Mon Valley Biographies - Copenhaver, Eldridge Mansfield

ELDRIDGE MANSFIELD COPENHAVER

The man who has made a success of life and won the honor and esteem of his
fellowmen deserved more than passing notice, and in this class stands
Eldridge M. Copenhaver, a well known citizen of California, Washington
County, where for more than twenty years he has held an important and
responsible position.  By a life of persistent and well applied energy and
commendable industry along well defined lines he has earned the right to be
classed with the progressive and public-spirited  men of his county who have
made their influence felt in their respective communities.

Mr. Copenhaver was born at Charleston, West Virginia, on the 30th of April,
1887, and is a son of Floyd and Grace (Carson) Copenhaver. His father also
was a native of the Mountain state, born June 7, 1852, and there followed
the vocation of farming.  He is a republican in his political views. He is
the son of Thomas Copenhaver, who was born in Germany in 1824, and came to
this country, settling in Nicholas county, West Virginia, where he farmed
and also worked at surveying. He was a republican and a member of the
Baptist church.  Grace Carson was born near Baltimore, Maryland, May 1,
1855, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Blyth/Peacock) Carson.  James
Carson was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1824, and died in 1875.  After
coming to this country he devoted his attention to mining and became a mine
superintendent. During the Civil war he joined the Union army and served
valiantly in defense of his adopted country.  His political allegiance was
given to the republican party, and his religious faith was that of the
Presbyterian church, as was that of his wife. She too was a native of
Scotland and died in December, 1853. James Carson was the son of Alexander
Carson, who died in 1855 on his way to this country.

Eldridge M. Copenhaver attended the public schools and then took a course in
electrical engineering at Scranton, Pennsylvania, followed by two years in
the mining school at California. He did first aid work for five years and
then for a time was employed in the electrical department of mines in this
vicinity. For more than twenty years he has served as electrical foreman for
the Vesta Coal Company, his long retention in this important position
attesting his ability and faithfulness.  He is thoroughly qualified
technically and devotes himself indefatigably to the performance of his
duties, the welfare and prosperity of the mines in his care being largely
dependent upon his attention to the electrical service.

Politically, Mr. Copenhaver has always given his support to the Republican
Party and has served as Burgess of California, giving an able and
businesslike administration of the town's affairs. Fraternally he is a
member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the
thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is a member of Syria Temple,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh; the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics; and the Chamber of Commerce.  Religiously he is an
active member of the Methodist Episcopal church at California, being a
member of its official board, belonging also to the Men's Bible class and
the Epworth League.  He has been deeply interested in work among the boys
and is a member of the troop committee of the Boy Scouts.  He is a member of
the National Reform Association of Pittsburgh and takes a commendable
interest in every movement of an uplifting character, as well as in all
measures proposed for the betterment of his own community.

Mr. Copenhaver was married May 3, 1911, at Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, to
Miss Pearl Kiesling, who was born October 16, 1889, in Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Wehyman) Kiesling.  Her father
was born in Germany, March 17, 1853, came to America in 1866 and settled in
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade, that of a
plasterer.  He was a republican and a member of the German Lutheran church.
His wife was born in Pennsylvania, June 4, 1856, a daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Shipper) Wehyman, the former of whom was a native of
Pennsylvania, and died in 1885. He was a farmer by vocation, a republican in
his political views and a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Copenhaver was
educated in the public schools of Ellwood City, graduating from the high
school, and she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and its
auxiliary societies. To Mr. and Mrs. Copenhaver have been born three
children, namely: Harold Ray, born April 15, 1913; Edna Mae, born August 22,
1918; and Paul Eldridge, born August 15, 1921. Mr. Copenhaver is a man of
courteous and gentlemanly manner, kindly and genial in his social relations
and generous in his support of all worthy benevolent causes, and no one in
the community stands higher in popular esteem and confidence than he.