My Genealogy Hound

JAMES S. COOPER. The Valley of the Cumberland is the home of many prosperous men, whose families have been known in this locality as long as the United States of America have existed, and among them it is only proper to call special attention to James S. Cooper, a resident of West Pennsboro township, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania.

The founder of the Cooper family in this county is not known, but it is believed he came from Germany, and located in Cumberland where Adam Cooper, the grandfather of James S., was born. Adam Cooper married Susan Ott, a daughter of Jacob Ott, of Carlisle, and by her had the following children: Samuel; and Emma and Mary E., who died in Cumberland county. By a second marriage Adam Cooper had three other daughters.

Samuel Cooper, father of James S., was born in Newton township, Cumberland county in 1829. Until he was eighteen years of age he attended the public schools, after which he entered upon the apprenticeship to the blacksmith’s trade, and after mastering it he went to Penn township and engaged in business. After eighteen years spent in that township, at Hockersville, he moved to New Kingstown. Silver Spring township, but after a year located in Dickinson township, at the stone house, and was there ten years engaged in his line of business. The next change was made when he went to Carlisle, where he worked in the car shops for three years, at the end of that time coming to Plainfield, in 1900.

In 1854 Samuel Cooper married Rachel Foreman, daughter of David and Leah (Severs) Foreman, of German descent, and they had the following family: David, born in 1856; Leah J., born in 1859, deceased; Catharine C. born in 1860, who lives at Carlisle, wife of John Bishop; James S.; William H. born in 1864, living in Penn township; Elder J., deceased; and Sallie B., born in 1872, who is married and lives at York City, Pennsylvania.

James S. Cooper was born in Penn township in 1862. Until he was fifteen years of age he had the advantages of the common schools, and at that time he began to learn the trade of blacksmithing with his father, following his trade for eight years. In 1884 he married Anna M. Hollinger, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann Hollinger, of Dickinson township, and he began farming, which he followed in Dickinson, South Middleton and North Middleton townships, finally, in February, 1899, locating at Plainfield, where he engaged in the hotel business. He is now one of the best liked hotel men of his locality, owning and conducting the “Plainfield Hotel.”

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are: E. S., born in 1884, in Dickinson township, attended the schools of his township, and later went to Shippensburg Normal School, and, having passed all his examinations with credit, is now teaching at Hopewell, Cumberland county: Sarah was born April 10, 1898, and Florence was born in 1903.

Mr. Cooper votes the Democratic ticket, and has served as assessor and inspector of elections and on the board of education of Dickinson and South Middleton townships. Through his enterprise, energy and good management he has steadily advanced his interests, and is now one of the most substantial and highly respected men in Cumberland county.