Harry Truman’s mother and members of her family were asked, not so politely, to leave the state of Missouri when it became public knowledge that she was a supporter of William Quantrill and his ilk. In her defense, she  considered William Quantrill  a “patriot of the south”, which gave some merit to her ideals as a southern sympathizer.   Several people in Dent County were forced to leave as well.

My Copeland and  allied families were still in Reynolds and Shannon Counties during the Civil War and didn’t come to Dent till after 1880. My Great Grandfather, James Francis Copeland, born in 1837, was of an age to have fought in the war however no Civil War records exist for him that I can find. I remember my Grandfather telling me his father would hide under the hay, in the barn, when the troops would come by the farm.To be found at home, not fighting in the war, was a short trip to a hanging tree! The fact that there are no records of my Great Grandfather having served gives credence to the story my Grandfather related to me. If anyone can add more information about these killings/hangings I would love to hear from you.

What I did not know when researching James Francis was that other family members, in Iron County,  were busy doing their part for the Southern cause.  William Hugh Copeland, my Great Grandfather’s brother – as well as other family relatives, were involved in what could only be called a bush whacking incident. I only recently came across an article of an event that transpired in Iron County during the war involving William Hugh, William Wilson, Thomas Falkenberry and James Stout, all related to Copelands through marriage.

On the 26th of August 1861 E.G. Clay, John Quigley, Edmond Faulkenberry, William Wilson, William H. Copeland, Tolbert Hunt, Thomas Falkenberry, James A. McClurgh and James Stout, went to the mill of Jacob Woolford situated in Iron County Mo. with the intent to deliver Union sympathizer Jacob Woolford to the Southern army in Arkansas. Upon arrival at Woolford’s mill Mr. Woolford walked in to view and was shot and killed in broad daylight by these men.

During the inquest it was stated that several shots rang out. McClurgh and James Stout were tried for the murder, found guilty and condemned to death. At some point while being escorted to or while at Alton Prison in Illinois both Stout and McClurgh escaped. William Hugh Copeland was found not guilty and according to his statement removed to Searcy, Arkansas to join Capt. Richard Berryman’s “Rebel” Company in Colonel White’s Regiment. He states he served about three months and deserted for home.
Reynolds County Genealogy
Transcription of a file of the Provost Marshall records in the Missouri Archives

In a separate incident Ninnian Bay and two of his sons were killed by Bush Whackers near their farm in Shannon County. Ninnian’s son, Green Berry Wade,  married James Francis Copeland’s oldest daughter Elvira. James Francis and wife are buried in the Bay Cemetery on the Bay farm.

 I would like to talk about an article that I read not long ago, about Bush Whackers. However, I can’t seem to find it so I can’t quote it. It basically explained there were two kinds of Bush Whackers during the Civil War. One group were southern sympathizers operating under the guise of aiding  the southern cause – as in the case of my great uncle. The others were considered evil doers, using the war as an excuse to kill, rape and steal. So this makes having Bush Whackers in my family tree a bit easier to swallow.