Re: Jonathan Cooper--b.1758 in MD, Henry Co. KY, d. 1845 Jersey Co IL
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In reply to:
Re: Jonathan Cooper--b.1758 in MD, Henry Co. KY, d. 1845 Jersey Co IL
Jill Hartwig 7/03/10
I do appreciate your help. I am sure Henry is the son of Jonathan. When was your Nancy born?
Prairie Pioneer – Jonathon Cooper
Capt. Jonathan E. Cooper, one of the pioneer settlers of Jersey County, died at his home two and a half miles southwest of Jerseyville Friday October 25, 1895, aged 88 years. Funeral services were held at the Baptist Church Sunday afternoon. Dr. Bulkly of Alton preaching to a large assembly, Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery. The pall bearers were L. L. Kirby, D. R. Stelle, Robert Newton, Andrew Cope, Lewis Terrell and A. F. Pitt.
Capt. Cooper was born in Henry County, Kentucky, Jan. 5, 1807. His father, Jonathon Cooper, was a native of Maryland and one of the early settlers of the beautiful "blue grass country," a pioneer with Daniel Boone with whom he fought the Indians. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married his first wife, Eleanor Jones, in Pennsylvania and reared six children. Succeeding the death of his wife, he married Eleanor English in Shelby County, Kentucky, and to them twelve children were born. Jonathan E. Cooper being the eldest sone and second child. In 1835 he removed to Illinois and settled on a farm four miles southwest of Jerseyville where he died in August 1845. Mrs. Cooper survived his death eleven years.
Jonathan E. Cooper had little advantage for school training, the only means within his reach being the public schools of his native state which were of an inferior order, but he had a hungry mind and sought the best books and papers of his day, thus acquiring historical and practical knowledge. He leaves in his library some rare and valuable books and papers. He labored on the farm until he was 23 years of age, and in Nov. 1829, he came from Kentucky to what is now Jersey County, making the trip on horseback in 13 days. A Kentucky horse and three dollars in cash were his sole capital. He spent nearly the first winter clerking in the store of his uncle, L. N. English, of Carrollton. The next year he worked on a farm. On the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he enlisted in Capt. Carlin’s company, was elected as its orderly sergeant and served one year under Carlin. The next year, 1832, he served in Capt. Patterson’s company and a portion of the year he was quartermaster. He fought in the battles of the Wisconsin and Mississippi, and after peace was declared, received an honorable discharge.
In October, 1832, Capt. Cooper entered the land on which he lived to his death, two and half miles southwest of Jerseyville. During this same year, he was commissioned captain of militia by Gov. Reynolds; hence his official title, Captain, which he bore with honor. After entering his land, he at once began its improvement and built a cabin home. In that early day he had many hardships to endure and difficulties to overcome. But thus are men made strong.
One spring day, May 19, 1836, the captain led to the marriage alter, Miriam F. Turner, nee French, the daughter of Nicholas and Anna French and a native of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. On the first day of the following August, he took his bride to their cabin home which was located on the identical spot where stands the house in which he died, where he lived for 59 years. After 37 years of successful life, his devoted helpmate was taken from him by death. No children blessed their union, but their generous souls led them to adopt two: Marshal M. Cooper, who became a Presbyterian minister and is now located at Troy, Ill.; and Mary, the wife of N. I. Massey, who reside in Colorado. On Dec. 3, 1879, Captain Cooper married Mrs. Sarah C. Johnson, nee Gillham, a native of Madison County, Illinois, who has lived to see the sterling old man fall into the dreamless sleep that knows no disturbance. She has been a true and faithful wife, devoted to the last.
Capt. Cooper was a good citizen. He rendered to Caeser that which beloned to Caeser, and to God that which belonged to God. Politically he was a democrat. He cast his first vote for General Jackson and never forsook the party of his first choice. He never aspired to public office. In 1839, he and his wife united with the Baptist church at Kane, there being no church of that denomination in Jerseyville at that time, and afterwards were among the original members of the Jerseyville Baptist church. Mr. Cooper was elected the first deacon of the church and held the office to the time of his death. He kept his mind well-informed, reading the best books and papers published. He subscribed for one religious paper for 52 years—the Western Recorder, a Baptist paper published at Louisville, Ky. He had a strong personality and his influence and iron will told in all his relations in life. He was noble-hearted and generous, charitable to the poor but making no display of his gifts. He surrendered to but one enemy and that was Death. He fought him as scarcely any other mortal has done but at last he laid down his armor and the struggle ended. In state he was known as Captain Cooper, in the church as Deacon Cooper. From Jersey County Democrat, October 31, 1895.
More Replies:
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Re: Jonathan Cooper--b.1758 in MD, Henry Co. KY, d. 1845 Jersey Co IL
Jill Hartwig 7/03/10
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Re: Jonathan Cooper--b.1758 in MD, Henry Co. KY, d. 1845 Jersey Co IL
Jonathan Rocha 9/17/13
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Re: Jonathan Cooper--b.1758 in MD, Henry Co. KY, d. 1845 Jersey Co IL