484                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

original wildness, game of all kinds was abundant, the roads were princi-
pally forest trails, and all transportation was with teams, there being
neither railways nor canals in this part of the state. Neither were there
markets or mills, people being obliged to go to Port Commerce, Greene
county, or to Terre Haute, to get their grain ground, or to exchange the
productions of their land for domestic supplies. At the time of his mar-
riage, Mr. Coppock left the home of his half-brother, settling in section
thirty-two, Lewis township, where he bought a tract of wild land. Mak-
ing an opening in the forest, he built a log cabin, in which he set up
housekeeping. After clearing a part of the land, he settled in section
twenty-one, the same township, on a forty-acre tract given to him and
his wife by his father-in-law, Elisha Puckett, and was there engaged in
tilling the soil when the Civil war broke out. His patriotic spirit being
aroused, Mr. Coppock enlisted, in 1862, in Company K, Eighty-fifth In-
diana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all of its engage-
ments, including the march to Atlanta, thence to the Sea, and through the
Carolinas, to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review.
    Being honorably discharged with his comrades from the service,
Mr. Coppock returned to his farm, and resumed its management. Sell-
ing out two years later, he purchased land in section nine, Lewis town-
ship, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he
disposed of that property, and bought his present home, in section 27.
During the years that have since intervened, he has made excellent im-
provements on his place, and has carried on general farming most suc-
cessfully, being one of the most prosperous and skilful farmers of the
neighborhood.
    Mr. Coppock married first, in 1853, Zeresh Puckett, who was born, in
1831, in Shelby county, Illinois, a daughter of Elihu and Rebecca
(Hughes) Puckett. Her parents came from Illinois to Lewis township
in 1836, locating in section 21, and from the land that they bought
improved a farm, on which both spent their remaining years. Mrs.
Zeresh Coppock died February 27, 1873, leaving five children, namely:
Jemima, wife of Charles B. Cooprider, of Clay county, Indiana; Rebecca
Ann, wife of Calvin C. Mattox, has eight children, Lulu, Clifford; Lillie,
Earl, Susie, Ivan, Curtis, and Zeresh; Mary M., wife of Benjamin Worth,
has, four children, Arlie, Reuben, Ivan, and Louise; Ida May, wife of
Leander Worth, has one child, Otis; and Thomas B. The maiden name of
Mr. Coppock’s present wife was Mary Merrill. She was born in Coshoc-
ton county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Catherine Merrill, and was
married twice before becoming the wife of Mr. Coppock. By her mar-
riage with her first husband, Andrew J. Kent, she had four children,
namely : Collins, who was living in San Francisco when last heard from
Henry, who married Martha Garvin, has one son, Earl; Jacob married
Mary Belle Row, and they have five children, Onie, Elmer, Frankie M.,
Mabel Bennie, and Cynthia; and Clementina, wife of George W. Bennett,
has six children, Mary, Alice, Frankie, Georgie, Leo, and Ethel. Mrs.
Coppock’s second husband was William Cutshaw. Politically Mr. Cop-
pock is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and has served thir-
teen years as assessor of Lewis township, and as justice of the peace for
eleven years.

REV. JOHN FLETCHER EDMONSON.—For many years Rev. John F.
Edmonson, of Lewis township, Clay county, was actively engaged in