Elizabeth Lucinda Bell (1820)

Born Dec 1820 in Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Biography

Elizabeth married Dr. James William Coors on Apr 4, 1839. James died Oct 8, 1863.

Dr. James Wilson Copes established Durango Plantation after returning to Brazoria County after 1848. The plantation was carved out of land his wife Elizabeth Lucinda Bell would receive as part of her inheritance from the estate of her father Josiah H. Bell.

Located on the west side of the Brazos River just below East Columbia the plantation was made up of 685 acres out of the Josiah H. Bell 1 1⁄2 League tract.

Copes would operate Durango as a cotton plantation with 10-14 slaves on the property until his death in 1863. After remarrying, Elizabeth L. Copes McKinney transferred ownership of the plantation to two of her sons, James W. and Joseph S. Copes in 1876.

By 1883 financial difficulties forced them to sell their rights. John G. Smith & Bro. a local company run by John G. and Travis L. Smith acquired the property that same year.

The Smith brothers would purchase another 435 acres adjacent to the property. The lands remained in the Smith Estate for many years. The current owner is Mitigation Strategies.

Sources

• lifeonthebrazosriver.com
• “The Sons of the Republic of Texas”