FROM: "History of Jerseyville" written by Rev. M. M. Cooper, and published in 1901. (Rev. M. M. Cooper would have been Rev. Marshall M. Cooper, an adopted child of Jonathan E. and Miriam F. (Turner) Cooper. Rev. Cooper was a minister of the Presbyterian church at Troy, Illinois.) "Captain Jonathan E. Cooper was born near New Castle, Henry County, Kentucky, on January 5, 1807. His father, whose name was also Jonathan Cooper, was a native of Maryland, and one of the early settlers of Kentucky, who with Daniel Boone, frequently hunted the Indians. He was also a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The father moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1835, and settled on a farm four miles southwest of Jerseyville where he lived until his death, which occurred August, 1845, at the ripe old age of 89 years. His wife survived him him nine years, dying in 1854. Captain Cooper received his education in the schools of his native state. He remained at home with his father until he reached the age of 23 years, when, in November 1829, after a horse-back trip of 13 days, landed within the present limits of Jersey county. He spent the first winter here in Illinois, clerking in the store of his uncle, Linsey N. English, of Carrollton, Illinois. The next year he worked on a farm. At the breaking out of the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in Capt. Carlin's (afterwards Gov. Carlin) company; was selected as orderly sergeant, and served one year under Capt. Carlin. The next year, 1832, he served in Capt. Patterson's company, and a portion of the year was detailed as quartermaster. He took part in the battles of Prairie Du Chien and Mississippi, and after peace was declared, received an honorable discharge. He was commissioned Captain of State Militia by Gov. Reynolds in 1832. On May 19, 1836, he was married to Mrs. Miriam F. Turner, (nee French), a daughter of Nicholas and Anna French. She was born in Rockingham county, New Hampshire, in 1798. She was one of the best women that ever came to this country. She died in June, 1873. They reared two children to manhood and womanhood - Rev. Marshall M. Cooper, a Presbyterian minister, and Miss Mary Spangle, who married Nicholas Masses, and who died in 1900 in Colorado. On December 3, 1879, he was married to Mrs. Sarah Johnson, who survived him sixteen weeks, dying on February 19, 1896. Religiously, Capt. Cooper and wife were Baptists, and united with that church at Kane, Greene County, in 1839. They transferred their membership to the Jerseyville Baptist church when it was organized, September 5, 1841, and were among its charter members until their deaths. At the organization of this church he was ordained deacon and remained so to his death. Deacon Cooper was a noble hearted man and strict integrity marked all of his dealings. He took great interest in chronicling events of the early history of Jersey county, and was the best historian in the county. During his last days he became very helpless, losing his speech entirely for two and one-half years, besides through the disease of "creeping paralysis" he became almost helpless. During this time he was very patient and good natured. He died Oct. 5, 1895 at the ripe age of 88 years and 9 months. ************************** EDMUND L. COOPER came to Greene county, April 16, 1836, settling about a mile west of Wrightsville. Mr. Cooper was born in Lawrence county, Virginia on September 24, 1799. He was a son of James and Mildred (Smith) Cooper, also natives of Virginia. When six years of age our subject, with his parents, removed to Kentucky, where he lived until coming to this county. His father died in Kentucky in 1826, and his mother in 1823. Edmund Cooper was married in Kentucky on November 28, 1822 to Mary M. Perry, a native of Lawrence county, Virginia. They were the parents of nine children: Mildred A. (deceased); James P. (deceased); William T. (deceased); Robert R.; Emeline E.; Edmund M.; Adrienne A.; Cornelia F. (deceased); and Varinda J. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were still living in 1885. (The history was published in 1885, so the deceased children had died prior to that date. **************** WILLIAM T. COOPER, deceased, was born in Kentucky, September 25, 1826. He was a son of Edmund L. and Mary (Perry) Cooper, natives of Virginia. They reside in this county, about three miles west of Greenfield. He was married April 17, 1856 to Margaret C. Johnson, born in the county on August 16, 1837, and a daughter of Joel and Nancy (Banning) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were the parents of ten children: Owen - Born June 26, 1857 and died August 26, 1878; Rosa J. - Born April 5, 1860 and died March 9, 1885; George E. - Born March 29, 1864 living with his mother on the farm); William E. - Born March 26, 1866, also at home; Martha A. - Born April 17, 1868, living at home; Minnie I. - Born June 5, 1872; Mary - Born May 10, 1875; Alvin - Born June 11, 1862 and died September 1, 1863; two who died in infancy and were unnamed. Mr. Cooper died July 19, 1875 from consumption. In June 1884, Mrs. Cooper was married to James Isaacs, a native of Kentucky, born in 1855." Edmund L. and William T. lived in Greene county (Illinois) of which Jersey county (Illinois) was a part of until 1839. *************** CLARK STEVENS, a native of Coles county, Missouri, was born January 7, 1823. He was married March 11, 1841 to MILDRED COOPER, daughter of Edmund L. and Mary Cooper. Their daughter, Cornelia E., wife of W. T. King, lived in Kansas.