My Genealogy Hound

COOLEY, GENERAL H. S., was a son of Dr. Cooley of Hartford, Conn., and was born in that city in 1836. He studied medicine in Hartford two years; becoming tired of medicine, he went to Bangor, Maine, where he commenced to study law under Senator Bradbury. He moved to Illinois in 1840, where he devoted himself to the practice of law, and soon acquired a liberal share of public patronage. He was an unyielding Democrat, and took a conspicuous part in the election of 1842, and by his speeches during the canvass won rapidly and justly the reputation of a public orator. In the fall of 1862 he was appointed, by Governor Carlin, Quartermaster General of the States, a post of honor to which his excellency considered him justly entitled, for the zealous and energetic manner he had battled for the measures and men of the Democratic party. He was appointed Secretary of the State for Illinois by Governor French, in the Fall of 1846, to which position he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, and subsequently elected to the same office, when it was made an elective office. He was re-elected in the Fall of 1848, and was the incumbent of that office at the time of his death. It is universally conceded that the State of Illinois never had a better officer or a more faithful and indefatigable public servant, while in the enjoyment of health. He was always at his post. It was his close confinement and herculean labors in the performance of his duties as Secretary of State and ex-officio-State Superintendent of Common Schools that enervated his physical powers, and invited the disease that terminated his earthly career. He married Miss Mary Helen Reed, daughter of Elijah Reed, Esq., of New York, 1845. She was born in New York. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, and Grand Master of the State. He could have had his choice of the nominations for Governor or Congress, but was compelled to decline both, owing to ill health. He went South in hopes of improving his health. He died in New Orleans, March 21, 1850. His remains were conveyed to Quincy, where they received all the honors of a distinguished man, deeply beloved by all who knew him. The Democratic party lost by the death of General Cooley, one of its most distinguished champions. The Masonic order was deprived of a brother it delighted to honor. But how irreparable the loss to his deeply afflicted wife, devoted to each other, as few had been; his death produced a wound in her heart that is easily opened even at this writing. May the fragrance of the flowers she strews upon his grave bring a soothing balm to her faithful woman’s heart.