Poughkeepsie New York

Biography of Stephen Henry Velie

Stephen Henry Velie, born April 21, 1830, in New York, significantly contributed to Moline’s industrial prominence through his leadership in manufacturing, especially as secretary and treasurer of the Deere Company from its inception. His diverse business ventures included lumber, stone quarries, and railroads. A devoted family man, he married Emma C. Deere and had five children. Politically active as a Republican, Velie also supported the Congregational Church and various fraternal organizations. He was known for his fair treatment of labor and a congenial nature that endeared him to many.

Biographical Sketch of Copeland, Charles P.

Charles P. Copeland, born in 1854 in Vermont, came to Kansas in 1874 and initially engaged in mercantile business until 1878. He started his banking career in 1877 and was elected County Treasurer in 1879, serving multiple terms. A graduate of Eastmans Commercial College, he married Josephine Ackerman in 1876 and has one son, Cecil Edwin. Copeland has held various civic positions, including City Council member and City Treasurer, and he owns 1,920 acres of land, with 600 acres cultivated.