Contra Costa County Biography

GEORGE COPLE

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
              Nearly sixty years have come and gone since George  Cople became 
associated with the frontier state of California. When he crossed the plains he 
was a young man, full of ambition, courage, and perseverance. He has been a 
dominant factor in the development of eastern Contra Costa County. Mr. Cople was 
born in Switzerland in 1837. He came to America in 1854, landing in New York 
City. He removed to Ohio, and later took up residence in Chicago, where he 
remained until 1857. He had heard much about California, and it was about this 
time that he decided to cast his lot with the Golden West. He came here a young 
man, poor in pocket, but rich in ambition. In 1857, he drove teams from 
Leavenworth, Kansas, in connection with soldiers going to Utah, and in 1858 he 
was ordered on to Benicia. For several years he found work in various parts of 
the State, largely following farming,  and in 1867 he purchased three hundred 
and eighty-five acres near Byron. Mr. Cople was united in marriage to Margaret 
Eachus on April 17, 1870, and her death occurred in 1908, in her sixty-ninth 
year. To this union there were three children. Charles, the eldest of the 
family, was born on February 17, 1871. He was educated in the Excelsior school, 
after which he took a course in the San Jose Business College. Laying aside his 
books, he returned to the home place, and has always devoted himself to 
agricultural pursuits and for many years has had the management of the farm. On 
December 27, 1899, Charles Cople was married to Miss Elsie Johnston, daughter of 
John and Mary Johnston, of San Mateo County. Mrs. Cople's parents were among the 
highly respected families and pioneers of their locality. Her father died in 
1893 and her mother passed away in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cople have one 
son, Kenneth D., born August 2, 1901, who is attending school. Mary Eva, the 
second child of George Cople, died at the age of sixteen years. Ralph G., the 
youngest child, was born July 15, 1882. He is identified with the stock  
business and resides in Livermore, California. He married Miss Georgia Tozer, a 
native daughter. Both George and Charles Cople give their political support to 
the Republican Party. The latter is a member of the Native Sons and a member of 
Byron Parlor. Charles is a valuable assistant and manager of the home ranch. He 
is broad-minded and public-spirited, and is one of the foremost in promoting the 
welfare of eastern Contra Costa County, and takes an active part in the 
prohibition movement.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 572-573.