James Copeland
Agency: Cass County Sheriff's Department
Sergeant Copeland was 19 years old when he enlisted in the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Following his service in the Cavalry, Copeland worked in Law Enforcement for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.
Upon learning that a notorious bushwhacker under a murder indictment was in Pleasant Hill, Deputies Holmes and Copeland went to arrest him on January 22, 1866. Deputy Holmes read the warrant to the suspect and as he finished the suspect fired his weapon instantly killing Deputy Holmes. Deputy Copeland fired, shooting the suspect, who then returned fire striking Deputy Copeland in the lungs. Deputy Copeland was able to return fire once more striking the suspect in the leg without doing great damage. As the suspect fled, Deputy Copeland's younger brother shot and wounded the suspect once more in the chest. The suspect was apprehended the next day. As he was brought into town in a wagon, one of Copeland's brothers who was accompanying the party rode up and said, "Here my brother died, here you die" and shot him twice in the head, instantly killing the suspect, Bill Reynolds. Reynolds was reputed to be one of the last remaining Quantrill's raiders in the area and that he had taunted lawmen believing that none would attempt to arrest him.
Deputy Copeland passed at the age of 23. He was survived by his parents, James and Ethalinda Copeland, and siblings, James, Levi, Silas, Allen, and Martha. He is interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
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