Ishmael M. Copeland is the earliest proven ancestor of the Copeland line. He was born July 19, 1823 in Tennessee. He married Hollia M. (last name unknown) probably around 1848. She was born May 14, 1826 in Tennessee. They were the parents of:

                Nancy E. Copeland, born March 21, 1849 in Tennessee

                Josephine Copeland, born September 29, 1854 in Arkansas

               Martha Copeland, born February 5, 1857 in Missouri

               Van D. Copeland, born May 9, 1859 in Missouri

               Mary Copeland, born September 9, 1861 in Missouri

There was another son named, James Preston Copeland, born July 23, 1851, who must have died young as he does not appear on any census.

Ishmael and his wife, Holly are listed on the 1850 census along with daughter Nancy. At that time they were living in Township 3 North, Range 6 West (Jacobs Township), Madison County, Illinois. It shows his occupation as farmer. According to this census, all three were born in Tennessee. Ishmael and Holly were unable to read and write.

Sometime between 1850 and 1854, the family had migrated to Arkansas. Their next child, Josephine was born in Arkansas on September 29, 1854.

By 1860, the family was living in the Piney Township, Texas County, Missouri. The nearest post office is Houston. Ishmael's occupation is still listed as 'farmer'. Nancy is now 11 years of age. Other children are: Josephine, age 6; Martha, age 3; and son Van, age 1. Martha and Van were both born in Missouri, so the family was there by 1857. On the same census page, there is an Esaw Copeland, believed to be Ishmael's brother.

Ishmael served in the civil war as a Confederate soldier. He commanded Company B, Mitchell's Regiment, 8th Missouri Infantry. He enlisted August 4, 1862 at Eleven Points, Missouri for a period of 3 years. He was elected 1st Lieutenant August 7, 1862. He is described as having black eyes, dark or black hair, 6'2" in height with no peculiarities.

He was captured on September 9, 1863 in Dunklin County, Missouri. At this time, he was part of Kitchen's Regiment (1st Lieutenant, 7th Battalion). He was taken as a Prisoner of War and incarcerated at Gratiot Street Military Prison. (Gratiot is pronounced 'grass-shut')

Excerpt from an upcoming book:

During the Civil War Gratiot Street Military Prison was operated in St. Louis, Missouri by the Union army. Gratiot was unique in that it was used not only to hold Confederate prisoners of war, but spies, guerillas, civilians suspected of disloyalty, and even Federal soldiers accused of crimes or misbehavior. The prison also was centered in a city of divided loyalties. Escapees could find refuge in homes not even half a block away. Many of the most dangerous people operating in the Trans-Mississippi passed through its doors. Some escaped in dramatically risky ways; others didn't and lost their lives at the end of a Union rope, or before a firing squad. 

On August 10, 1865, he was taken to Smallpox U.S.A. General Hospital  for a complaint of Variola (a form of smallpox). He escaped from the hospital August 11, 1865.

By 1870, the family had moved to Texas. They are listed on the census as living in Precinct 1, Wise County, Texas. Ishmael's occupation is "farmer". Now they have daughter Mary, age 9. They lived next door to Nancy "Ellen" Copeland Cunnius, who was widowed by this time. The following story describes what happened to her husband.

A story about Ishmael, and his neighbor/son-in-law, Frank Coonis

Ishmael died sometime between 1870 - 1880. His wife Holly remarried to a man named Tate. Mr. Tate also died before 1880. She and her son Van are listed on the 1880 census with her granddaughter L. C. Cunnius (daughter of Nancy "Ellen" Copeland and Frank Cunnius). Holly died February 8, 1900.

Nancy Copeland Cunnius also remarried to a man named Lewis J. DuBois. He was a silversmith from Switzerland. They had 4 children: Pinkney J. (male), Charles M., Henry M., and Mary E. The family is listed on the 1880 census living in Henrietta, Texas. It is unknown at this time what happened to her first child, Louisa C. Cunnius.

Josephine J. Copeland married Harmon Caddell. They were the parents of 5 children:

Sometime between after 1880, the family moved again, this time to the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory/Oklahoma. Nancy and Josephine stayed in Texas. Mary Copeland Tate Janeway must have been in Oklahoma before her brother, Van. Her baby, Vesty Tate Janeway was born in Oklahoma territory because she is buried in the Old Paul's Valley Cemetery. She was born September 9, 1881. Van's son Ed F. Copeland was born October 6, 1881 in Texas.