Rev James Copus

Birth: 1775
Greene County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 15 Sep 1812 (aged 36–37)
Mifflin, Ashland County, Ohio, USA
Burial: Copus Monument Site

Mifflin, Ashland County, Ohio, USA Show Map GPS-Latitude: 40.72926, Longitude: -82.35992
Plot: Road T-1225, off S.R. 603, south of Mifflin, Ohio
Memorial ID: 29266891 View Source

First settler in what was then Mifflin Township, Richland County, Ohio, March 1809. He was a Methodist preacher and trusted friend to many of the local Indians. But, as a result of an incident during the War of 1812, the Indians wrongly came to believed he had betrayed them when they were removed from their local settlement at Greentown, which was then destroyed by the white soldiers. Due to danger of reprisal, a contingent of the Ohio Militia was sent to guard the Rev. Copus and his family. The Indians attacked the Copus cabin on 15 Sept. 1812, and Rev. Copus, along with 3 soldiers, died in the fighting. A monument was dedicated on 15 Sept. 1882 on the site of the cabin, locally known as "Copus Hill", and marks the burial all 4 victims. This is now located in Ashland County.

More information on the Copus massacre may be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copus_massacre

here:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4FD0_Copus_Massacre_Ashland_County_Ohio

and here:
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Copus_massacre

For a related historical event, see entry for the near by Ruffner-Ziemer Cemetery:
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2242834/ruffner-ziemer-cemetery

Inscription

JAMES COPUS / AND THREE SOLDIERS / GEORGE SHIPLEY / JOHN TEDRICK / AND WARNOCK / KILLED BY THE INDIANS / SEPT. 15, 1812

This monument also is a cenotaph to another famous local pioneer, John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman; it reads:

JOHNNY APPLESEED / DIED / MAR. 11, 1845 / BURIED NEAR / FORT WAYNE, IND.
see: F-a-G Memorial 1848
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1848/john-chapman