Cleo Redd Fisher Museum honors 1812 Copus Hill battle anniversary

On Sept. 15, 1812, the quiet frontier of North Central Ohio was shattered by violence when Ohio militia and Native Americans clashed at the home of Rev. James Copus. In just a short span of time, three militia soldiers, Rev. Copus and several Native warriors lay dead, and others were wounded. Families on both sides were left grieving, and the tragedy became one of the defining events of the War of 1812 in this region.

Today, more than two centuries later, the site — historically referred to as the Copus Massacre — remains a place of memory and mourning. The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum is marking the anniversary of the battle by encouraging the public to pause, reflect and visit the Copus Hill Historic Site, located on Township Road 1225, south of Charles Mill dam.

The museum expressed gratitude to the family of Roberta Wenninger Clinger Harpster, a direct descendant of Copus, for entrusting the property to the museum for perpetual preservation. Their generosity ensures the battlefield will remain protected as both a memorial to the lives lost and a place for education and reflection for generations to come.

Earlier this year Ohio Valley Archaeology Inc., funded by the Richland County Historical Society, conducted geophysical surveys at the site. These studies identified areas of interest including potential unmarked burials. Additional archaeological work is expected to cost $47,000, and the museum is actively seeking donations to support this effort.

Copus Hill is the only known battlefield in the region from any American war, making its preservation especially meaningful.

To share more about these findings and ongoing preservation work, the museum will host a public program in March. Plans for the site include protecting the landscape, improving accessibility and expanding opportunities for visitors to engage with its history.

These initiatives have been made possible thanks to support from the Ashland County Community Foundation, the Barb Queer Charitable Fund, the Kriss Family Charitable Fund and the Jane G. Roland Charitable Fund. The museum also thanks the many volunteers who have devoted time and care to maintaining the property, ensuring it remains a place of respect and remembrance.

“Copus Hill is more than a patch of land; it is hallowed ground,” said Kenny Libben, curator of the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum. “The lives lost here were real people with families, hopes and futures cut short. Preserving this site gives us the opportunity to honor their memory and to remind ourselves of the costs of conflict.”

The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum invites the public to visit the Copus Hill Historic Site, located on Township Road 1225 near Mifflin, to reflect on the events of September 1812 and their lasting impact. To contribute to preservation or learn more, visit www.crfmuseum.com.