BIOGRAPHY: John R. Cooper, M.D. ; Dutchess co., New York

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen
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1683
History of Duchess County (sic - Dutchess County), New York
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of someof its Prominent Men and
Pioneers.
By James H. Smith, assisted by Hume H. Cale and William E. Roscoe
published by D. Mason & Co., 1882, Syracuse, New York
page 461-462

John R. Cooper, M.D.

     John Reed Cooper, the subject of this brief sketch, was born in the city
of Poughkeepsie, January 25, 1828. He is a son of John and Rebecca
(Hardenbrook) Cooper. The father was born in Fishkill, N.Y., June 6, 1786, and
died in Poughkeepsie in 1863. The mother was born in New York City in August,
1793, and died in Poughkeepsie in 1862.

     John Cooper, M.D., studied for his profession in Fishkill and graduated
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, after which he came
to Poughkeepsie and practiced medicine until the breaking out of the war of
1812, when he entered the service of the United States. He was stationed at
Fort Dearborn, where the city of Chicago is now located, remaining there till
the close of the war, when he returned to Poughkeepsie and practiced his
profession until his death.

     John and Rebecca Cooper were the parents of thirteen children, eleven
daughters and two sons, all now dead except one daughter, Margaret Jane Adams,
residing at Bath, on the Hudson, and John Reed, the subject of our present
sketch. John R. attended the old Dutchess Academy in Pouhgkeepsie until he was
eighteen years of age, when he commenced the study of medicine in his father's
office. He attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York during
the years 1848 and '49, and commenced the practice of his profession in
Poughkeepsie in 1850. Here he remained oneyear, the practiced at Wappingers
Falls one year, after which he returned to Poughkeepsie, where he has
continued in practice to the present time.

     In 1851, Dr. Cooper married Aletta J., daughter of William and Eliza
(Fanning Scheneck, of the city of Brooklyn. They have one child Willam S.,
born in 1852, now living in New York City.

     In 1861, Dr. Cooper entered the service of the Government as Surgeon of
the 5th New York Cavalry and was mostly in the Shenandoah Valley. His regiment
was in Gen. Banks' Army and was with that command in its retreat before
Stonewall Jackson's Army from Strasburg to Williamsport.

     He was in the service fourteen months when he was obliged to resign his
commission in order to attend business connected with the death of his mother,
not being able to obtain a furlough for that purpose.

     In politics Dr. Cooper has always been a Republican and was elected to
the office of Supervisor for one term. He has represented his ward as Alderman
twelve years. In religious sentiment he is an Episcopalian.

     In early boyhood it was said of John R. that he was a "Chip of the old
block;" his tastes and mental characteristics being so marked and identified
with those of his father. In medicine their practice was "heroic." So in their
intercourse with men they never occupied equivocal grounds.

     The writer who has enjoyed the acquaintance of bothe fathe rand son
since 1838, and who was never a patron of either, calls to mind a somewhat
remarkable law suit, in which the elder Dr. Cooper was a prominent figure,
which will be given as one illustration of the qualities alluded to. At the
time he was President of the Dutchess countyMedical Society, a young gentleman
had passed the proper examination and was approved for learning; President
Cooper refused to sign his license on the ground of the immoral character of
the applicant, who thereupon brought suit against the President. The doctor
defended himself with his characteristic resolution. It is enough to add, that
the subsequent course of the young man more than justified the wisdom of Dr.
Cooper's action. He was of the first class of the old school of medicine and
may fitly be written a nobleman.