Monterey-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Cooper, John Baptist Henry September 22, 1830 - June 21, 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 11, 2010, 1:06 am Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 49 - 50 Author: The Lewis Publishing Company JOHN BAPTIST HENRY COOPER was born in the old town of Monterey, California, September 22, 1830, and was one of the venerable and honored citizens of modern Monterey at the time of his death, June 21, 1901. He was a son of John Baptist Rogers Cooper, who was born and reared in England and who became identified with seafaring when a youth, he having become a captain in the navigation service and having followed the sea thirty years. He then established residence in Monterey, California, where he gained pioneer honors and where was solemnized his marriage to a sister of Governor Vallejo, one of the early and distinguished Spanish governors of California. Mrs. Cooper, whose maiden name was Encarnacion Vallejo, was born March 24, 1809, and she was but thirteen years of age at the time of her marriage, the ceremony having been performed by Father Juan Ambrosia at the old Presidio, San Francisco. Capt. John B. R. Cooper was a half brother of Thomas O. Larkin, who under the Mexican rule in California was the only consul to Monterey. John Baptist Henry Cooper received his youthful education mainly in Honolulu, Hawaii, and upon returning to Monterey became associated with his father in the live stock industry on the Sur Ranch, a fine ranch of 8,000 acres situated on the now famous slopes of the Pacific Coast and now traversed by the magnificent Coast Highway. He was associated with his father also in the ownership of 22,000 acres near the present thriving King City, and there he was engaged actively in agricultural and live stock enterprise until the time of his death. He served nine years as county supervisor and was active in local politics, even as he was liberal and public-spirited as a citizen. After taking up his residence in San Francisco he continued to direct the affairs of his fine ranch estate. May 28, 1871, recorded the marriage of Mr. Cooper to Miss Martha Brawley, who survives him and who resides in a beautiful home on the heights overlooking Monterey Bay, in the City of Monterey. She is a daughter of the late John G. and Lucretia Brawley, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter in Iowa, where their marriage was solemnized and whence they came to California in 1852, and numbered themselves among the pioneers of Amador County. After being engaged in mining operations in that county John G. Brawley removed to Monterey County, where he continued his ranching operations until his death, in 1871. His widow long survived him and was venerable in years at the time of her death, which occurred at Monterey, in 1926. John G. Brawley was a first cousin of Abraham Lincoln, and so close was their resemblance that they might have been brothers, the two having been associated in the splitting of rails and building of fences in Illinois when they were young men and their friendly relations having continued until the tragic death of the martyred president, whom Mr. Brawley survived about six years. Of the children of the Brawley family three daughters are living: the widow of the subject of this memoir; Mrs. Mary Look, who resides with Mrs. Cooper in the beautiful home at Monterey, her husband being deceased and her one child being Mrs. Mabel Downie, of Oakland; and the other sister is Mrs. Evalena Edwards, a widow, residing in San Francisco. Since the death of Mr. Cooper his widow has shown marked ability in the management of the estate and in the ordering of other business affairs. She received 2,500 acres of the landed estate of 7,000 acres at the Little Sur, subsequently purchased the remainder of the property, and in 1928 sold the entire property at a good profit. She retains an interest in the Moro Cajo Ranch of 8,800 acres, between Monterey and Castroville, and this valuable tract is largely used in the propagation of lettuce and artichokes. She is interested in mining in Nevada, and was associated with Captain and Mrs. Mary M. Bishop in developing the very rich mine near the Fair property, this mine being a big paying concern and having no indebtedness. She is largely interested also in Sovereign Comet gold mine at Downieville, California, this being a paying gold property. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper two are deceased; Mrs. Alicia Orcutt is a resident of San Francisco, and John B. R. resides with his mother at Monterey. The deceased children were Abelarde E. and Alfred Guadalupe. In the Cooper home at Monterey are found many rare works of art and a wonderful library. One of the most famous paintings is that of the Blessed Virgin by Corregio, which is valued at $200,000, and other valued treasures are a rare statue of Diana, a painting entitled the Soldiers' Roll Call at St. Michaels, a statue of Salome, in Italian bronze, a painting of John Baptist, an oil painting of long-haired Scottish cattle, by Watson, and a scene by N. Diaz de na Pena. The setting, surroundings and interior of the Cooper home are idyllic, and it is a center of gracious hospitality, culture and refined influences. The subject of this memoir was liberal in his support of charitable and benevolent objects and measures, and his widow continues the helpful service, especially in extending unostentatious aid to early-day friends of her husband and herself. 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