Background
Copley, Ira Clifton was born on October 25, 1864 in in Knox County, Illinois, United States. Son of Ira Birdsell and Ellen (Whiting) Copley.
Copley, Ira Clifton was born on October 25, 1864 in in Knox County, Illinois, United States. Son of Ira Birdsell and Ellen (Whiting) Copley.
Bachelor of Arts, Yale. Bachelor of Laws, Union College Law, Chicago, 1889.
Became manager Aurora (Illinois) Gas Light Company, 1889. Consolidated several gas companies under name of Western United Gas and Electric Company, 1905, and of allied interests, 1921, under name of Western United Corporation, of which was president until 1926. Publisher the Aurora Beacon News since 1905, Elgin (Illinois) Courier since 1909, Joliet Herald News since 1913.
Illinois State Journal since 1927, also Illinois State Register since April 1942.
President, later chairman The Copley Press, Incorporated, Aurora, 1928-1942, now chairman corporation. Owner San Diego (California) Union and Tribune since February 1928.
San Diego Sun since November 1939, and of papers now comprising the Southern California Associated Newspapers, Los Angeles, since January 1928. Lieutenant colonel and inspector rifle practice, Illinois National Guards, 1894-1898.
On staff Governor C. South. Deneen, Illinois, 1905.
Served as commissioner to build new penitentiary for state. Member park public library boards, Aurora. Member 62d to 67th Congresses (1911-1923), 11th Illinois District.
Mason, Knights of Pythias, Elk. Donor of site, building fund and $1,000,000 endowment to Aurora Hospital, renamed Copley Memorial Hospital.
Married Edith Strohn, March 3, 1892 (died October 25, 1929). Married second, Mistress.