James T. Cooper, of Fredonia, Kan., an able and well known member of the Wilson county bar, has built up a professional reputation and a large practice as a corporation lawyer, and in that capacity has charge of the legal affairs of a number of the largest business concerns of Wilson and adjoining counties. Born in Woodson county, Aug. 30, 1866, Mr. Cooper is a native Kansan, and through his useful activities is contributing to the prestige of his native state as one of the most progressive of the Union. On the paternal side he comes from an old North Carolina family, while his mother's people, the Wallers, were early settlers in Maryland. Albert J. Cooper, his father, was born in Tennessee, but removed to Missouri with his parents when a boy. From there he came to Kansas, in 1857, and settled in Woodson county, where he entered and proved up a homestead. In 1863 he enlisted in the service of the Union army as a member of the Ninth Kansas cavalry, and was mustered out in August, 1865. Returning to Kansas he resumed the occupation of farming and was thus engaged until his death, in Wilson county, in 1891. In politics he was a Republican, but took no other than a voting interest in political affairs. He was a son of D. C. Cooper, who was born in North Carolina in 1806. Venson Cooper, great-grandfather of James T., was born in North Carolina in 1769 and lived there until his death. The mother of James T. Cooper was a Miss Caroline Waller prior to her marriage. She was the youngest child of William WaIler, who was born near Baltimore, Md., and died in Kentucky.

James T. Cooper received a common school education in Wilson county, Kansas. After attending the normal school at Fort Scott a short period he entered Baker University and was a student there one year. He completed his literary education in the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia, where he graduated in 1891. He had taught school one year before going to Emporia and also taught one year after his graduation. Elected a clerk of the district court, in 1892, he began the study of law during his spare time and was admitted to the bar in 1895, while in office. He began the practice of law under favorable circumstances and commanded a good professional business from the start. Early in his practice he made a specialty of corporation law, in which direction his ability was soon recognized. Some of the firms he represents in legal affairs are the Fredonia Gas Company, the Windom Glass Company, the Fredonia Brick Company, the Wilson County Bank, the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Company, the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, the Portland Cement Company, and a number of smaller companies. He is admitted to practice in all the courts, both state and Federal. Successful alike in professional and business affairs, he has become the owner of large properties and is recognized as one of the substantial men of Wilson county. He is a stockholder in the Wilson County Bank and owns valuable land in Wilson county.

In 1895 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Flora, daughter of C. B. Jackson, a pioneer farmer of Wilson county, Kansas. Mrs. Cooper was educated at Emporia and was a successful teacher a number of years before her marriage. Mr. Cooper was elected to his first office, that of clerk of the district court, as a Republican, but since that time has given his political allegiance to the Democratic party. He served four years as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, to which office he was elected to succeed W. J. Bailey. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order and has "passed all the chairs" of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Templar degree.