Frederick Copenspire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick H. Copenspire
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| Born | 1868 Erie County, New York
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| Died | 1908 (aged 39–40) |
| Burial place | Greenwood Cemetery, Oil Creek Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Organization | Knights of Pythias |
| Known for | Was one of the first Pacific County Assessors and South Bend Mayor, one of the historic figures of the city, who spurred its commercial growth. Was highly esteemed as cigar merchant and manufacturer. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Frederick H. Copenspire (1868–1908) was an important pioneer, politician, and businessman in Washington State. He lived in the city of South Bend. Copenspire was one of the first people to hold the job of assessor for Pacific County. He was also one of the few members of the Democratic political party to be elected to this role when the other party was very popular.
Copenspire also served as the mayor of South Bend for several years. He was well-known for his successful cigar business. His old house is now a special landmark on the city's historic tour. He played a big part in helping South Bend grow its businesses.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Frederick H. Copenspire was born in 1868 on a family farm in Erie County, New York. This was about 18 miles from the city of Buffalo. His family had come to America from Germany in 1835. They settled near Hamburg in Erie County. The Copenspire family owned farms in this area for many years. Frederick's parents were Frederick and Katherine Copenspire. They had five children.
In 1869 or 1870, his family moved to Titusville, Pennsylvania. This was during a time when the oil industry was booming there. Frederick's father worked as a prospector in the oil business. He was a well-known person in Titusville.
From a young age, Frederick Copenspire worked while he studied. He went to school in Titusville. One of his schoolmates was Ida Tarbell. She later became a famous journalist who wrote about the Standard Oil Company. After school, Frederick learned how to make harnesses. Then, he worked in a cigar store and learned how to make cigars.
Building a Career in Washington
Moving to Washington
Copenspire moved to Tacoma in the spring of 1890. He started working there as a cigar merchant. In December of that year, he moved to South Bend. There, he opened his very own cigar factory. He also had an office in Olean, New York.
His business was doing very well until a fire destroyed his factory in March 1892. This was the first fire ever in South Bend. He lost a lot of money, but his insurance helped cover some of the cost. However, because of a tough economic time in 1893, he couldn't restart his business right away. So, he began working for the American Oil Works company.
Working with Oil
Copenspire knew a lot about the oil industry. He grew up in Titusville during the Pennsylvania oil rush. After his cigar business faced problems, he became a representative for the American Oil Works company in South Bend. This company was an independent oil refinery from Titusville.
Copenspire introduced their product, Sunlight Oil, to local stores. He showed people how it was better than the oil from Standard Oil. Both products cost the same. Copenspire gained many customers and had a good business for several years. But later, his company could not compete with Standard Oil, so the agency closed.
Restarting the Cigar Business
Eventually, Copenspire went back to what he loved most: the cigar business. By 1903, he was known as one of the most important businessmen in the area. During the Alaskan Gold Rush (1896–1899), he made a lot of money by selling cigars to miners.
In 1900, when South Bend was growing fast, Copenspire built a two-story building. He put his cigar factory on the first floor. The second floor was used by the Knights of Pythias, a social group. His factory had many workers. Over time, Copenspire's cigars became very popular. In South Bend, his cigars were even more popular than those brought in from other places.
Copenspire was seen as one of the most active businessmen in the city. He helped South Bend's businesses grow. For many years, people remembered him as a "prominent cigar maker." In 1966, some of the cigars he made were shown at the Pacific County Fair. This exhibit celebrated the old settlers of the county and their way of life.
Other Business Ventures
By 1903, Copenspire had also invested his own money in properties in South Bend. He was also one of five leaders of a company called Leonard & Myers. This company owned some of the most valuable land along the city's waterfront.
A Leader in Politics
Copenspire was a supporter of the Democratic political party. In 1898, he became one of the first assessors for Pacific County. An assessor is someone who figures out the value of property for taxes. In 1900, he was re-elected for another two-year term. Copenspire was one of the very few Democrats elected to this job. At that time, the county mostly supported the Republican political party.
In 1900, Copenspire was also elected mayor of South Bend. He served as mayor in 1901 and again in 1903. In 1902, he was also the county treasurer.
Community and Legacy
Copenspire had an active social life. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias group. He even provided a space for this group in his factory building in South Bend. The second floor of the building became their meeting rooms.
Copenspire's house was built at 519 2nd Street in South Bend. In 1911, it was one of the first houses in the city to get electricity. Later, this building became a special landmark on the city's historic tour. Copenspire was not married as of 1903. He passed away in 1908.
