An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 377-378

DAVID R. COOPER, who resides at Mount Hood, is one of the largest land owners in
that section and has the distinction of being a pioneer farmer and settler in
this portion of the valley. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on December
9, 1845, the son of George and Eliza (Kid) cooper, both natives of Scotland,
where they remained until their death. The father came from an old Highland
family that had dwelt in Aberdeenshire for over three hundred years. After
receiving a good education in his own country and remaining there until 1872,
our subject came to the United States, landing in Oakland, Oregon, where he
joined his brother, James T., who had crossed the plains with burros and jacks
in 1849. He took his citizen papers out at Roseburg, in 1873, then bought a farm
near his brother and remained on it for ten years. In 1882, he came over the
mountains from The Dalles to the place where the settlement of Mount Hood is now
located. There were then no roads and no settlers except two bachelors, Sam
Baldwin and Harry Teimen, the latter now deceased. Mr. Cooper selected a quarter
section and filed on the same. A few months thereafter, he made the acquaintance
of Captain H.C. Coe, and made arrangements to build a road from this settlement
to Mount Hood. They completed it and then sold to William Ladd, of Portland.
They soon brought settlers here in great numbers and tourists constantly and Mr.
Cooper is justly entitled to the credit of opening up and building up of this
country. A few months later, Mr. Cooper's wife and six children joined him and
they were the first family to settle in this wilderness. He now has a large
orchard in the upper settlement, having over three thousand bearing trees. He
also has a large pear orchard. He still owns a rich quarter, which he
homesteaded, except for a half acre, which was donated for school purposes. He
was a leading spirit in the organization of district number six, and started the
school and since has been director almost constantly. In political matters, Mr.
Cooper is independent, reserving for his own decision all the questions of the
day without being trammeled by party lines. He has been a delegate to the
various conventions and is an influential man.      

At Glasgow, Scotland, on September 13, 1870, Mr. Cooper married Miss Marion
Porteous, who was born in Hollytown, Scotland. Her father, John Porteous, was a
native of the same place as also were his ancestors for many generations back.
He died there in 1901 and his widow still lives there. Mr. Cooper has the
following named brothers and sisters, James T., John, Robert, Ann Perkins and
Isabella, in Scotland. Mrs. Cooper's brothers and sisters are John, James,
Alexander, Daniel, Mary, Christina, Jessie and Margaret, all in Scotland. To our
subject and his wife, ten children have been born; James T., in Scotland, and
now a sheep man at The Dalles; Warren, John, George and David, at home; Wyoming,
the wife of James A. Cook, a farmer at Hood River; Christina, married to Elmer
Gribble, a farmer at Mount Hood; Lizzie, May and Hattie, at home. For six years
after the road was opened, Mr. Cooper followed the business of guiding parties
to Mount Hood and also operated a tent hotel for tourists. He has labored
faithfully during the years of his residence here and has secured a fine
competence as the result of his industry. He is a leading man in the community
and deserves the esteem and confidence of the people which are generously given.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.