Cooper, John

COOPER, MCPHERSON, SPANGLER, ROE

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 2/19/2003 at 17:37:59

From A Biographical record of Boone County, Iowa. New York: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1902

JOHN COOPER.

The great agricultural state of Iowa owes its prominence in this direction to the enterprising and consecutive efforts of such men as John Cooper, who resided on section 3, Colfax township, where he owns and cultivates a fractional half section of land and in addition to this he owns a fractional north half of section 5, of the same township. Through a third of a century he has made his home in Boone county while his residence in Iowa covers forty-five years. A native of Scotland, he was born in Aberdeenshire, March 9, 1840, his parents being George and Helen (McPherson) Cooper, both of whom were natives of Scotland, in which country they were reared and married. In 1836 the father left the land of hills and heather and with his family emigrated to the new world settling first in Ontario, Canada, where he remained for about two years. On the expiration of that period he came to the United States, settling in Clinton county, Iowa, near De Witt, where he secured a tract of land about the year 1858. Upon the farm which he there developed he lived until he was called to his final rest.

John Cooper, of this review, spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth in Clinton and Clayton counties, Iowa, in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He became familiar with the work of field and meadow and subsequently turned his attention to the lumber business on the Mississippi river in Clayton county, in which enterprise he was associated in partnership with George J. Boyd. That enterprise was conducted with success for five or six years and then Mr. Cooper disposed of his interests and in 1868 came to Boone county, purchasing one hundred acres of raw prairie land on section 3, in Colfax township. This was destitute of all improvements but his labors soon wrought a marked difference in the appearance of the place, buildings being erected while the fields were tilled. As his financial resources enabled him to make additional purchases the boundaries of his farm were extended until the home place comprises a fractional half section of land on section 3, and that amount on section 5. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Des Moines township, near the city of Boone and this too is well improved, constituting one of the good farms of the community. Here in on the home place a good residence, two good barns and all necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has also planted two orchards and shade tree have been set out around his home and protect the residence from the rays of the hot sun in summer. In fact, a valuable farm is the property of John Cooper who is justly accounted one of the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of this portion of the state.

On the 12th of January, 1871, in Clayton county, Iowa, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Mary E. Spangler, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, a daughter of Reuben Spangler, also a native of the Buckeye state in which place he was reared. When Iowa was a pioneer region he sought a home in Clayton county and there Mrs. Cooper was reared and educated. By her marriage she has become the mother of ten children: George, who is married and resides on a farm in Boone county; Charles H., who is assisting in the operation of the home farm; F. J., who is living in the state of Washington; Clyde W., who is carrying on the work of the home farm in connection with his father and brothers; Floyd C., Grant H. and Ralph, who are still with their parents; Nellie is the wife of R. B. Roe, of Mason county, Washington; Edith M. and Mary, who are yet under the parental roof.

Mr. Cooper is especially interested in everything pertaining to the progress and improvement of his county. He endorses good schools and believes in continually raising the standard of intellectual development. For many years he served on the school board and was president of the district. He has been connected with the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company for many years and for six or eight years has acted as its president. He first voted for General Grant in 1868. He afterward supported the men and measures of the Democratic party, but in 1896 cast his ballot for William McKinley. He is a believer in sound money and expansion and thereby e endorsed the Republican party in that year. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, his membership being with the lodge in Boone, In his business career he has given evidence of the possession of those traits which always insure success, being energetic, resolute and honorable,. Not to any outside aid or influence does he owe his prosperity, but to his strong determination to win success guided by sound judgement. All who know him entertain for him warm regard and Mr. Cooper has a very wide acquaintance in this county.