Barton Gourley Cooper (1847 - 1931)

Ancestors

BARTON G. COOPER, of Rock Grove Township, was born April 1, 1847, and is the son of Chalkley J. Cooper, a native of Pennsylvania. He in his turn was a son of Amos, who likewise was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to Illinois when our subject’s father was twelve years old. The father of our subject was born May 26, 1810, in Bucks County, Pa., and remained with his parents until he grew to manhood. He was married, at the age of thirty, to Margaret Thompson, daughter of Robert Thompson, a native and farmer of Virginia. Our subject’s father had a large family, as follows: Robert T., who is engaged in farming in Nebraska; Mary E., who became Mrs. J. M. Fisher, and died in 1872; Barton G., our subject; Joseph L., who lives in Nebraska, and is interested in a bus line in Grand Island, that State; Anna, now Mrs. George A. Emerick, resides in Rock Grove; Susan L. has become Mrs. William M. Jones, and resides in Kansas, and C. J. also lives in Kansas.

Chalkley J. Cooper was a soldier in the Black Hawk War in 1832, and belonged to Capt. Knott’s company. The regiment was commanded by Col. Blackburn and formed a part of the 2d Brigade, under Gen. Alexander. He was married July 28, 1840, held some local offices, operated a sawmill, and also followed the vocation of a farmer. He died March 18, 1885, aged seventy-five years, and his wife was fifty-six years old at the time of her death.

Our subject lived with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, helping on the farm and attending the district school. At that age he married, rented his father’s farm two years, and then moved to Kansas and located on a tract of land which he had pre-empted two years before. He farmed his Kansas land eight years, then sold out and moved back on his father’s farm, which he had rented, and lived there three years, when he bought his present home. Barton G. Cooper has filled various local offices. He was Assessor two terms and is now serving his first term as Supervisor, a position corresponding to that of Commissioner in some States.

In 1865 Mr. Cooper enlisted in Co. E, 147th Ill. Vol. Reg., Capt. Darling commanding. He was in several skirmishes and was mustered out of service at the close of the war. He married, in 1871, Miss Mary Bollinger, daughter of George Bollinger, of Pennsylvania. Mr. George Bollinger was a cabinetmaker and chair manufacturer, as was also his father, Michael, and both lived in Pennsylvania at the time of their death.

Barton Cooper has lived on his present place, comprising 100 acres, since he first purchased it. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper: Jennie A., aged fifteen; Frank O., thirteen; Carrie D., eleven; Susan, nine; Warren B., seven, and Theodore, three. They all reside at home. The two youngest children are twins and are named Claudius M. and Minnie M.; they are about eighteen months old. Politically, our subject is a Republican, and his father was an old-line Whig, who was brought up in the Quaker Church.

Contributed by Carole Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. 1888 Some additional received by Brad Cooper of Oshkosh WI, the great-grandson of Barton Gourley Cooper. He lived from 1847-1931 and lived in Stephenson County. He married to Alice (Bollinger) Cooper. Barton's son (one of them) was Lawrence Ray Cooper born 07/21/1890 and died 11/08/1949. Lawrence's son was David Lawrence Cooper (my father) who was born 12/11/1921 and died 08/14/1982. Barton was the son of Chalkley J. Cooper 1810 - 1883. Chalkley's father was Amos Cooper 1772-1835. Amos' father was William Cooper 1749-1790 and William's father was John Cooper.