George Washington
Cope was the Son of Samuel Cope and Elizabeth Everitt, born
After the death of George’s father Samuel, in 1843, George and his brothers and sisters inherited about $1000 each. With this inheritance, many of Samuel's children left Pike County Alabama and came to Texas and settled in Pittsburg, which is a small community in Upshur County.
George had four children born in Alabama and the remaining children were born in Texas. These four were Mary Ann, John Everett, Reuben Taylor and William (Billy).
About 1851, George came to Texas and had 11 more children. Six of these children were born in Upshur County. These were Elizabeth, Ann, Thomas Henry, Alice H., Martha Permelia and Rebecca B.
By 1870 George
moved from
Eliza B., Ophelia, Lucy Allen, Georgia O. and Adeline were born in Itasca, Texas which is in Hill County. Also listed in 1870 Hill County Census, was the household of James C. Conger and Mary Ann Cope b)1844 with two children:
George Washington Conger
Mary Ann Conger b) 1869 and d) 1877
It was in Itasca in 1879 that George died and I'm not sure if he was about to move to Coleman County when he died or died in transit. He is buried in Prairie Dale Cemetery outside Itasca, Texas.
The 1880 Coleman County census shows the remnants of the Cope family lived in Silver Valley. At this time it was John Everett, Reuben Taylor and Mary Ann. Possibly, Thomas Henry was also in Coleman County at some point in time.
In the 1880 Coleman County Census is found Mary Ann b)1844 in one household and married to a James C. Conger and children:
George
William
Hart
Taylor
John
Amanda b) 1879
Another household showing Amanda Allen Cope b) 1828:
Alice H.
Rebecca B.
Ophelia
Lucy Allen
Georgia
Adeline.
The next household is John Everett and wife Lucretia with the children
Madison Earl
Thomas Jefferson
Sallie
Presha C.
Mary S.
The adjoining household is Reuben Taylor and wife Rebecca Conger, Cope with the following children:
John Robert
Francis
Lenora
Early
Lucy Ella.
From this point, I will concentrate on the three remaining sons of George Washington Cope. These sons were John Everett, Reuben Taylor and Thomas Henry who have Cope descendants scattered across Texas and New Mexico as of the date of this biography. (June 2004)
Two of George’s sons were in Coleman County in 1880 and for reasons unknown at this time, each moved on to Sterling County and begun ranching. A note worth recording is Reuben Taylor who may have never left Coleman County, however his son John Robert did and his descendants.
The following moved to Sterling somewhere between 1880 and 1900
George’s wife Amanda and household, John Everett and household, Thomas Henry and household
The latter two remained in Sterling only for a short period and Thomas Henry moved back to Itasca where he lived until his death in 1911.
John Everett moved west to Pecos County and remained until his death in 1919. John’s descendants remained in Pecos County and suffered many losses of this line due to flu epidemic and various tragedies.
Note: Lucretia, John’s wife became ill and never came to Pecos County and died 1926 in Austin Texas hospital.
By John Edward (Eddie) Cope 2nd Great Grandson June 2004
Edited by Corley Cope Kresta and Pamalah Conger Tipps