The book, "Wayne Co., Tennessee - History and Families," includes a biography written by his great-great grandaughter, Connie Copeland Young. It states, "James Dugal Copeland was born on the family plantation in Madison Co., AL on May 5, 1820....Sometime during the mid 1820s James moved to Wayne County with his family. In 1849 he received two Tennessee land grants which were located along Bear Creek. He built a log house on the property and made his living as a farmer. It has been said that he occasionally operated a still. As an adult he stood about six feet tall, was of medium build, had brown eyes and a beard. He was married twice and fathered 14 children by his two wives."

His first wife, Malinda Helton. They married about 1839. She was the mother of one son and six daughters:
- Elizabeth Jane
- Eliza Eleanor m. Benjamin Holt, Peter Cole, George Rainey
- Rachel Catherine
- Nancy Malinda
- Sarah Annabelle
- John Gillis
- Flora Mae

James's second wife was Josephine Caroline Williams, who was 22 years younger than he. They married 14 Jan., 1875. She was the mother of one daughter and six sons:
- James Dugal Jr.
- William Brownlow
- Daniel Grady
- Arminda
- Joseph Brown
- Neil S. 1
- Benjamin W. 1877-? (burial unknown)

"Father of 14 children and grandfather of 93, much of Wayne County is populated with his descendents. Many people in the community affectionately called him, "Uncle Jimmy," and he is remembered for his loving nature."

James Dugal Copeland was the son of James and Catherine Gillis Copeland. He is found in the following US Federal Census records:
- 1850 for Wayne Co., Tn with his first wife, Malinda, and five daughters
- 1860 for Wayne Co., Tn with seven children, occupation farmer
- 1870 for Wayne Co., Tn with his two youngest children, occupation farmer
- 1880 for Wayne Co., Tn with second wife, Josephine Caroline, and seven children, occupation farmer
1900 for Wayne Co., Tn with his daughter Arminda Lewis and her husband and children, and his yougest son, Benjamin, occupation landlord, listed as widower

- compiled by Gaynelle Hobt Morton
- revised April, 2019