ROYAL S. COPELIN.

ROYAL S. COPELIN, a representative of the farming interests of Allen County, was born in Oneida County, New York, on the 14th of February, 1856, and is of English lineage. His father, John Copelin, was a native of England, and during his boyhood came to America with his parents. He was born in 1821, and in 1854 was united in marriage to Sarah Ann Perry, a native of New York. By trade he was a miller and followed that pursuit for some time, but subsequently turned his attention to farming. In 1860 he removed to Illinois, making his home in Kankakee, County, until his death, which occurred July 22, 1883. His widow still survives him and is living in Kankakee County, at the age of sixty-three. They were the parents of three children: Eliza, wife of John Coasch, of Wilmington, Illinois; Royal S., of this review, and Julia, wife of Patterson Patchett, of Kankakee County, Illinois.

Mr. Copelin, whose name introduces this record, accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois when he was four years of age, and acquired a common school education in that State. He was reared upon the home farm and assisted his father in the cultivation and development of the fields until twenty-four years of age, when he was married and began farming on his own account. On the 14th of February, 1880,—his twenty-fourth birthday,—he wedded Miss Alice Amelia Armitage, who was born in Kankakee, Illinois. Her father, James A. Armitage, was a native of Pennsylvania, born April 22, 1826, and is still living. He wedded Miss Margaret E. Gruer, a native of the Empire State and they became the parents of nine children, namely; Agnes A., Albert A., Anthon A., Alice A., Winfield S., Charles W., Mary A., Jessie J. and James H. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Copelin have been born two children: Stella Maud, a young lady of nineteen years, and Perry A., a lad of seven summers.

Mr. and Mrs. Copelin began their domestic life upon a farm in Illinois, and there remained until 1887, when they removed to Colorado, locating on a ranch of five hundred and sixty acres in Kiowa County. There our subject engaged in the cattle business, buying, raising and shipping cattle on an extensive scale, meeting with very creditable success in this venture. After he had lived in Colorado three years, he sold his Illinois farm and invested the money in his business in Colorado. He was there elected county commissioner of Kiowa County for a term of three years. The

county was thirty-seven by eighty-eight miles in extent, and the office of commissioner is one of importance, paying a salary of five hundred dollars and mileage per year, but Mr. Copelin's family were not satisfied in Colorado, and, consequently, he sold his ranch and came to Allen County, Kansas. Here he purchased the excellent farm which he now owns, buying the property of C. H. Pratt. It is located a mile and a half northeast of Humboldt and Mr. Copelin has placed it under a very high state of cultivation. To the north of his pleasant residence is a beautiful grove and drive way leads from the main road to his home, standing on an eminence, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country. He trades, buys and ships both cattle and hogs, and thus annually augments his income. He votes with the Republican party, but takes little part in public affairs, his attention being directed to his business interests.

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