Casper Cooper.—The death of Casper Cooper, which occurred April 26, 1909, marked the passing of another pioneer, who contributed his part to the early settlement, and development of Kansas. He was born May 27, 1834, in Pennsylvania, near Hagerstown, Md., and is a son of David and Martha (Hinkle) Cooper, both natives of Pennsylvania, the father born February 4, 1791, and died May 7, 1864. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. His wife was born December 19, 1804, and died July 1, 1888. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom lived to maturity: John A., born August 21, 1822, died July 21, 1899; David, born July 7, 1825, died June 5, 1902; Mary, born November 10, 1827, died November 6, 1912; Lucinda, born October 29, 1829; Nancy, born April 23, 1832, died November 29, 1909; Casper, the subject of this sketch; Martha, born June 11, 1837, died February 18, 1894; Elizabeth, born December 17, 1839; died November 22, 1909; Margaret, born July 10, 1843, died February 6, 1895 and Samuel, born February 16, 1845. Casper Cooper was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania, and when a youth learned the miller's trade and followed this business for several years in Ohio and Iowa. He was one of the very early pioneers of Harper county, Kansas, coming to this State in 1878. He located on government land in Silver Creek township, Harper county, where he lived in a sod house for the first three years, and endured all the hardships and discouragements incident to pioneer life on the plains, but from the first he had faith in the future of Kansas, and lived to see his judgment verified. In the later years of his life, he became one of the prosperous and well to do farmers of Harper county, and at the time of his death owned one of the best farms in that section of the State. He was married March 20, 1859, at Iowa City, Ia., to Miss Rebecca Edgerton, a native of Wayne county, Indiana, born July 20, 1842. Her parents were William and Hannah (Hastings) Edgerton, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Indiana. To Casper Cooper and wife were born eight children: David, born March 28, 1860; William C., born June 21, 1863; Mattie, born May 7, 1866; Elizabeth born October 5, 1869; John A., born November 22, 1871; Nettie C., born May 16, 1874; Ernest L., born June 10, 1878, and Benjamin W., born July 20, 1885. Casper Cooper was a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted as a private in Company B, Fourteenth Regiment, Iowa infantry, and during the second year of his services was transferred to the Seventh Regiment, Iowa cavalry, and served in all three years and three months. He was a devout member of the Baptist church, and lived an honorable Christian life. He was always conscientious in the performance of his duty, whether in the capacity of a citizen, or a soldier, and he will long be remembered as one of the substantial men of Harper county. His widow, an estimable lady now resides at Freeport, Kans.