Copner - J.W.
J.W. COPELAND
Source: 1880 H. W. Beckwith p 167 History of Fountain Co Indiana
J. W. Copner, attorney, Covington, was b. in Warren Co, Ohio and is now 46 years of age. His people moved to Montgomery County, where most of his early life was spent. He received his education at the Agricultural School of Bloomingdale, Parke County, Indiana, paying his own way by chopping cordwood at 37 1/2 cents per cord. At 19 years of age, he began reading Blackstone and was, after studying with the law firm of White & Patterson, admitted to practice in Crawfordsville in 1865. He would, however, have begun the practice sooner had it not been for the prejudice of his father against the practice of law. In 1870, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Indiana and the same year he was elected a member of the State Legislature of Indiana. At the close of this term, he was re-nominated for the same office, but resigned the candidacy on account of removing to Fountain Co, June 15, 1872. Since that time, he has taken an active part in political affairs, and at the convention of 1880, he was nominated by the National Greenback Party as candidate for congress. For the past 3 years, he has taken an active part in the cause of temperance and is at present the president of the Temperance Society of Fountain County. His son, E. Copner, is the present (1880) editor of the Journal, which is one of the prominent Greenback organs of the State of Indiana. -- typed by kbz