Conflict and Memory: Understanding the Copus Massacre

Curator Kenny Libben discusses one of the most significant and tragic events to occur in Ohio during the War of 1812. 

In September 1812, tensions between settlers and Native Americans in north-central Ohio reached a violent climax at what came to be known as the Copus Massacre. Following the forced removal and destruction of the nearby Greentown Indian village, many Native residents were betrayed by the US Army and blamed their white neighbors, intensifying hostilities. Reverend James Copus, a settler who had been close friends with the Greentown residents, was targeted alongside soldiers stationed in the area. The resulting attack left several settlers, soldiers, and natives dead.

Libben explores the wider context of the war and Greentown Indian village, the events that led to the clash between local settlers and Native Americans, and the enduring legacy the conflict left behind. The lecture also highlights the results of the first phase of modern archaeological work at the historic site, shedding new light on the landscape and stories tied to this turbulent moment in Ohio’s past.

Kenny Libben is the curator of the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, where he has served since 2010. During his tenure, he has been recognized with multiple awards for his leadership in the museum field, including the Ohio Local History Alliance’s Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, the Small Museum Association’s Hunter-Burley Award, and the Ohio Museum Association's Best Exhibition Award.