Biographical Sketch of George Cooper, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** George Cooper,a prominent and prosperous farmer and stockman of Jeffer- son and Warrensburg townships, who is now residing in Warrensburg, Missouri, is a member of one of the leading pioneer families of Jeffer- son township. Mr. Cooper was born April 19, 1859, a son of Henry and Nancy (Stiles) Cooper. Henry Cooper was born June 25, 1818, in Trigg county, Kentucky, a son of David Cooper, a native of North Carolina, one of the first settlers in Jefferson township, Johnson county, where he died at the age of 80 years. Henry Cooper came to Johnson county, Missouri from Kentucky, with his parents in 1832, a lad of 14 years riding bareback all the way on a 2 year old colt. In early manhood, Henry Cooper "bached" with "Uncle Dick" Pettis in Bates county and entered land from the government in that section of the state. In 1848 he returned to Johnson county and improved the old homestead, erecting a residence at a cost of two thousand dollars, and engaged in stock raising extensively and also feeding many cattle. The residence, which Henry Cooper built nearly 70 years ago, was considered one of the most elegant homes in the county in those early days. It was located on the southern slope of Highpoint, overlooking the Tebo, the headwaters of which it was near. In September, 1850 Henry Cooper and Nancy Stiles were married. Nancy (Stiles) Cooper was born in Johnson county and she is now living, at the age of 83 years, in Windsor, Missouri. To Henry and Nancy (Stiles) Cooper were born the following children: Elizabeth, who was the wife of Lee Jackson and is now deceased; David, who is now engaged in farming on the home place in Jefferson township; Margaret, who is the wife of Robert Muir, of Windsor, Missouri; George, the sub- ject of this review; J. D., who is the owner of a valuable farm in Jefferson township, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising; Lucy, who is the widow of the late Eugene Wilcox, of Windsor, Missouri; Leona, who is the wife of E. B. Grinstead, residing in Henry county near Windsor; William, of Windsor, Missouri; and John L., who is engag- ed in farming in Jefferson township. At one time, Henry Cooper was the owner of eleven or twelve hundred acres of land in Johnson and adjoin- ing counties. His death occurred in 1910 and interment was made in the cemetery at Windsor, Missouri. The boyhood days of George Cooper were spent on the farm in Jefferson township. He received his education in the public schools of Jefferson township and in that part of Johnson county was reared to maturity. Until he was 31 years of age, he re- mained at home with his parents, engaged in general farming and stock raising. At the present time, in 1917, George Cooper is owner of 320 acres of land in Jefferson township, which were a part of the homestead and 180 acres of land in Warrensburg township. In 1890, George Cooper was united in marriage to Jesie May Peak, of Jefferson township. Jessie May (Peak) Cooper was born March 18, 1870, in Jefferson township, a daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth (Draper) Peak, the former, born near Georgetown, Kentucky on July 14, 1825 and when a lad 14 years of age came with his parents to Missouri, where they settled in Benton county. April 22, 1853, Mr. and Mrs. Peak were married and they made a bridal tour across the plains, taking six months for the journey. They were the parents of the following children: Fannie, who was the wife of Albert Cooper and is now deceased; Carrie, who is the widow of the late J. Q. McDonald and resides in Warrensburg, Missouri; Louisa, the wife of John Phillips, of Windsor, Missouri; Betsy, the wife of James Lamp- kin, of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Jessie May, the wife of George Cooper, the subject of this review, who are twins; Georgia, the wife of Waldo Wheeler, of Clinton, Missouri; Robert, Mineralsprings, Texas; and C. F., Houston, Missouri; and three children, who died in infancy. Mrs. J. W. Peak was the youngest child born to John Draper, one of the first settlers of Missouri. Both parents of Mrs. Cooper are now de- ceased. To George and Jessie May (Peak) Cooper have been born two children: Virgil, who is now engaged in farming on the home farm in Jefferson township; and Wallace, who is at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper reside at 323 South street in Warrensburg, where they are numbered among the most estimable and highly valued citizens. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================