M. W. Brother George Doddridge Copeland was born on December 14, 1860, in Marion on the original plat of Marion, which was laid out by his great-grandfather, Alexander Holmes, of Newark, Ohio. He was the son of Howard and Sarah Catherine Darlington Copeland. He was the great-grandson of Joseph Darlington, one of the signers of the first Constitution of Ohio. He was educated in the public schools of Marion, and after graduating from Marion High School entered the Cincinnati Law School, where he received his diploma on June 2, 1882. He immediately entered upon the practice of law at Marion, later forming a partnership with John H. Bartram, establishing the firm of Copeland and Bartram. He retired from the firm and the practice of law more than a year before his death, when his physical condition and blindness became such a severe handicap.
In 1889 he was married to Katherine Bartram, the daughter of the late Samuel H. Bartram, a well-known attorney of Marion, to which union one daughter was born. His capacity for work was indicated not only by the large law practice, which he handled, but also the number of business enterprises in whose activities he participated actively, as well as the many organizations of a political, fraternal, and social nature with which he was identified. He was Vice-President of the Marion County Bank; Director, The Home Building Savings and Loan Company; the Osgood Company and the Commercial Steel Castings Company. While a Republican and most active in the councils and conventions of his party, he consistently declined nominations for public office. He also served as a Trustee of the Massillon State Hospital.
He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Marion, and for many years served as one of its Trustees.
M. W. Brother Copeland was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Marion Lodge, No. 70, F. & A. M., May 23, 1884; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, June 20, 1884; and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, July 4, 1884. He served his Lodge as its Worshipful Master in 1892-93.
He received his Capitular degrees in Marion Chapter, No. 62, R. A. M., serving as M. E. High Priest in 1898; and Marion Council, No. 22, R. & S. M., serving as T. I. Master in 1895. In 1901, he served the Grand Council R. & S. M. of Ohio as. Most Illustrious Grand Master. He was made a Knight Templar in Marion Commandery, No. 36, Knights Templar, and served as its Eminent Commander in 1901.
In the Scottish Rite, he received the degrees in Gibulum Lodge of Perfection, February 20, 1894; in Dalcho Council, Princes of Jerusalem, February 20, 1894; in Cincinnati Chapter Rose Croix, February 21, 1894; and became Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in Ohio Consistory, Valley of Cincinnati, April 22, 1904. At the time of his death, he was a member of Scioto Consistory, Valley of Columbus. On September 21, 1909, he received the Honorary 33 ° in the Supreme Council, A. & A. S. R., Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, when convened in the city of Boston.
In the Grand Lodge of Ohio, he was Grand Marshall in 1902; Grand Orator, 1903; Junior Grand. Warden, 1904; Senior Grand Warden, 1905; Deputy Grand Master, 1906; and M. W. Grand Master, 1907.
He was a Charter Member of Lydia Chapter, No. 83, O. E. S., Marion, Ohio. He was also a member of Aladdin Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Columbus, Ohio.
M. W. Brother Copeland was taken by death May 7, 1928, at his home in Marion, Ohio. The officials of the Grand Lodge of Ohio conducted his funeral on Monday, May 7, 1928. His body was interred in the Marion Cemetery, Section 28, Lot 3, Marion, Ohio.