From: Jersey County Historical Society Jerseyville, Illinois They write.... "During the middle 1800's we had at least three different branches of Cooper families in Jersey County. One of them came from Germany about 1850, so we can probably eliminate them as a possible tie to your family. There was a Capt. Jonathan E. Cooper who came here about 1830 from Kentucky, and enclosed is his obituary for your information. He doesn't seem a likely tie to your family, as he had no children of his own. However, Jonathan Cooper's parents are buried in Jersey County. Maybe some others of his family came here also. There was also Abraham Cooper who came from New Jersey about 1838. Enclosed is a biographical sketch on his family from "ATLAS MAP OF JERSEY COUNTY, 1872". I looked at the 1850 County Census and could not locate your Jonathan (John) D. Cooper, born 1847." CAPT. JONATHAN E. COOPER (1895) The death of Capt. Jonathan E. Cooper removes from Jersey County one of her pioneer citizens. He was born in Henry County, KY., Jan. 5, 1907, and at the time of his death was nearly 89 years old. When 23 years old, he came to Illinois, making the trip on horseback which occupied 13 days. The first winter on his arrival was spent as clerk in the store of his uncle, L. N. English, at Carrollton, afterwards working on a farm. On the breaking out of the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in Gov. Carlin's Company, was elected as its orderly sergeant and served one year. Afterwards he served in Captain Patterson's Company and participated in the battles of the Wisconsin and Mississippi. In Oct. 1832, he entered the land on which he resided at the time of his death, two and one-half miles south of Jerseyville. His wealth consisting of a horse and three dollars in money, he set to work improving his farm. Being a pioneer, many hardships, now unknown, had to be endured. May 19, 1836, he was married to Miriam F. Turner, a native of New Hampshire. They at once took up their abode in the cabin where the residence now stands. Mrs. Cooper died in 1873. They reared two adopted children, Marshall M. Cooper, now a Presbyterian minister at Troy, Ill., and Mary who became the wife of N. J. Massey. Captain Cooper was again married in 1879 to Sarah C. Johnston, a native of Madison County, Illinois. In politics, Mr. Cooper was a democrat, casting his first ballot for Andrew Jackson. He was a member of the Baptist church, uniting with the church at Kane in 1839, and for over fifty years held the responsible position of deacon in the Church of Jerseyville. He was a citizen generally loved and respected by his fellow men. The funeral services were held at the Baptist Church in this city, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27th, 1895, Rev. Dr. Bulkley, of Upper Alton, conducted the services, assisted by the pastor, Rev. J. J. Porter. The interment took place in the Oak Grove Cemetery. January 1908 CHARLES COOPER died January 5, 1908. He was born March 15, 1849 in Jerseyville to Abram and Maria Nevins Cooper. He married Leone Fitzgerald, daughter of Peter and Angeline Fitzgerald on December 5, 1876. They were the parents of two children, Edgar Louis Cooper and Alice Cooper, who died in 1900. 1872 ABRAHAM COOPER was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, November 17, 1811. He was the second child of Abraham and Jane Cooper, who were natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Cooper's maiden name was Baird, the daughter of Major Baird. Mr. Cooper died before the birth of his son Abraham. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the district schools of Somerset county. By the death of his father he was in early life thrown on his own resources, and when only fourteen years of age, became an apprentice to learn the mason's trade; and at the age of twenty-four, was married to Miss Maria Nevins, daughter of Christopher and Sarah Nevins, of Somerset county, New Jersey. They had a family of ten children, of whom five are yet living. Three are married, and are all residents of Illinois. In April 1838, Mr. Cooper landed, with his family, in Jersey County, Illinois, bringing with him his widowed mother, who died in 1858. Mr. Cooper located in Jerseyville, where he worked at his trade about fourteen years. He assisted in building the court house. In 1852, he moved on the farm, which he had previously purchased, situated about five miles northeast of Jerseyville, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. When Mr. Cooper became a resident of this state, he was quite poor. He had land situated in different places, altogether upwards of three hundred acres, some of the most valuable lands of the county. Mr. Cooper was a gentlemen who, by the rectitude of his life, won the respect of a large circle of friends. Quite early in his life he became a member of the whig party, and on its disorganization joined the rank and file of the republican party. He voted both times for Abraham Lincoln and once for U. S. Grant, and during the late Civil War the Union cause had in him an active supporter. His death occurred at his residence, on the 28th of August, 1872. Such is the narrative of the life and career of one of the old residents of Jersey county. Mr. Cooper and wife worshipped in the First Presbyterian Church of Jerseyville. At the present the widow and two sons are residing at the old homestead.