Col. Elbridge J. Copp (USA)

Elbridge J. Copp, son of Joseph 1801 Copp and Hannah Brown, was b. July 22,1844, in Warren, NH. He married SARAH ELIZA WHITE on June 9,1869 in Exeter, NH. She d.Dec. 6,1893 in Nashua, NH of pneumonia, aged 49..

Children were: Charlotte Louise "Lottie"(1871) and Edith Alice (1881; m. Harrison P. Baldwin).

He m. 2nd, on June 9,1897 in Boston, Mass. with ELLEN B. FRANZELL of Melrose, Mass. This marriage ended in divorce and by 1900 he and dau. Edith were the only ones residing in Nashua, NH. Ellen B. Copp was in Melrose,Mass. for the 1900 census. He was 53, she 61.

On Apr. 7,1915 Elbridge J. Copp married again to LOTTIE BELLE PLUMMER, at Nashua, NH. Lottie was b. Louisville, Canada and b. 1871. They both worked at the Probate Dept in Nashua, NH. He was 70, she 44.

'Altho the marriage records for 1915 indicate that this was his 4th marriage, I have not been able to locate the other wife.

He died Aug. 3,1923 in Nashua, NH.

At the age of 16 Elbridge was working at the bookstore owned by his brothers Henry B. and Charles D. Copp in Nashua when he heard the news of the firing upon Ft. Sumter. His brother Charles and uncle Elbridge P. Brown were in the store at the time. Within a short time he wrangled a position as clerk, with his father's permission, in the 3rd regiment; under the direct supervision of Captain Randlett. Thus he became a private in the ranks of Company F, 3rd Regiment, NH Volunteers. Throughout his military career he saw Lincoln & McClellan, recounts his time during Sherman's march, recalls life at Hilton Head, the battles at Savannah,Charleston,Richmond; recovering from wounds obtained at Deep Bottom and hoop skirts,fleas, and beans.

All of this and more are recounted in his: Reminiscences of the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 by Col. Elbridge J. Copp (The Youngest Commissioned Officer in the Union Army who rose from the Ranks).

• 1850 US census: Elbridge J. Copp (6, b NH); in Nashua NH w parents and sibs.
• flicker.com *
• Civil War Soldiers Index: Elbridge J. Copp, 3rd Regt. NH Infantry. In as private, out as Adjutant.
• 1869 Marriage record: Elbridge J. Copp to S. ELiza White in Exeter, NH on 6/5/1869
• 1880 census: Elbridge J. (35), wife S.Eliza (36) and dau. Lotta L.(9) in Nashua, NH. He. is Register of Probate.
• 1897 marriage record: Elbridge J. Copp to Ellen B. Franzell in Boton, Mass. on June 9/1897.
• 1900 census: Elbridge J. (55), and dau. Edith A. (18) in Nashua. He is Probate Ct Clerk.
• 1915 marriage record: Elbridge J. Copp to Lottie Belle Plummer on Apr. 7,1915 in Nashua, NH.
• 1920 census: Elbridge J. (75) and Lottie B. (48) in Nashua, NH.

  ---

He was the youngest commissioned officer in the Union Army who rose from the ranks. After the war, he became a Colonel in the New Hampshire National Guard. He later wrote a book about the Civil War called "Reminiscences of the War of the Rebellion."

After returning to civilian life, he became the Registrar of Probate in Nashua, New Hampshire and was re-elected biennially for more than 28 years.