William Copeland (1822 - 1905)

Born 6 Aug 1822 in England

Husband of Mary M (Swaney) Copeland — married 11 Jul 1858 in Old Mission, Grand Traverse, Michigan

Died 3 Sep 1905 at age 83 in Clearwater Township, Kalkaska, Michigan, United States

Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Birth

Birth:

Date: 6 Aug 1822

Place: England^[1][2][3]

Death

Death:

Date: 3 Sep 1905

Place: Clearwater Twp., Kalkaska, Michigan^[4][5][6]

Burial

Burial:

Place: Williamsburg, Grand Traverse, Michigan^[7][8]

Event

Event:

Type: Arrival

Date: 1845^[9]

Event: Williamsburg Cemetery

Type: Cemetery

Place: Williamsburg, Grand Traverse, Michigan^[10]

Residence

Residence:

Date: 1860

Place: Whitewater, Grand Traverse, Michigan^[11]

Residence:

Date: 1870

Place: Rapid River, Kalkaska, Michigan^[12]

Residence:

Date: 1880

Place: Clearwater Twp., Kalkaska, Michigan^[13]

Residence:

Date: 1900

Place: Clearwater Twp., Kalkaska, Michigan^[14]

Note

Note: #NI1443

Marriage

Husband: William Copeland

Wife: Mary Swaney

Marriage:

Date: 11 Jul 1858

Place: Old Mission, Grand Traverse, Michigan^[15]

Sources

• Source: S237 Abbreviation: 1870 United States Federal Census Title: 1870 U.S. census, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, Utah, Digital images Publication: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• Source: S238 Abbreviation: 1880 United States Federal Census Title: 1880 U.S. census, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, Utah, Digital images Publication: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• Source: S239 Abbreviation: 1900 United States Federal Census Title: 1900 U.S. census, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, Utah, Digital images Publication: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• Source: S244 Abbreviation: 1860 United States Federal Census Title: 1860 U.S. census, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, Utah, Digital images Publication: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• Source: S403 Abbreviation: Descendants of John and Rosannah Swaney; a family history prepared for the swaney family reunion of 1982. ; photocopy Title: The Descendants of John and Rosannah Swaney; a family history prepared for the swaney family reunion of 1982. ; photocopy Author: George Beckett
• Source: S563 Find A Grave: Memorial #17243321
• Source: S659 Abbreviation: Michigan Death Records, 1897 - 1920 Title: Michigan Death Records, 1897 - 1920 Publication: Database online. seekingmichigan.org. Library of Michigan collection of Michigan death certificates.

Notes

Note NI1443The Descendants of John and Rosannah Swaney compiled by George E. Beckett.

This family history was prepared for the Swaney Family Reunion of 1982.

William Copeland was both farmer and millwright. He was born August 5, 1822. Some sources say his place of birth was Nottinghamshire, others say Sturtin, England. In 1844, he sailed to Canada, the voyage taking seven weeks to complete. He worked a short time there and then migrated to southern Michigan and resided in the Grandville area. Here he practiced his millwright trade in various locations as well as doing carpentry work. In the early 1850's the Hannah and Lay Company asked him to come north and assist in erecting a new mill on the Boardman River. Accepting their offer Will then proceeded to walk the entire distance from Grand Rapids to Traverse City! In 1855 he settled on section 31 of what is now Clearwater township in Kalkaska County. This move gave him the distinction of becoming the first settler of that county and today a monument has been erected to honor him as such.

For the first twelve years of marriage, Will and Mary were also the only permanent residents of the county. They had in all 216 acres of land of which about 160 was under cultivation. When he first arrived the land was covered with maple, beech, and other hardwoods and extended from what is now M-72 toward Round Lake. Pastureland extended toward the lake itself. Shortly after their marriage they planted a small orchard as well. Will Copeland also made all his own farm machinery including a threshing machine.

Both William and Mary Copeland were members of the Traverse Area Old Settlers Association. Will was the Association's very first "second vice-president". He was also a township treasurer for six years, school assessor, and served in various other official capacities. He also donated land for the building of a church and schoolhouse on M-72 and helped in their construction.

After his retirement Will kept busy at various chores and in making small tools. He was called to his final rest on September 3, 1905 at the age of 83. Mary continued to live on the farm until poor health required her to make her home with her daughter, Rose Hoxsie. She died on the 30th of March,1917. Both were buried in the cemetery at Williamsburg.: To their union, eight children were born, only five of which grew to adulthood.

1. ↑ Source: #S403
2. ↑ Source: #S659 Page: State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Statistics Certificate of Death for William Copeland, died Sep 3 1905 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
3. ↑ Source: #S563 Page: Digital image. Headstone for William Copeland ( Aug. 6, 1822 - Sep. 3, 1905 ) Williamsburg Cemetery, Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Find A Grave Memorial # 17243321 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
4. ↑ Source: #S403
5. ↑ Source: #S659 Page: State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Statistics Certificate of Death for William Copeland, died Sep 3 1905 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
6. ↑ Source: #S563 Page: Digital image. Headstone for William Copeland ( Aug. 6, 1822 - Sep. 3, 1905 ) Williamsburg Cemetery, Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Find A Grave Memorial # 17243321 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
7. ↑ Source: #S563 Page: Digital image. Headstone for William Copeland ( Aug. 6, 1822 - Sep. 3, 1905 ) Williamsburg Cemetery, Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Find A Grave Memorial # 17243321 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
8. ↑ Source: #S659 Page: State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Statistics Certificate of Death for William Copeland, died Sep 3 1905 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
9. ↑ Source: #S239 Page: T623, roll 721, Clearwater Twp., Kalkaska, Michigan, enumeration district (ED) 84, p. 1A, dwelling 5, family 5, William Copeland Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
10. ↑ Source: #S563 Page: Digital image. Headstone for William Copeland ( Aug. 6, 1822 - Sep. 3, 1905 ) Williamsburg Cemetery, Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Find A Grave Memorial # 17243321 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
11. ↑ Source: #S244 Page: M653, roll 543, Whitewater, Grand Traverse, Michigan, post office Traverse City, p. 55, dwelling 547, family 588, William Copeland Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
12. ↑ Source: #S237 Page: M593, roll 680, Rapid River, Kalkaska, Michigan, post office Clearwater, p. 5B, dwelling 113, family 114, William Copeland Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
13. ↑ Source: #S238 Page: T9, roll 587, Clearwater, Kalkaska, Michigan, enumeration district (ED) 106, p. 5, dwelling 43, family 43, William Copeland Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
14. ↑ Source: #S239 Page: T623, roll 721, Clearwater Twp., Kalkaska, Michigan, enumeration district (ED) 84, p. 1A, dwelling 5, family 5, William Copeland Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
15. ↑ Source: #S403

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Bill Rankin for creating WikiTree profile Copeland-1216 through the import of James Rankin to Me.ged on Sep 10, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Bill and others.