Joseph T. Copeland

Joseph Tarr Copeland (May 6, 1813 – May 6, 1893) was a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1852 until 1857, as well as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Copeland was born in New Castle, Maine. He studied at Harvard College and then read law under Daniel Webster. In 1844 he moved to St. Clair, Michigan and later built a sawmill in Bay City, Michigan.

At the start of the Civil War Copeland served first as colonel and commander of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, and then the 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. Later promoted to brigadier general, he commanded the "wolverines" of the Michigan Brigade, but was replaced by George A. Custer shortly before the Battle of Gettysburg.

After this Copeland moved to Orchard Lake, Michigan where he built a residence known as "The Castle". In 1870 he and some local businessmen turned it into a hotel, but the venture went under in 1873.

In 1878 Copeland moved to Florida, where he served for a time as a judge in Clay County.

He was initially buried in Orange Park, Florida, but was later re-interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan.

Joseph Tarr Copeland was born to Royal and Alice (Davis) Copeland. Located in Lincoln County, Newcastle sits about forty miles north of Portland, Maine, yet is on a long finger of water extending to the Atlantic coast.

Joseph’s father, Royal, the 2nd child of Captain Samuel and Emma (Parker) Copeland, was born August 11, 1790, in either Maine or New Hampshire. Samuel had fought in the Revolutionary War. Joseph’s mother, Alice, was born in Wiscasset, Maine, on February 9, 1791. She had been orphaned at an early age and was raised by her mother’s sister, Mrs. Tarr. In a letter to his children, Joseph’s brother writes about his parents’ meeting,

...
Wikipedia