Caleb Cope and family papers

Porter Cope (1869-1950), son of Caleb and Josephine Porter Cope was born in Philadelphia. He received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the firm MacVeagh and Bispham. He was a lecturer on chemistry at the Lauderback Academy, 1884-85; editor and publisher of "The Illustrated Weekly," 1885 and several other publications. He was an active member of the Republican Party. (This information was clipped from an article and placed in the genealogical volume; it was missing a second page and no source was given).

Rebecca Porter Howard died "in the 75th year of her age" according to a newspaper clipping without a date. She married Col. M. Hunt Howard. She was also the daughter of James Porter -a businessman (who may or may not have been the same James Porter, governor of Tennessee) and Elizabeth Paul French. Rebecca Howard and her husband traveled widely. He, M. Hunt Howard, is credited with being a main contributor in acquiring land the Howard School building was erected in Nashville, TN. The Howards were benefactors of the Tennessee Historical Society, Fisk University, Woman's Mission home and others. They had no surviving children.

Caleb Frederick Cope (1797-1888) was the head of Caleb Cope & Co., wholesale silk merchants. He was also director of the Second Bank of the U.S., president of the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society. Josephine Porter [niece of Rebecca Porter Howard](1836-96) was Caleb's second wife. They had two children together: Caleb Frederick Cope and Porter Farquharson Cope. From: Internal genealogical information)

Rebecca Porter Howard and Memucan Hunt Howard left no direct heirs (their only son died in infancy) and the connection between the Howards and Copes is through Josephine Porter Cope who married Caleb Cope and was the niece of Rebecca Porter, but Josephine Cope's parents have not been established, though in two of Caleb Cope's letters to Josephine's mother, he refers to her as "Mrs. Desha."