James S Cooper
Submitted by: Lynn Mack
 
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 enable 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 Sates 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.
 
History of Oregon, Biographical, Vol. II, The Pioneer Historical
Publishing Company, 1922, Pages 297-298

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