Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1046 - 1047

WILLIAM COOPER, a farmer and stock raiser of Ninnescah Township, residing on section 13, comes of honorable lineage. He was born in Kentucky, Dec. 22, 1825, and is now the only survivor of the fourteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity, born to William C. and Mary (Mize) Cooper. His father, a Virginian by birth, was a son of Layton Cooper, of English descent, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and did gallant service in that memorable conflict while it lasted, with the exception of about one year, which he spent in hospitals, having been twice severely wounded. An uncle of our subject, Robert Cooper, took an active part in the War of 1812.

             In the year 1827 the parents of our subject left their old Kentucky home, and moved to Pike County, Ill., being among the earliest pioneers of that county, and there the record of their honorable and useful lives closed in death, the mother dying in 1838, and the father in August, 1849.

             Our subject was scarcely two years of age when his parents took him from the home of his birth to Illinois, so that his boyhood days were passed amid the stirring scenes of a pioneer life, and his education was conducted in the primitive log schoolhouses of those days. He early began his life work as a farmer, married in 1843 Elizabeth Wilkinson, and established a home of his own. He took an active part in public affairs while a resident of Illinois, doing good service as Road Commissioner, Road Overseer, and holding other town offices.

             Mr. Cooper was bereft of his first wife in 1849; she had been to him a true wife, a wise and ready helper. He was again married, in Illinois, to Miss Eliza A. Harris, Sept. 14, 1851. She was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 18, 1832, and her parents were William E. and Elizabeth (Foreman) Harris, natives of Pennsylvania. Her maternal uncle, Jacob Foreman, was a soldier of the War of 1812, and took part in the battle of New Orleans. Her parents had nine children, three of whom are now living: Eliza A.; Eleanor, wife of William Huff, of this county; and William T., who served in the war of the Rebellion, went to Colorado in 1874, and has not since been heard from. Mrs. Cooper's father is now living with her, and is in his eighty-eighth year. The mother died May 22, 1868. 

            To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born ten children; their record is as follows: Samantha E., born June 19, 1852; John L., March 15, 1855; Mary A., Jan. 17, 1857; Elizabeth, Feb. 23, 1859; Frank, Oct. 12, 1861; Thompson, March 9, 1864; William H., born Sept. 15, 1853, died Oct. 8, 1869; Archie G., born Feb. 7, 1867, died March 24, 1868; Florence, born March 23, 1870, died May 16, 1871; Willis E., born Aug. 24, 1872, died May 18, 1875. Samantha is the wife of T. E. Keller, and Mary is the wife of J. A. Webb. John L. came to Kansas from his native State, Illinois, with his parents in 1879. Prior to coming here, however, he had married, Dec. 25, 1878, Clara A. Chamberlain, who was born in Adams County, Ill., Dec. 27, 1856, and is a daughter of Noah and Mary Chamberlain, natives of Ohio. Her mother is deceased; her father is now living in Brown County, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. John L. Cooper have been born two children: William E., Jan. 30, 1880, and Ella M., Aug. 30, 1886. Mr. Cooper is actively engaged in farming, owning a good farm of eighty acres. In politics he is a Republican. 

            Mr. William Cooper, of this sketch, removed with his family from Illinois to Kansas in 1879,and settled on his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of land under fine tillage, and yielding him a good income. He has it well stocked, and has a comfortable and convenient set of farm buildings, the neatness and thrift of the owner being apparent in everything about the place. In all his work he has received the hearty co-operation and sympathy of his capable wife, and now in their declining years they are enjoying the fruits of a life spent in usefulness and well-doing. They are active members of the Christian Church, where he has held the office of Deacon for three years.

             Mr. Cooper is public spirited, and cordially welcomes and aids every improvement and every enterprise to benefit the township or county, and as School Director has taken a warm interest in furthering the cause of education. He is identified with the Masonic society, of Clearwater. In politics he is a stanch representative of the Republican party.

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