Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 297.
 
JAMES S. COOPER

     James S. Cooper, who is now living retired at Independence, devoting his
attention to the supervision of his extensive property interests, was for a
considerable period prominently identified with financial affairs in Polk
county, acquiring thereby a substantial competence which now enables him to rest
from further labor. He is a man of high personal standing, of marked business
integrity and ability, and is regarded as one of the most substantial and valued
citizens of his community.
     Mr. Cooper was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, January 9, 1841, and is a
son of E. E. and Nancy (Wann) Cooper, natives of Kentucky. The father was a
Baptist minister and a son of Henry Cooper, who also engaged in preaching the
gospel. The family has ever been noted for its loyalty and patriotism and
Frederick Cooper, the great-grandfather of James S. Cooper of this review,
enlisted in 1777, when but seventeen years of age, as a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, defending American interests at York Pennsylvania, under
command of Captain Lart. His grandson, E. E. Cooper, removed to Missouri in
1839, taking up a homestead on Rock Prairie, near the present site of Halltown,
in Lawrence county. This he cleared and developed, also continuing his
ministerial labors, and remained a resident of the state until 1863, when with
ox team and wagon he crossed the plains to Oregon, settling on a farm in Spring
valley, Polk county. There he again engaged in farming and in preaching the
gospel until 1876, when he removed to Salem, where he resided for two years and
then took up his abode upon a farm in West Salem. He there passed away on the
12th of August, 1880, and the mother's demise occurred at Independence, May 30,
1891. They reared a family of twelve children, nine of whom were born in
Missouri.
     Their son, James S. Cooper, was reared and educated in Missouri, pursuing
his studies in one of the pioneer log schoolhouses. In 1860, when a young man of
nineteen years, he crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in the
teaming business, residing in that state for a period of four years, during
which time he made thirteen trips across the Sierras to Virginia City, Nevada.
In February, 1864, he started for Oregon by the overland route, reaching Spring
valley, Polk county, on the 19th of March. There for a short time he conducted a
small dairy and then made his way to Marion county, where in six months he made
five hundred dollars by cutting wood. and was thus enabled to pursue a course of
study in McMinnville College. He subsequently purchased land in Polk county and
for two years was active in its operation. He then sold the property and went to
eastern Oregon, where he remained for two years, or until 1873, when he returned
to Polk county and bought a farm west of Salem, which he continued to operate
for two years and then sold. In 1875 he established a livery and stage business
in Monmouth, of which he remained the proprietor until 1878, when he removed to
Independence and here engaged in a similar enterprise for two years. The next
five years were devoted to the conduct of a brokerage business and in 1885 he
opened a private bank, which he operated until 1889, when he became the
organizer of the First National Bank of Independence, of which he was made
president. In 1900 Mr. Cooper sold his interest in the bank and has since
devoted his attention to the supervision of his extensive property interests,
having made judicious investments in city and farm realty. He is the owner of
several business blocks in the city which were erected by him and he also has
extensive timber interests in the state. He likewise owns two valuable farms,
one of two hundred and thirty-eight acres and the other comprising seven hundred
and twelve acres, and for the past thirty years he has engaged in hop raising on
an extensive scale. His initiative spirit and notable ability have carried him
into important relations and through his activities he has contributed in
substantial measure to the development and upbuilding of his section of the
state.
     Mr. Cooper has been married twice. On the 7th of January, 1869, he wedded
Miss Frances O. Graves and they became the parents of four children: Estelle M.
became the wife of C. E. Ireland on the 5th of October, 1898, and they reside in
Portland; Dora Edith married Major G. M. Parker, Jr., of the Thirty-third United
States Infantry, and they are now residing in Panama; Ella Pearl was married on
the 6th of June, 1904, to W. D. Moreland, a veteran of the World war. He went
overseas as a captain and for gallant and meritorious service on the field of
battle was promoted to the rank of major; Clarence T. was born June 30, 1879,
and passed away in October of the' same year. The wife and mother died in
August, 1879, and in March, 1883, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Mrs.
Jennie McNeal Logan, by whom he has four children: Mabel is the wife of George
M. Williams and they reside in Centralia, Washington; Frances, married John R.
Krause and they make their home at Aurora, Oregon; James Shelby, Jr., born March
3, 1888, is an accountant with the Oregon Steel & Iron Company in Portland. He
is also a veteran of the World war, enlisting on the 12th of May, 1917. He went
overseas on the 1st of March, 1918, as second lieutenant in the Motor Transport
Corps and returned with the rank of captain, his distinguished service winning
for him merited promotion. He received his discharge on the 24th of October,
1919. Genevieve is at home with her parents.
     In his political views Mr. Cooper has always been a stalwart republican,
casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is a
leader in the ranks of his party and was a delegate to the national republican
convention at Chicago in 1888, which nominated William H. Harrison for
president. He is much interested in the welfare and progress of his community
and was elected in 1904 joint representative for Lincoln and Polk counties,
serving in the 1905 session of the Oregon legislature. For two terms he served
as mayor of his city, giving to the municipality a most progressive and
businesslike administration. He has also been a member of the city council,
serving as president of that body at the time the town was incorporated.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the chapter and
council, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian
church, while his wife is affiliated with the Methodist church. In business
affairs he has ever been found thoroughly reliable as well as progressive,
winning a good name as well as a substantial competence. He takes a deep
interest in everything relative to the welfare of the district in which he lives
and has been most earnest in his support of those projects which are a matter of
civic virtue and civic pride. His life has ever been an upright and honorable
one and his sterling worth is attested by all who know him.
 
 
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.