John L Cooper's Kids

AMOS COOPER > JOHN L COOPER m Asenath Maples

You ever get the feeling that a family  might be just a little odd? All the fragments and pieces I've put together on the John L Cooper family kind of leaves me with that impression -  just don't ask me what I'm basing it on.

Amos and Hannah Lloyd Cooper, Quakers, moved from Pennsylvania to Crawford, then Clark County, Illinois and later, their children settle primarily in the Stephenson and Winnebago County area. Many then moved on to other parts, including Iowa and Oklahoma.

Their son John L. Cooper, born 28 Feb 1803 in Pennsylvania, married Asenath Maples on 06 Oct 1832 in Clark County, Illinois. She was the daughter of William and Mary Field Maples, born in North Carolina.

The couple had nine known children. One I know nothing about: Clarinda, born 1833 in Clark County.

Alfred James Cooper was born about 1836 and married Marian Angeline "Angie" Williard on 04 Sep 1857 in Will County, Illinois. You can read about the meandering life of Alfred here. Alfred and Angie were the grandparents of noted Oklahoma historian Angie Debo. He was a pioneering spirit and ended up settling at last in Oklahoma. You can learn a little about the dramatic daughter, Bird Cooper, whose fiance was killed in a feud as well. He died in 1928.

Amos J Cooper was born in 1838 in Clark County and died 31 Aug 1867 in Pecatonica, Winnebago County, Illinois. He served in Co B, 46th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. I'm not sure if he ever married or not, but he had no issue I could find. A farmer, he died of Tabes Mesenterica (TB) after being ill for six months.

George Washington Cooper, born 27 Jan 1842 in Stephenson County, married Hannah Phelps in 1893. She hailed from Ohio originally. George served as a private in Company B, Illinois 46th Infantry Regiment and was mustered out in 1866 at Baton Rouge. This regiment was involved in many battles and was well regarded for its bravery and gallantry in the field of battle. George and his wife had two children and also settled in Oklahoma. George died in Pawnee 18 Jan 1931 and Hannah died about 1907 in Blackburn, Oklahoma.

Hannah H. Cooper was born about 1845 in Stephenson County. She resided with her parents well into middle age. When they died, she most likely resided in the same home with her single brothers, though the 1890 Census would have been able to confirm that surmise. In 1891, this article was found in the local paper:

Hannah was "crazy as a hawk"

Hannah lived only two more weeks, dying at the Elgin Asylum on 16 May 1891.

John L. Cooper, Jr., was born 17 Oct 1845, Stephenson County. He died a single man on 16 May 1918 in Rock Run.

DIED SUDDENLY
John Cooper, an elderly resident of Rock Grove township, living with a brother, Morton Cooper, four miles south of Rock City, was found dead in bed this morning. A coroner's jury said it was due to heart disease. He had been in feeble health for several years.
Mr Cooper was 74 years old, never married, and had always lived in Stephenson County. His brother, 72 years old, is also a bachelor.
Morning Star, Rockford, Illinois
Wednesday, May 15, 1918

His brother Morton, born 04 Mar 1849 in Freeport, Stephenson County, also remained single. He moved after brother John's death to yet another brother's home (Aaron) near Geneva, Iowa. I wonder if he had some type of mental disability that had him moving at 70 years old so far from his home to another relative?  After a year with Aaron, he moved to Shell Rock and lived with single brother Abraham. Morton died 16 Mar 1934 in Shell Rock.

Abraham was born in Nov 1851 in Freeport. He moved to Shell Rock, Butler County and in 1919, his brother Morton moved to his home from brother Aaron's home.  Abraham was ill for several years, but did outlive his brother. Though he was too ill to go to brother Morton's funeral, he managed to be the last surviving Cooper child and died at age 87 on 17 May 1939 of complications of age. Nephew Noah Burlin Cooper (son of Aaron and living in Rock Island, Illinois) was in charge of his burial.

Aaron W Cooper was born 08 May 1856 in Illinois and died 17 Sep 1920 in Geneva, Franklin County, Iowa. He married Anna Blasier on 13 Jan 1881 in Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa. They had two children one of whom died in infancy. They divorced about 1904 and he did not remarry. Aaron died in 1920.  She remarried to a gent named Robert A Dennis in 1905. He was a widower with a number of children. He died in 1922. She died in 1955.