, Sallie F., Hicks H. and Minnie M. Mr. Copeland owns one of the
finest and best stocked farms in Pike County, consisting of 1.200 acres of
good land. He is a Royal Arch Mason, belong to Pisgah Lodge No. 250. He has
taken a deep interest in the politics of his county, and has served as
sheriff for four years. In 1884 he was elected to the Lower House, and in
1886 to the Senate. He is one of the representative men of the county, and
is highly respected by all the community.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
pages 323-324.
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