Prominent among the active and respected citizens of Lewis township
is Benjamin Coppock, Esq., who has spent the larger part of his business
life in this section of Clay county,and has materially assisted in
developing and advancing its agricultural growth and prosperity.
A son of John Coppock, he was born, September 15, 1832, in Miami
county, Ohio, of which his father was a pioneer.
    Born either in one of the Carolinas, or in Tennessee, John Coppock
settled in Ohio after his marriage, purchasing a tract of government land.
in Miami county. He cleared a part of his purchase, and was there em-
ployed in tilling the soil until 1836, when he came across the country
with a team to Indiana, intending to locate here. He spent some time in
looking about, but finding nothing that suited his fancy he returned to his
Ohio homestead, and was there afterwards happily and contentedly en-
gaged in general farming until his death, at the age of seventy-seven
years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Duncan, was born in
South Carolina, a daughter of Samuel Duncan, another early pioneer of
Miami county, Ohio. She survived him, dying at the advanced age of
eighty-one years. She had been married twice before marrying Mr. Cop-
pock. By her marriage with her first husband, Isaiah Pemberton, she
had one daughter, and by her second husband, Henry Neal, she had
three sons and one daughter. Her only child by her third marriage was
Benjamin Coppock, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned.
    Leaving home at the age of ten years, Benjamin Coppock came to
Clay county, Indiana, to live with his half-borther, Thomas C. Neal, a
resident of Lewis township. The country roundabout was then in its
original wildness, game of all kinds was abundant, the roads were princi-
pally forest trails, and all transportation was with teams, there being
neither railways nor canals in this part of the state. Neither were there
markets or mills, people being obliged to go to Port Commerce, Greene
county, or to Terre Haute, to get their grain ground, or to exchange the
productions of their land for domestic supplies. At the time of his mar-
riage, Mr. Coppock left the home of his half-brother, settling in section
thirty-two, Lewis township, where he bought a tract of wild land. Mak-
ing an opening in the forest, he built a log cabin, in which he set up
housekeeping. After clearing a part of the land, he settled in section
twenty-one, the same township, on a forty-acre tract given to him and
his wife by his father-in-law, Elisha Puckett, and was there engaged in
tilling the soil when the Civil war broke out. His patriotic spirit being
aroused, Mr. Coppock enlisted, in 1862, in Company K, Eighty-fifth In-
diana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all of its engage-
ments, including the march to Atlanta, thence to the Sea, and through the
Carolinas, to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review.
    Being honorably discharged with his comrades from the service,
Mr. Coppock returned to his farm, and resumed its management. Sell-
ing out two years later, he purchased land in section nine, Lewis town-
ship, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he
disposed of that property, and bought his present home, in section 27.
During the years that have since intervened, he has made excellent im-
provements on his place, and has carried on general farming most suc-
cessfully, being one of the most prosperous and skilful farmers of the
neighborhood.
    Mr. Coppock married first, in 1853, Zeresh Puckett, who was born, in
1831, in Shelby county, Illinois, a daughter of Elihu and Rebecca
(Hughes) Puckett. Her parents came from Illinois to Lewis township
in 1836, locating in section 21, and from the land that they bought
improved a farm, on which both spent their remaining years. Mrs.
Zeresh Coppock died February 27, 1873, leaving five children, namely:
Jemima, wife of Charles B. Cooprider, of Clay county, Indiana; Rebecca
Ann, wife of Calvin C. Mattox, has eight children, Lulu, Clifford; Lillie,
Earl, Susie, Ivan, Curtis, and Zeresh; Mary M., wife of Benjamin Worth,
has, four children, Arlie, Reuben, Ivan, and Louise; Ida May, wife of
Leander Worth, has one child, Otis; and Thomas B. The maiden name of
Mr. Coppock’s present wife was Mary Merrill. She was born in Coshoc-
ton county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Catherine Merrill, and was
married twice before becoming the wife of Mr. Coppock. By her mar-
riage with her first husband, Andrew J. Kent, she had four children,
namely : Collins, who was living in San Francisco when last heard from
Henry, who married Martha Garvin, has one son, Earl; Jacob married
Mary Belle Row, and they have five children, Onie, Elmer, Frankie M.,
Mabel Bennie, and Cynthia; and Clementina, wife of George W. Bennett,
has six children, Mary, Alice, Frankie, Georgie, Leo, and Ethel. Mrs.
Coppock’s second husband was William Cutshaw. Politically Mr. Cop-
pock is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and has served thir-
teen years as assessor of Lewis township, and as justice of the peace for
eleven years.

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                    1884 History of Clay County, p. 535.

                    BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.  Lewis Township.

     BENJAMIN COPPOCK, farmer, is the only child of John and Mary
(Duncan) Coppock, natives of South Carolina, and was born in Miami
County, Ohio, September 15, 1832, whither his parents had
emigrated, and whence he was brought to this township in 1842.  He
was reared to the plow, and from the neighboring schools he
acquired the rudiments of an education.  In August, 1862, he
enlisted in Company K, Eighty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, in which he served until the war was ended, having
participated in the battles of Thompson Station and Cassville, Ga.,
whence he was sent to the convalescent camp at Chattanooga, and
again assigned to duty in Gen. Sherman's great campaign and march
to the ocean, and was discharged at Alexandria.  Mr. Coppock has
been thrice married -- November 24, 1853, to Zeresh Puckett, who
died February 27, 1873, having borne eight children -- Jemima,
Rebecca Ann, Mary M., Ida May and Thomas P., living, together with
Nancy Jane, Joseph and an infant, deceased.  July 22, 1875, he
married Elizabeth Mattox, from whom he was subsequently divorced,
and July 30, 1882, he married his present wife, Mary (Cutsaw)
Coppock.  Mr. Coppock is a member of Vigo Lodge, No. 29, A. F. &
A. M.,  and was the first Master Mason made therein.  In 1867, he
was elected Justice of the Peace, and served ten years
consecutively.  In 1880, he was made Township Assessor, which
office he now holds.  In politics, he is a Democrat.