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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 



				GEORGE AND CAROLINE (KIMBERLY) COOLEY.

	George Cooley, one of the pioneers of Otisco, who took his land from the government, and 
has helped to make this county what it is, was born in Deerfield, Mass., April 14, 1819.  The 
family were old settlers in that county, and located there soon after the Revolution.  Here his 
father, Russell Cooley, was born, and lived until 1830, when he came to Michigan with a family of
four children (having buried two children in Massachusetts).  He stopped at Ann Arbor a year or 
two, then located one hundred and sixty acres of land in the town of Webster, that county, which 
he improved and made a fine farm, where he died, January 1843.  George, the only son, lived with 
his father until his death.  He was married, February, 1842, to Caroline Kimberly, daughter of 
Silas Kimberly.  The Kimberlys were early settlers and influential people in New Have, Conn., and
trace their genealogy to Thomas Kimberly, who came from London, England, to New Haven, in 1633.
	Soon after the death of his father, Mr. Cooley left the paternal home to seek a home for 
himself.  Having sufficient means to buy forty acres of government land, he came to Otisco and 
located the forty where he now lives.  December, 1843, after securing his land, he worked at such
employment as he could get, and at intervals worked on his land and at getting out logs for a 
house until the following summer, when he brought his wife from Washtenaw County.  Soon after 
that the house was completed, and they moved in.  This was a small log house of the most 
primitive kind.  At this time the country was sparsely settled,	their nearest neighbor was two 
miles distant, so they were thrown entirely upon their own resources; their necessities were few,
and luxuries they did not indulge in, but with strong hearts and willing hands they kept steadily
at work, looking forward to the fine farm and elegant home they now enjoy, a view of which may be
seen in this work.  They have three children,--Amelia C., Melvin A., and George J.
	In educational matters Mr. Cooley takes a deep interest, and has served for several years
on the school board.  Mr. Cooley and his wife are active and consistent members of the 
Congregational Church at Smyrna.  They assisted in organizing the first Congregational Church at 
Cook's Corners, and are among the most substantial and respected citizens of their town.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 290.  Otisco.