Good Morning Mark Here's a few things to tease you until I have more time to get into the Coopers again. (From the History of Mercer County - 1882) Page 311 In 1844, Hamlet Cooper stopped at Burrall's with his wife and seven children, a yoke of oxen and cart and cow and a calf. Out of money, he was induced to look at the prairie on the north side of Camp Creek. It being a very bad season, with the streams high, he camped on the banks of Camp lCreek, and swiming the creek, he examined the land and determined to make a claim on Section 9. Waiting two weeks for the water to fall so that he could cross the creek, he in the last of June moved up and made the first settlement on the north side of Camp Creek. Page 317 The Village of Hamlet, located one mile south of the north line and three miles west of the east line of the township, was laid out on the land of Josiah and Capt. D.M. Candor, in 1868, and was christened Hamlet, in honor of Hamlet Cooper, now deceased, one of the very first of the pioneers to locate in this section of the country. Page 329 Hamlet Cooper (deceased) was one of the pioneer settlers of Perryton township. He located here in 1844. At that time there was but little else here than wild grass and wild animals. He emigrated from England, his native country, about 1832, to New York, and then to Michigan, where he resided six years, and then came to Perryton township, where he died in 1847, at the age of 41 years. In 1829 he married Mary A. Clark, of England. They raised a family of eight children: Thomas, William H., Charlotte A., John H., Lester H., Philip, Enoch, and Robert (deceased). The last named enlisted in company A, 9th Ill. Cavalry. He was mustered into the service in 1861 and served one year, when he died at Keokuk, Iowa. William H. and Lester H. enlisted in 1862, in company C, 102nd Ill. Vol. Inf., and served til the close of the war. They were at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, with Sherman on his march to the sea. Both were with the company all the time during the their term of service. Th! ey passed through Richmond, to Washington, then to Chicago, where they were mustered out. William H. now resides in Kansas; Lester H. on the farm, three-fourths of a mile west of the village of Hamlet. Lester H. received only a moderate educational training; for the several years he folowed breaking prairie, when he took to the farm, but at present is engaged in keeping fine horses. He married in 1876 to Mary J. Nichols, native of Illinois, daughter of Ephraim H. and Diana Nichols, both of Ohio. They came to Illinois in 1854 and located in Hancock county; they afterward came to Mercer County, but returned to Hancock county, where both are living. HAMLET CEMETERY Cooper, Arthur H. 1902 - 1972 Cooper, Bessie Jan. 30, 1878 - Nov. 25, 1950 Cooper, Carrie M. (*3) 1887 - 1919 (On the same stone with Mary J. and Lester H.) Cooper, Charlie H. (*9) 1892 - 1976 (On the same stone with Lizzie C.) Cooper, Clair 1905-1981 Father of Gary, Sr. Cooper, Clarence H. (*6) 1868 - 1945 (On the same stone with Nancy M.) Cooper, Clyde (*5) Mar. 7, 1908 - Nov. 1, 1980 Married Jan. 1, 1939 (On the same stone with Gertrude) Cooper, Curlinda (*2) Died Nov. 2, 1901 Aged 62yr 7mo 29da (On the same stone with Hiram L.) Cooper, David H. Died Nov. 13, 1898 Aged 67yr Cooper, Fay (*1) Sep. 2, 1903 - May 29, 1974 (On the same stone with Ineth) Cooper, Florence F. Jul. 21, 1878 - Nov. 7, 1935 Cooper, George L. Died Feb. 3, 1874 Aged 4mo & 17 da Son of J.H & J. Cooper Cooper, Gertrude (*5) Mar. 3, 1920 - Mar. 20, 1994 Married Jan. 1, 1939 (On the same stone with Clyde) Cooper, Hamlet Died May 8, 1847 Aged 41yr 6mo 4da Cooper, Hiram L. (*2) Died Jan. 24, 1926 Aged 82yr 10mo 20da (On the same stone with Curlinda) Cooper, Ineth (*1) Nov. 26, 1903 - Oct 10, 1976 (On the same stone with Fay) Cooper, Irena Died Oct .5, 1869 Wife of H.G. Cooper (Also : " Almond D."- "Baby Twins") Cooper, Jamima Died Sep. 5, 1896 Aged 64yr 3mo 23da Wife of James H. Cooper Cooper, Jesse Died June 25, 1899 Aged 79yr 8mo 26da Cooper, Jessie B. Jan. 20, 1871 - Mar. 8, 1935 Cooper, John R. (*8) Jul. 10, 1947 - Jul. 8, 1997 Married Apr. 11, 1971 (On the same stone with Mary K.) Cooper, Leroy (*4) 1877 - 1946 (On the same stone with Susan A.) Cooper, Lester H. (*3) 1840 - 1912 Co. C 102 Ill. Vol. Inf. (On the same stone with Mary J.) Cooper, Levi (1) 1875 - 1950 Cooper, Levi (2) Died Nov. 4, 1892 Aged 32yr 9mo 27da Cooper, Levi B. (?) Died Sep 10, 1862 Aged 1yr 3mo 27da Son of D.H. & S.A. Cooper Cooper, Lizzie C. (*9) 1893 - 1966 (On the same stone with Charlie H.) Cooper, Louise A. (*7) 1902 - 19 (On the same stone with Walter L. - D.O.D. not inscribed yet) Cooper, Lucy Died Feb. 23, 1876 Aged 88yr 11mo 20da Wife of Levi Cooper (2) Cooper, Lula B. Mar. 15, 1884 - Oct. 12, 1970 Cooper, Mary 1909 - 1911 (Dau. of Levi (1) and Maude Cooper Cooper, Mary J. (*3) 1855 - 1914 (On the same stone with Lester H.) Cooper, Mary K. (*8) Nov. 17, 1949 - ? Married Apr. 11, 1971 (On the same stone with John R.) Cooper, Mary L. 1907-1995 Mother of Gary, Sr. Cooper, Mary W. Oct. 4, 1804 - Jan. 21, 1883 (Our Mother) Cooper, Maude 1878 - 1912 Wife of Levi (1) Cooper, Melonia N. 1841 - 1924 Wife of D.H. Cooper Cooper, Minnie Nov. 13, 1866 - Nov. 24, 1958 Cooper, Nancy M. (*6) 1879 - 19 (On the same stone with Clarence H. - D.O.D. not inscribed yet) Cooper, R. Everett 1926-1934 Son of R.E. & B.B Cooper Cooper, Samuel L. Feb. 28, 1932 Cooper, Sarah A. Died Jan. 16, 1883 Aged 46yr 2mo 6da Wife of D.H. Cooper Cooper, Susan A. (*4) 1882 - 1966 Mother (On the same stone with Leroy) Cooper, Thomas Died Oct. 10, 1857 Aged 85yr 4mo 5da Father of Levi Cooper, Thomas Died Feb 8, 1902 Aged 71yr 5mo 27da Cooper, Walter L. (*7) 1898 - 1967 (On the same stone with Louise A.) (As of March 26, 1999) George Carpenter Illinois City, Illinois ----- Original Message ----- From: ziemer1@msn.com To: gcarp@qconline.com Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 9:14 PM Subject: Hamlet Cooper Hi- I visited the Cemetery in Hamlet Il. this past weekend. My name is Mark Ziemer. My mothers maiden name is Joyce Cooper. We are related to Hamlet Cooper, what can you tell me about him, his wife and their children? I know I'm related thru Lester Hamlet Cooper. What were his childrens names? My grandfather was Donald Cooper, and his father was Howard Cooper. Is this the connection, or does it go back another generation? Do you have birth, death, marriage dates? Any information you can give me on the Cooper side would be appreciated.. Thanks Mark Ziemer ziemer1@msn.com