My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

SYLVESTER M. COPELAND, a prosperous general agriculturist and stock-raiser, residing about two and a-fourth miles northwest of the pleasant village of Three Oaks, Mich., has cultivated his finely-improved homestead for over a quarter of a century and is numbered among the substantial citizens of Berrien County. Mr. Copeland is a native of Oswego County, N. Y., and was born June 11, 1844. The paternal grandfather, Abial Copeland, a hard-working and energetic man, made his home in the Empire State and was a well-known and highly respected resident of Jefferson County, in which part of New York the father of our subject, Alonzo Copeland, was born. The father, reared and educated in his native State, attained to adult age in his early home and married Miss Chloe E. Martin, whose birthplace was also in Jefferson County, N. Y. The husband and wife, settling in Oswego County, were there blessed by the birth of six children, four sons and two daughters, three of the family yet surviving. The father was by trade a carpenter and joiner and made his trade the main occupation of his busy life. In 1865, Alonzo Copeland with his wife and children, emigrated from the old New York homestead to Berrien County, Mich.

The father is yet living at an advanced age, and makes his home in the village of Three Oaks; the mother passed away in her Western home in Berrien County November 22, 1890. She was a woman of intelligence, beloved by all who knew her. Sylvester M. was the third child born unto his parents and passed his youth and early manhood among the familiar scenes of Oswego County. He received a good common-school education and also learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner and was well fitted by habits of industry to make his own way in life when he came to Berrien County, about one year previous to his father. Upon August 22, 1862, our subject patriotically enlisted in the service of the Government, joining Company E, One Hundred and Tenth New York Infantry. While passing from Ship Island to New Orleans, he was attacked with the measles on shipboard and was sent to the hospital in New Orleans, June 11, 1863. He was very sick and was not able to leave the hospital until September 22, 1863, and soon after, discharged on account of disability, returned to his home in New York. He yet receives a pension, as his health was seriously impaired, but in these succeeding years he has in a measure outgrown the effects of his exposure.

In the spring of 1864, Mr. Copeland located in Aurora, Ill., where he remained until January 1, 1865, when he journeyed to Nashville, Tenn., and worked in the employ of the Government as a carpenter and joiner. He was engaged in Nashville until May, 1865, at which date he joined his parents in Michigan. Our subject has since constantly resided in Berrien County, and upon the 1st of November, 1867, was married to Miss Henrietta Barnes, a native of La Porte County, Ind. Mrs. Copeland, born May 1, 1844, is a daughter of Perry and Hannah (Laferty) Barnes, who were of Eastern nativity. Unto our subject and his estimable wife were born three children, one daughter and two sons: Ada Belle, Amos B. and Walter W. Mr. Copeland has been financially successful, and aside from his valuable and highly-cultivated farm of eighty acres, containing excellent improvements, a commodious residence, barns and other buildings, owns a lot in Three Oaks and ten acres adjoining the town site. In political affiliation our subject is a Republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln, his parents were members of the Free-will Baptist Church, but Mr. Copeland is not himself connected with any religious denomination. He is, however, a man of sterling integrity and, doing his daily duty as a neighbor, friend and citizen enjoys the esteem of the community by whom he is surrounded.

* * * *

This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.