THE FAMILY TREES OF
COPPELL'S FIRST FAMILIES
In 1841, a land grant was made by the Republic of Texas to William S. Peters and investors to establish Peter's Colony.  The area around what is The City of Coppell today was called the Parrish Community where the Parrish family had settled.  The Bethel Community and Gentry Community soon sprung up.  It wasn't until 1887 that the first post office was built and named after Lieutenant Governor Barnett Gibbs.  In 1890, a railroad depot was built two years after track had been laid through the town.  The railroad named the stop Coppell after a major investor in New York.  Two years later, the town changed its name to Coppell. 
  • Barnett Gibbs - Shown are Barnett Gibbs and some of his ancestors which trace back to John Nicholas Gibbs who was born on 20 Feb 1698 Wallruth, Duchy, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
  • George Coppell - George Coppell stated that they had traced their family line back into the 1400s.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to go back that far, but we are working on it.
Here are some of the early families who settled here in
​Gibbs, Texas which was named Coppell in 1892. Its namesake was George Coppell.
  • Bullock - In 1855, Kentucky native, Washington Bullock, his wife, Caroline, and their 4 children moved here and in 1866, they purchased 280 acres near what has become Old Town Coppell. Here Bullock built the first brick home in Dallas County, operated a farm and served as Justice of the Peace.
  • Cozby - W.T. Cozby was the Mayor of Coppell from 1960 to 1971.  His grandfather, James T. Cozby, was born in 1836 and his father, James R. Cozby was born in Denton in 1872.  W.T. Cozby Library was named after him in recognition of his many accomplishments.  He was instrumental in getting DFW International Airport located just south of the City.
  • Dobecka
  • Harwell
  • Harrison
  • Ihnfeldt
  • Kirkland
  • ​Ledbetter
  • Parrish
  • Plumlee
  • Ratliff
  • Stringfellow
​
First families listed in an article in the Irving Record dated 10/30/1958 stated that the first settlers were:
Many thanks to Mayor Wes Mays for providing many of the family trees shown above.