Year: 1865

From the RitnOle Record


Harvey Copeland, from whom this farm
derives its name, although q millionaire,
still lives in his original log cabin on the
farm. He was born in Vermont-msr-
ried there, and at last settled down in
this wild and romantic spot, part of which
land he cleared, and the remainder on
the other side of the creek he sold for
woodland. levlng balance of l04 acres as
homestead. Lately he leased this to
the American illuminating Oil Company
for mining purposes, but still he retains
the privilege of living on and working
the Farm, which he is not willing to re-
linquish for love or money. He also re-
tains ne-fourth of the oil. He was Of
fered S750,OO0 for his entire interest in
the farm as it now stands, which was re-
fused; and no later than to-day he was
driving a mud-sled, drawn by oxen, down
Holmden street, and as he passed through
the mud-holes where the sled Was at
times almost entirely submerged, who
would have imagined that this roughly
clad unsOphisticated looking individual
was the veritable millionaire of the Cope
land Farm


AS he approached the corner of First
street, an acquaintance accosted him, and



| His reply was characteristic of the man.
''What is the use of $3.50, 600 to me with
out farm? did not buy that farm to
sell it again. Now that | am settled
down with my family, what could | do If
I sold the place? There l have as much
land as | can live on, and a good well Of
water on the place, and can raise what
Vegetables we want | cleared the land
lr1r al nj fn r.
| IS750,000 is no use to me without the
farm Upon hearing this, your cores
pOndent immediately started for Cope
land farm to have an interview with the
eccentric old gentleman. When the log
hut was reached, ne and his sled had rot
yet arrived, and being interested to dis
cover where the value of this S750,000
| lay, tour of inspection was determined
on. The seven wells were found as above
reported the rext object of attraction
was a shanty built for the accommodation
of the laborers on the railroad between
here and the Allegheny River, and on
proceeding q little further a trench was
reached which proved TO belong to the
American Tubing transportation Co,


who intended conveying 1000 barrels Of
/ oil per day, through G-inch pipe; to the
mouth of the creek. Both the railroad
and tube will cross the creek from this
farm At point about half way down
the hill between the house and the creeks,


there is a sudden declivity or break which
forms large bayou or fiat and on look
/ ing at this from the hill one cannot help
remarking that if there be any truth in
geological histories, oil must be found


there. In this probably lies the S750,00O.
| U pom. reascending the hill to where the
house stands, the eve at once commands
view of the Rocker and Holmden farms
studded with derrieks, for nearly a mile
up the creek, whilst in the distance rises
the new village of Balltown, and on the
right, about half way up the valley,
Prather, City stands prominently out
from the bluff There has been some
talk about building a city on Copeland
HILL for which it seems admirably adspt-
ed, but it appears that the old man can
not be persuaded to part with it for any
money. Returning to the log cabin, the
old man found not yet at home, so the
interview was postponed for some more
/ favorable opportunity. Several oil leases
have recently been let on this farm, which
brought from $1,000 to $4,000 each and no
doubt before long this new territory in
its turn. will be covered with derrieks,
and assume the same busy aspect as the
surrounding farms.