Andrew Copenhaver

COPENHAVER DAVIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 18:19:08

Woodbury County History 1984

Andrew and Ella (Davis) Copenhaver
By Jeanette Stevenson

Andrew ‘Andy’ Evermont Copenhaver was born 5 July 1860, in Nicholas County, Virginia. He came to Woodbury County, Iowa, with his parents in 1870. He was farmer with a passion for horses. He was often called on to doctor horses. He married Ella J Davis, 25 February 1884.

Ella J Davis was born 3 December 1866, near Elkhart, Iowa, in Polk County, daughter of Calvin H Davis and Ruth Emery, farmers. Ella’s mother died when she was six years old. She had a sister, Clara Alice, born 6 December 1864, and a brother, Oney. Her father then married Savilla Cory of Elkhart, Iowa. They had five known children: Sylvester ‘Ves’, Melvin, Clysta ‘Cliss’, Grace and Maude.

Andy’s parents sold him 76 acres of land in Grange Township for $456.66, where he and Ella built their first home which was a ‘dug out’, built into a sidehill, with on window and door to the south. Their first son, William Walter ‘Walt’ was born there 26 February 1885. They had two more sons: Marcus ‘Mark’ Bertie, born 19 June 1889; and Roy ‘Mervin’ born 25 March 1891. All three boys attended Camp Creek School, District No. 2, Grange Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, in 1897. Erma Inlay was their teacher. There were fifteen students in all, and five of them were Copenhavers-the other two were cousins, Addie and May Copenhaver.

Andy and Ella farmed until 1905, selling the farm to George A Hunt. They bought three lots in Bronson, Iowa, and built ‘The Bronson House’ (hotel) and the Livery Stable. The hotel was the second hotel in Bronson. Ella managed it while Andy ran the Livery Stable, hauling mail and freight for the railroad company and renting out horses and buggies and driving for the people. They lived there for about ten years, selling to E J Brassfield in 1915. They bought an acreage from George Rowe in 1910 on the southwest edge of town. In 1915, they built their last home and barn for $1365. The house was a very attractive brown bungalow 26’ x 36’. They soon added a chicken house and a cave. They lived the remaineder of their lives in this home. Andy died 19 December 1926. He was diabetic; gangrene set in. He refused amputation and dieting. He loved to eat and drink beer. Ella died 25 February 1930, sudden death of stroke, she had had high blood pressure for years. She had some arthritis. Both are buried in Graceland Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa, and Woodbury County.