Ira Clifton Copley
Encyclopedia
Ira Clifton Copley was a United States
statesman and newspaper publisher.
, Illinois
. He graduated from Yale University
in 1887 and the Union College of Law at Northwestern University
in 1889. In the late 19th century, Copley rose to prominence as the owner of the Aurora Gas Light Co., a company started by his father. Copley developed the business into Western United Gas an Electric, allowing Aurora building to be lit with gas by 1868. He led efforts to make Aurora the first city in the world to have electric street lighting. The company also lais long-distance wires to Batavia
. After his successes in industry, Copley sold off his interests and turned to politics and publishing, joining the Illinois State Central Committee in 1894. He formed Copley Press
, published the Aurora Beacon-News starting in 1905, and started the Elgin Courier-News in 1908. Copley was tasked with constructing a new Illinois State Penitentiary in 1909, which he oversaw until 1926.
Ira C. Copley was elected as a Republican
to the Sixty-second United States Congress from Illinois's 11th congressional district (1911-1913). Copley's uncle Richard H. Whiting
had also served in the House of Representatives (1875-1877). He ran then ran for re-election as a member of the Progressive
(Bull Moose) Party for the 63rd United States Congress
. He then returned to the Republican party upon re-election in 1915, and remained with the party until retiring in 1923. Copley continued his publishing aspiriations after leaving Congress, purchasing Springfield's
Illinois State Journal in 1927, favoring its pro-Republican stance. At the time, the Illinois State Register in Vandalia
was a competitor of the Journal, so he purchased this newspaper as well, merging them into the The State Journal-Register, still today a major newspaper in Springfield. In 1928, he consolidated the San Diego Union and San Diego Tribune into the The San Diego Union-Tribune
. Later that year, Senator George W. Norris accused Copley Press of receiving money from public utility companies, but Copley successfully defended his position before the Federal Trade Commission
in 1929. He died on November 1, 1947. His former residence in Aurora, the Col. Ira C. Copley Mansion
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
statesman and newspaper publisher.
Biography
Ira Clifton Copley was born on October 25, 1864 in GalesburgGalesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1887 and the Union College of Law at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1889. In the late 19th century, Copley rose to prominence as the owner of the Aurora Gas Light Co., a company started by his father. Copley developed the business into Western United Gas an Electric, allowing Aurora building to be lit with gas by 1868. He led efforts to make Aurora the first city in the world to have electric street lighting. The company also lais long-distance wires to Batavia
Batavia, Illinois
Batavia was founded in 1833, and is the oldest city in Kane County, Illinois, with a small portion in DuPage County. During the Industrial Revolution, Batavia became known as ‘The Windmill City’ for being the largest windmill producer of the time...
. After his successes in industry, Copley sold off his interests and turned to politics and publishing, joining the Illinois State Central Committee in 1894. He formed Copley Press
Copley Press
Copley Press was a privately held newspaper business, founded in Illinois, but later based in La Jolla, California. Its flagship paper was The San Diego Union-Tribune.-Pulitzer Prizes:...
, published the Aurora Beacon-News starting in 1905, and started the Elgin Courier-News in 1908. Copley was tasked with constructing a new Illinois State Penitentiary in 1909, which he oversaw until 1926.
Ira C. Copley was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Sixty-second United States Congress from Illinois's 11th congressional district (1911-1913). Copley's uncle Richard H. Whiting
Richard H. Whiting
Richard Henry Whiting was a U.S. Representative from Illinois. He was the uncle of Rep. Ira Clifton Copley, and the grandfather of composer Richard A...
had also served in the House of Representatives (1875-1877). He ran then ran for re-election as a member of the Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
(Bull Moose) Party for the 63rd United States Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
. He then returned to the Republican party upon re-election in 1915, and remained with the party until retiring in 1923. Copley continued his publishing aspiriations after leaving Congress, purchasing Springfield's
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
Illinois State Journal in 1927, favoring its pro-Republican stance. At the time, the Illinois State Register in Vandalia
Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States, northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. From 1819 to 1839 it served as the state capital of Illinois. Vandalia was the western terminus of the National Road. Today it is the county seat of Fayette County and the home of the...
was a competitor of the Journal, so he purchased this newspaper as well, merging them into the The State Journal-Register, still today a major newspaper in Springfield. In 1928, he consolidated the San Diego Union and San Diego Tribune into the The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
. Later that year, Senator George W. Norris accused Copley Press of receiving money from public utility companies, but Copley successfully defended his position before the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
in 1929. He died on November 1, 1947. His former residence in Aurora, the Col. Ira C. Copley Mansion
Col. Ira C. Copley Mansion
The Colonel Ira C. Copley Mansion, is a historic residence in Aurora, Illinois. It was built in 1917 for Col. Ira Clifton Copley, the founder of Copley Press and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Designed by noted architect Jarvis Hunt, the building was completed in 1917 in a blend of...
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.