"All Because Two People Fell In Love..."
A plaque with the above quote hangs above a memorable family picture in our bedroom. It applies to everyone, to all of us, and it will continue to do so for ages to come. Two people fall in love, marry, have children, and those children have children of their own.
In the first blog, we learned about our common ancestors Arnold J. Coppock and Ethel Ferguson Coppock, and the story of their wedding day. The last blog, on May 23, 2020, we learned more about our family patriarch Arnold.
Readers will recall that Arnold and Ethel had two sons, Ashton Horton Coppock and Clyde Ferguson Coppock. You are a direct ancestor of either Clyde (on the left) or Ashton.
After moving from Lake Benton, Minnesota, during the depression, you will recall that the family moved to Le Mars, where the brothers grew up. They graduated from Le Mars High School in the mid-1930's. Ashton was an automobile mechanic, working at the Plymouth County Co-op after graduation; and Clyde was a meat cutter who worked at Long's Grocery in Le Mars. Both found local Le Mars girls, dated, and became engaged.
Ironically, they both were married in the same month of the same year: June of 1939. What is even more interesting is that the original plan was to get married on the same day, though in different churches. According to my Mother, Helen, that plan was nixed by Grandma Ethel as she did not want to "lose" both of her boys on the same day. Whether true or not, that story does hold to a common pattern, right?
So, on June 4, 1939, Helen Lucinda Kern married Clyde Ferguson Coppock at the First Baptist Church in Le Mars. They took a short honeymoon to visit friends "Red" and Leona Burke in a Nebraska town that I can't remember. (No destination honeymoons in the 1930's!!) Besides, the honeymoon had to be a short one because there was another wedding to follow in 2 weeks.
Sixteen days later, on June 20, 1939, Dorothy Mae Ahern married Ashton Horton Coppock at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. (Helen and Clyde were the witnesses on the Marriage License so I'm assuming that they were Maid of Honor and Best Man, respectively. Also, Ashton served as Best Man for Clyde, and Helen's sister Lois was Maid of Honor at the earlier wedding.)
More stories will follow about both couples, but let me just reiterate what a close-knit family it was in many respects. Holiday celebrations, birthdays, and many Sunday dinners found us all together, at any of our homes. Being in business together wasn't always easy, but the many family get-togethers are fond memories of my youth. I think Connie would say the same.
In another twist of irony, exactly 7 years after Dorothy and Ashton were married, they welcomed a baby girl to their home. Connie Colleen Coppock was born June 20, 1946, in Le Mars. Connie was the third and final grandchild of Arnold and Ethel, following the births of Darrell (1943) and Janice (1945). All of us are shown together at Grandma and Grandpa's 35th anniversary in 1949.
Before closing, I have to add one last "twist" to that June 20th date. On that day, in 1990, twins (a boy and a girl) were born to Julie and David Coppock. Needless to say, both Kathy and I were so excited to be grandparents. Of course, they look a lot different today than in the photos below, as they will both turn 30 next week.
A final shout-out to granddaughter Kiley, born June 15, 1996, who turns 24 this year.
Yes, indeed, June is a very special month in our family. I hope you've enjoyed this celebration of June weddings and births. Love to all.
DAC
6/10/20
In the first blog, we learned about our common ancestors Arnold J. Coppock and Ethel Ferguson Coppock, and the story of their wedding day. The last blog, on May 23, 2020, we learned more about our family patriarch Arnold.
Readers will recall that Arnold and Ethel had two sons, Ashton Horton Coppock and Clyde Ferguson Coppock. You are a direct ancestor of either Clyde (on the left) or Ashton.
After moving from Lake Benton, Minnesota, during the depression, you will recall that the family moved to Le Mars, where the brothers grew up. They graduated from Le Mars High School in the mid-1930's. Ashton was an automobile mechanic, working at the Plymouth County Co-op after graduation; and Clyde was a meat cutter who worked at Long's Grocery in Le Mars. Both found local Le Mars girls, dated, and became engaged.
Ironically, they both were married in the same month of the same year: June of 1939. What is even more interesting is that the original plan was to get married on the same day, though in different churches. According to my Mother, Helen, that plan was nixed by Grandma Ethel as she did not want to "lose" both of her boys on the same day. Whether true or not, that story does hold to a common pattern, right?
So, on June 4, 1939, Helen Lucinda Kern married Clyde Ferguson Coppock at the First Baptist Church in Le Mars. They took a short honeymoon to visit friends "Red" and Leona Burke in a Nebraska town that I can't remember. (No destination honeymoons in the 1930's!!) Besides, the honeymoon had to be a short one because there was another wedding to follow in 2 weeks.
Sixteen days later, on June 20, 1939, Dorothy Mae Ahern married Ashton Horton Coppock at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. (Helen and Clyde were the witnesses on the Marriage License so I'm assuming that they were Maid of Honor and Best Man, respectively. Also, Ashton served as Best Man for Clyde, and Helen's sister Lois was Maid of Honor at the earlier wedding.)
More stories will follow about both couples, but let me just reiterate what a close-knit family it was in many respects. Holiday celebrations, birthdays, and many Sunday dinners found us all together, at any of our homes. Being in business together wasn't always easy, but the many family get-togethers are fond memories of my youth. I think Connie would say the same.
In another twist of irony, exactly 7 years after Dorothy and Ashton were married, they welcomed a baby girl to their home. Connie Colleen Coppock was born June 20, 1946, in Le Mars. Connie was the third and final grandchild of Arnold and Ethel, following the births of Darrell (1943) and Janice (1945). All of us are shown together at Grandma and Grandpa's 35th anniversary in 1949.
Before closing, I have to add one last "twist" to that June 20th date. On that day, in 1990, twins (a boy and a girl) were born to Julie and David Coppock. Needless to say, both Kathy and I were so excited to be grandparents. Of course, they look a lot different today than in the photos below, as they will both turn 30 next week.
A final shout-out to granddaughter Kiley, born June 15, 1996, who turns 24 this year.
Yes, indeed, June is a very special month in our family. I hope you've enjoyed this celebration of June weddings and births. Love to all.
DAC
6/10/20
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