History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

172 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
nois, wlieie he was graduated with the class of 1892. He has since
engaged in teaching and for twenty-one years has been identified
with the profession in Dixon. He is one of the most widely known
educators of this city and his ability has given him high rank
among Dixon's most successful instructors. He was continuously
connected with the Steiuman School imtil 1905, when he organized
the Copi^ins' Dixon Business College and Normal School, now
occupying the second floor at No. 215 First street. From the
beginning the school has enjoyed continuous and substantial
growth and no higher testimonial of its efficiency and the capability
of its graduates can be given than the fact that there are more
demands for employes than the school can supply. The aim of the
school is high. It fosters ambition and stimulates a desire to
acliieve success on the part of the pupils. Its slogan is: "Character
and a little ability spell success ; ability and a little character spell
failui'e." The course of instruction includes stenography, book-
keeping, business forms, letter writing, theory and practice in
accounts, arithmetic, English, spelling, school law, etc. The touch
sj'stem of typewriting is taught and the most advanced methods
are followed in imparting instruction. The aim of the school is to
give an education that will last through life and will continue to
grow in its usefulness as the individual develops his powers.
In 1896 Mr. Coppins was united in marriage to Miss Clara
Biddnlph, also a native of Bureau county, Illmois, and they have
become the parents of three (^hildren. INIr. Coppins exercises his
right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the
republican party and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian
church. High principles guide him in all relations of life and high
standards constitute the salient features of his professional career.
MRS. LEONORA ABELL.
Mrs. Leonora Abell is a representative of a well known pioneer
family of I^ee county and from her infancy has resided in this
locality, having come here with her parents in 1852. She was
born in OrangeVille, Columbia county. Pennsylvania, and is a
daughtei' of Silas and Mary (Pierce) Lazarus. The father set-
tled on a farm in Ijce cc^mty in 1852 and was numbered among the
pioneers in this locality. He took up a tract of land which was
vet a wilderness and foi- mauv vears thereafter cultivated and im-