Dr. J. H. Copenhaver
Submitted by
Robert Kingrey
Source: Jacob L.
Hasbrouck
Dr. J. H. Copenhaver, a
physician and surgeon of Bellflower, Ill., is well known
throughout the community, both as a successful man in his
profession, and as an excellent citizen. He was born at Salem, in
Marion County, Ill., Nov. 25, 1876, the son of James Harvey and
Sophronia (Brownfield) Copenhaver.
James Harvey Copenhaven was
born at Ironton, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1822, the son of John and
Elizabeth (Bumgardner) Copenhaven. John
Copenhaver was a native of Virginia and an early settler of
Ironton, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Bumgardner, a
daughter of Peter and Francis (Berner) Bumgardner.
James Harvey Copenhaver came
to Illinois in 1868, locating in Marion County, where he worked at
his trade, that of a carpenter, and also followed farming. In 1875
Mr. Copenhaver was married to Miss Sophronia Brownfield, a
native of Jackson County, Ill., born Dec. 14, 1848, and the
daughter of Robert Brownfield. Mr. And Mrs. Copenhaver
had two children as follows: Dr. J. H., the subject of this
sketch; and Mary Edna, married Samuel Brower and they live
at Bellflower, Ill. She was born Aug. 9th, 1878.
Dr. J. H. Copenhaver
attended the Pleasant Valley district school in McLean County. His
first schoolteacher, Mrs. W. S. Bingham, now residing in
Bellflower. After attending a teacher’s college at Valparaiso,
Ind., Dr. Copenhaver taught school for two years, later
studying medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at
Chicago, from which he was graduated in June 1903. He then located
to Bellflower, and at once established an excellent practice in
his profession.
On Aug. 23, 1905, Dr. Copenhaver
was married to Miss Margaret Ritchie, a native of
Bellflower, Ill., born Aug. 5, 1882, and the daughter of Robert
and Helen Belle (Carlyle) Ritchie. Mr. Ritchie was
born July 4, 1851, and his wife was born Aug. 23, 1866. She died
in 1894. Mr. And Mrs. Ritchie were the parents of seven
children, as follows; John, lives in Iowa; Walter, deceased; Mrs.
Copenhaver; Janet, lives in Colorado Springs, Colo.;
Walter, lives at Bloomington; Walter, lives at Bloomington; Farrie
and Walter deceased.
To Dr. J. H. and Margaret (Ritchie)
Copenhaver five children have been born, as follows; Janet
Mary, born Dec. 11, 1906; Helen Belle, born April 25, 1908; Robert
Harvey, born Jan. 8, 1910; Margaret Nadine, born July 24, 1916;
and Dorothy Elizabeth, born Feb, 2, 1918.
Dr. Copenhaver is a member
of the Illinois State Medical Association, the McLean County
Medical Association, and the Tri-State Medical Association. He is
a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, belongs to the
Impendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic lodge, and the Knights
of Pythais.
