Henry County
Cooper, Eliner Evans, Thomas 15 Jan 1808 Kentucky Cooper, Nancy Harris, Johnathan 12 Jan 1814 Kentucky Cooper, Elizabeth Varvell, William 15 Feb 1825 Kentucky Jefferson County Cooper, Leavin Jr. Cooper, Nancy 06 Aug 1813 Kentucky Shelby County
Cooper, Jonathan English, Nelly 06 Jan 1805 Kentucky Collins, Kearns Cooper, Catherine 13 Oct 1806 Kentucky Cooper, Nancy Swinney, Lewis 10 Mar 1807 Kentucky Cooper, Polly Rice, Jacob 04 Aug 1807 Kentucky Cooper, Thomas Hunter, Elizabeth 22 May 1810 Kentucky Cooper, James Rice, Margaret 31 May 1810 Kentucky Cooper, Jane Hunter, Joseph 17 Oct 1810 Kentucky Cooper, James Pence, Margaret 25 Jul 1815 Kentucky Cooper, William Link, Catharine 12 Aug 1815 Kentucky Cooper, David Raney, Eliza 20 Dec 1815 Kentucky Cooper, Isabella Evans, Arthur B. N. 08 Feb 1821 Kentucky Cooper, Mary Roney, James 28 Mar 1822 Kentucky
Jersey Township South Land Patents Section 31, TS8N, R11W
PATENTEE NAME / PATENT DATE / PATENT # / ACCESSION #COOPER, JONATHAN E. / 12/02/1839 / 11309 / IL2120_.212
COOPER, JONATHAN E. / 01/01/1840 / 18737 / IL2260_.375
COOPER, JONATHAN E. / 10/20/1834 / 4393 / IL0190_.439
BIOGRAPHIES HISTORY OF GREENE & JERSEY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS - 1885
Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Co.
Page 700
E. L. COOPER was elected to this office (Treasurer) in 1857, and entering upon the discharge of duties, was re-elected in 1859. He served in all four years.
EDMUND L. COOPER came to Greene county, April 16, 1836, settling about a mile west of Wrightsville, on the place now owned by Mrs. Margaret Cooper, which he purchased of James Davidson, but which was originally settled by Dr. Thaxton. Mr. Cooper was born in Lawrence county, Va., Sept. 24, 1799. He was a son of James and Mildred (Smith) Cooper, also natives of Virginia. When six years of age our subject, with his parents, removed to Kentucky, where he lived until coming to this county. His father died in Kentucky, in 1826, and his mother in 1823. Edmund Cooper was married, in Kentucky, Nov. 28, 1822, to Mary M. Perry, a native of Lawrence county, Va. They were the parents of nine children - Mildred A., deceased; James P., deceased; William T., deceased; Robert R., Emeline E., Edmund M., Adrienne A., Cornelia F., deceased, and Varinda J., deceased. Mr. Cooper was assessor and treasurer of the county during the years 1853 and 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are still living, and make their home with their daughter, Emeline E. Cunningham. They are about the oldest couple living in the county, the former being in his 87th year, and the latter in her 93rd year.
Page 724
The pioneer physician of Greenfield was DR. MARTIN A. COOPER, who made his appearance in that town in the winter of 1835-6. He was then a young, unmarried man, who came here from Tennessee. He received sufficient encouragement to stay, so built him a cabin 12x14, and returning to Tennessee, was married, and returned and installed his bride in the mansion prepared for her. He was an able practitioner, well read, but a poor business manager, and as a financier, a decided failure. Much of his large practice was done gratuitously, much of it charged, and no attempt made to collect it. His rides took him to Rockbridge, Witt's Mill, Hickory Grove, Athensville, Fayette, Scottsville and Rivesville, an extent of country of great magnitude. Kind in his disposition, and amiable to a fault, he had many friends. He enjoyed a monopoly of the medical practice at this point, scarcely disturbed by the successive advent of Drs. Metcalf, Mayfield and Rice, who came here, staid a short time, gave it up, and left for other climes, until 1850.
Page 952
WILLIAM T. COOPER, deceased, was born in Kentucky, Sept. 25, 1826. He was a son of Edmund L. and Mary (Perry) Cooper, natives of Virginia. They reside in this county, about three miles west of Greenfield. They are the oldest couple now living in the county, and they represent five generations, he being about 86 years of age, and she about 92. William came with his parents to this county, settling on the farm now occupied by his widow, and there he ever afterward resided. He was married April 17, 1856, to Margaret C. Johnson, born in this county, Aug. 16, 1837, and a daughter of Joel and Nancy (Banning) Johnson. The former was a native of this state, and was identified with its interests until his death, in dec., 1873. The latter was also a native of this state, and died about the year 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were the parents of 10 children - Owen, born June 26, 1857, died Aug. 26, 1878; Rosa J., born April 15, 1860, died March 9, 1885; George E., born March 29, 1864, living with his mother on the farm; William E., born March 26, 1866, also at home; Martha A., born April 16, 1868, living at home; Minnie L., born June 5, 1872; Mary, born May 10, 1875; Alvin, born June 11, 1862, died Sept. 1, 1863, and two who died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Cooper was engaged in farming during his lifetime. His death occurred July 19, 1875, he being a victim to that dreadful disease, consumption. He was a man who was highly esteemed in th circle of his acquaintances, and during his life was a consistent member of the Hickory Grove Baptist church, of which his wife has also been a member. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Cooper has conducted the farm enterprise, consisting of 200 acres, giving her own supervision to the management thereof. On the 22d of June, 1884, Mrs. Cooper was married to James Isaacs, a native of Kentucky, born in 1855.
Index to Births 1857 - 1900+ (S. B.) = Still Birth or Still Born Columns = Surname, Given Name, Birth Year, Register, Page
COOPER, Albert, 1880, 1, 69
COOPER, Charles (father), 1878, 1, 1
COOPER, Christopher (father), 1878, 1, 26
COOPER, Harry Alfred, 1878, 12, 490
COOPER, John (father), 1881, 1, 96
COOPER, Thomas (father), 1879, 1, 45
Obituaries - Jersey County Historical Society LNAME=last name FNAME=first name MNAME=middle name MAIDEN=maiden name BORN=birth date DIED=death date CEMETERY=where buried
LNAME / FNAME / MNAME / MAIDEN / BORN / DIED / CEMETERYAlice Cooper 26-04-1881 11-08-1906 Courier Cemetery
Bertha Cooper 06-02-1883 10-06-1974 Gunterman Cemetery
Cooper Charles 15-03-1849 05-01-1908
Cooper George 14-08-1926 Gunterman Cemetery.
Cooper Johnathan 05-01-1807 Oak Grove Cemetery
Cooper Mary Cooper Mrs. Johnathan 19-02-1896
Cooper Robert 19-06-1881 17-12-1972 Oak Grove Cemetery
Cooper Thomas Cooper Graveyard
Cooper Virgie Virginia Miller 10-02-1893 01-02-1977 Oak Grove Cemetery
Cooper, Jr. John 26-08-1854 25-11-1926
Cooper, Sr. John E. 07-12-1828 -03-1917 Guntermann Cemetery
Early Illinois Settlers
List of those who resided in Illinois 1833 or earlier and who were residents of Jersey County in 1883. The list is interesting in that it includes women. Note that while the information for women lists them by married name, it does give their birthplace and when they came to Illinois, which usually differs from their husband. The list includes one person of color. The earliest settler is in bold, and a woman. Jersey County was St. Clair until 1812, Madison until 1821, Greene until 1839.
From Jersey County Democrat, June 7, 1883.
Name, Where Born, Date of Immigration, County
J. E. COOPER, KY, 1829, Greene
Mrs. Sarah C. COOPER, IL, 1815, Madison
Index of Biographies in the Atlas Map of Jersey County, Illinois
by Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, IA, 1872
Copies of these biographies may be obtained from Jersey County Historical Society, P. O. Box 12, Jerseyville, IL 62052. Contact JCHS for current prices, how to order.
+ = sketch of person's homestead
On-line biographies courtesy of Rodney L. Noble and the Jersey County Historical Society.
Capt. Jonathan E. COOPER is a native of Henry county, Kentucky. He was born on the 5th of January, 1807. His father, Jonathan Cooper, Sr., was a native of Maryland, and was one of the early settlers of the "dark and bloody ground." He was among the pioneer settlers with Daniel Boone, with whom he frequently hunted Indians, and he was also a soldier in the revolutionary war. He married Eleanor Jones, his first wife, in Pennsylvania, by whom he had six children. His second marriage occurred in Shelby county, Kentucky, to Miss Eleanor English. They had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest son and second child — five of the family, yet living, being residents of Illinois. In 1835 he removed to Jersey county and settled on a farm southwest of Jerseyville four miles, where he died in August, 1845. Mrs. Cooper survived his death eleven years. Capt. Cooper received his education in the schools of his native state; spent most of his time at home on the farm until the age of 23, and, in November, 1829, after a trip of thirteen days, on horseback, landed in the present limits of Jersey county, Ill. He spent nearly the first winter clerking in the store of his uncle, L. N. English, of Carrollton — the next year working on a farm. On the breaking out of the Black Hawk war he enlisted in Capt. Carlin's (since Gov. Carlin) company; was elected orderly sergeant; served one year under Carlin; the next year (1832) he served in Capt. Patterson's company, and a portion of that year was detailed as quartermaster; was at the battles of the Wisconsin and Mississippi; and after peace was declared he received an honorable discharge. In October, 1832, Capt. Cooper entered the land on which he now resides, two and a half miles southwest of Jerseyville. In 1832 he was commissioned captain of militia by Gov. Reynolds. When he came to Illinois, his wealth consisted of a horse, and three dollars in money. After entering his land, he soon set about to improve it and make a home. Being an old settler, he had many hardships and inconveniences to encounter. On the 19th of May, 1830, he was married to Mrs. Miriam F. Turner, daughter of Nicholas and Anna French. She is a native of Rockingham county, New Hampshire. The Captain and his bride moved into their cabin on the first of August, 1836, and have resided on the identical spot ever since. Politicially, in early life he became a member of the democratic party, and has voted that ticket ever since, his first vote having been cast for General Jackson. Since 1839 Capt. Cooper and wife have been members of the Baptist Church, uniting first with the church at Kane, Greene county. They are among the original members of the Baptist Church at Jerseyville (only six of the original members now survive). The first year of the organization of this church, Capt. Cooper was elected to the responsible position of deacon, which he has since retained. Deacon Cooper is among that class of noble-hearted citizens whom we all love to respect. Strict integrity and honesty of purpose mark all his dealings
Old Settler Society 1877
From the Jersey County Democrat, August 30, 1877.
The meeting of the old settlers held at the fair grounds last Saturday was by far the largest meeting of this band of veterans ever held in Jersey county. From year to year have these meetings been gaining in popularity and the number in attendance increasing, until it has now become to be regarded as a general holiday, looked forward to with anxiety by both old and young. The old meet together and talk over the olden times in a sort of a general love feast, and the younger ones seem to appreciate their enjoyment as fully as the fathers.
The meeting was called to order by the president, J. E. COOPER, when the regular order of business was gone through with. The following is a list of the officers elected to serve during the ensuing year: President, J. E. COOPER; Vice-presidents, Wm CHAPPLE, Jeremiah BELL, D. P. PRITCHETT, B. F. SISTEN, Moses COCKRELL, J. N. ENGLISH, Wm. KELLER, Brook STAFFORD, Wm. McDOW, Samuel ERWIN, Geo. STAFORD, Thos. WEDDING and Z. M. REDDISH. Geo. H. JACKSON was re-elected Secretary. The following persons were then elected as the executive committee to serve during the ensuing year: J. E. Cooper, John M. SMITH, John P. STOUT, J. N. English, Geo. E. WARREN, Harly E. HAYES, Hugh N. CROSS and Geo. H. Jackson.
Among the older members present were:
Mrs. Martha COWEN, who was present at the Wood River massacre that occured in 1814, she now being nearly 80 years of age. Mrs. PREWIT, 78. Robt. LATHAM, 84. Col. John BLACK, 80. Glover SHORT, 77. Nathaniel MINER, 76. Wm. KELLAR, 76. John L. TERRILL, 77. Erwim LITTLE, 74. Mrs. SINCLAIR, who is over 70.
These are among the oldest, although there were a number present who were older settlers in this county than the ones mentioned, and have now reached a good old age.
Everything connected with the meeting passed off harmoniously and to the satisfaction of all. The Jerseyville Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Chas. BLISH, furnished music for the occasion, which was received with marked attention by all. The glee club sang during the day many beautiful and appropriate songs, mostly old ones suitable to the occasion. The old people had not lost their love for these old pieces, or for lively tunes, for their feet kept a constant shuffling to the time. It carried them back to their younger days when age had not stiffened their joints or hard toil broken them down. The song sung by Mrs. Callender, "John Anderson, My Joe John," went straight to their hearts and touched the tender chord, for they sang the same song, when they were boys and girls, as gleefully as any who were there on that day.
T. J. SELBY and Hon. A. G. BURR were the orators of the day. Mr. Selby addressed the meeting inthe morning, while Mr. Burr entertained them with an eloquent address in the afternoon. Mrs. Prewit and Mrs. Sinclair occupied seats on the stand with the speakers, and when allusion was made to incidents that occurred within their recollection they readily assented by nodding their heads. Especially was this the case with Mrs. Prewit as Mr. Selby related the horrors of the bloody massacre which occurred on Wood River. This horrible picture is still fresh in the mind of Mrs. Prewit, who, though young at the time, can well recollect it. The groans of the dying and the agonized pleadings of the helpless still ring in her ears; the bloody tomahawk and knife are things that are still fresh in her memory, together with the pursuit and capture of the murderers. It was both a pleasant and a sad sight to watch the countenances of the old people while the speakers were addressing them. Now for a moment their wrinkled and weather-beaten countenances would be o'erspread with smiles of gladness, as they hear some pleasing incident recited in which they were concerned; then again would the veil shift and cast a pall of darkness, gloom and sorrow over them,when the hardships through which they had passed and the privations they had endured were brought before them. They could look backupon all these scenes and could not but help feel sorrowful.