Salem, OH: Salem News, issue of Friday, 31 January 1930, p. 3, col. 1

ILLNESS FATAL TO WELL KNOWN COUNTY FARMER

George F. Copeland Dies At Farm Home Near To Millport

WEATHER OBSERVER OVER MANY YEARS

Served In Civil War; Was Outstanding Grange Member, Worker

George F. Copeland, aged 87, died at his home on a farm near Millport Thursday afternoon. He had lived on the farm since 1843, moving there from his birthplace in Center township.

Funeral service will be held at Bethesda Presbyterian church in Franklin township at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon, burial will be made [in] Bethesda cemetery.

Mr. Copeland was one of the most widely known farmers in the southwestern part of Columbiana county. He was one of a family of 10 children, all of whom have died.

He observed his golden wedding anniversary Nov. 13, 1923, which was attended by a large number of friends.

Civil War Veteran

Mr. Copeland was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in Co. "C" 143rd O.V.I. He also had two brothers who served in that conflict.

He was a charter member of Pleasant Valley grange, which was organized at Dungannon, Feb. 11, 1874, and this grange honored Mr. Copeland when it observed its 50th anniversary in June 1924. For some years he was a commander of Dennison post, G.A.R. and served through the years as secretary of the 143rd regimental reunion, of which few members now survive.

In 1860 he became a member of Bethesda Presbyterian church, and in its affairs he has always taken an active part. He solicited funds and directed the erection of the beautiful soldiers' monument in Bethesda cemetery in 1897, the shaft being erected in honor of the memory of those from Franklin township who served in the Civil War.

Becomes Weatherman

It was 1893 that the federal government established a cooperative weather reporting station at Millport, and it was placed in charge of Mr. Copeland. For many years he gave much attention to the detail work connected with the station, but which in late years has been looked after by his son Lawrence H. Copeland, a member of the county fair board of managers. At the time of his death he had a complete file of Columbiana county weather reports since the station was established.

Mr. Copeland was the son of Patterson and Susanna Copeland, and Nov. 13, 1873 he married Tamar McCurdy.

For many years he was the most active sheep grower in this part of Ohio and was known to have had in former years the largest herds in this part of the state.

He is survived by his widow, one son and two grandchildren, Eileen and Edwin Copeland, children of L.H. Copeland, with whom he made his home.
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Columbiana county, Ohio CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS BY THE Columbiana county CHAPTER Ohio GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 6, p. 475: Bethesda Church Cemetery, Franklin Twp.

COPELAND, George F., 1843-1930, Co. C, 143 OVI vet 61-65
COPELAND, Tamar G., 1848-1933

COPELAND, Lawrence H., 1876-1956
COPELAND, Anna C., 1886-1964

COPELAND, Edwin R., 1920-____
COPELAND, Dorothy A., 1925-____
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