In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837
From The history of Holt and Atchison counties, Missouri : containing a history of these counties, their cities, towns, etc., etc. : biographical sketches of their citizens, general and local statistics, p (1882), Biographical history: Atchison County, Missouri (1905)
G. COOPER, farmer and stock raiser, is the owner of 770 acres of land, and resides in section 20. He was born in Aurich, Kingdom of Hanover, January 13, 1837, and in 1857 came to this country, settling in Illinois. He received a good education in Germany, which has been of great value to him in this country. In 1864 he removed to Nemaha County, Nebraska, bought 240 acres of land, and worked hard for four years, after which he returned and settled in this county and township. He improved a farm, where he lived until 1878, when he bought the place where he now resides. This, as it now is, constitutes one of the finest and most beautiful natural places to be found. He keeps a large number of cattle and feeds some 150 head every year. His farming is conducted on a large scale, and is well attended to. Mr. Cooper married Miss Rixte E. Harms, daughter of John O. Harms, March 14, 1861. They have eight children living — Thomas G., Tillie G., Harmon G., Eiliet G., Witje G., Heibe G., John G., and an infant. Lost four in infancy. Mr. C, like his on brother Harmon, came here a poor boy, and his success in everything which he has undertaken, is remarkable. His home farm and surroundings are among the best, and his desire is to enjoy them. In politics he is a Democrat, and religiously, a Lutheran. John O. Harms, his father-in-law, is a retired farmer, and has a farm of ninety acres on section 28. He was born in Germany, February 2, 18 16. He emigrated to this country in 1857, settling in Illinois, and in 1876 came to this county, and bought farm near his children, where he and his wife are enjoying their days with their family about them. He married Tilda Hobbs in Germany, in 1838. They have seven children living — Harmon, Martha, Terrixte, Witje, Franklin, John and Eiliet. Politically, he is a Democrat, and religiously a Lutheran. He has helped all his children to start in life, and has the satisfaction of seeing all of them doing well. He is a noble specimen of the true German character — honest and reliable in all his dealings.
As printed in The history of Holt and Atchison counties, Missouri : containing a history of these counties, their cities, towns, etc., etc. : biographical sketches of their citizens, general and local statistics, p (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HE accompanying view presents the handsome and commodious buildings on Mr.
A Gerd Cooper’s farms. His home farm is three miles south of Rock Port. The farm is well improved and the premises neatly kept, as is evidenced by the picture. The house is an eight-room structure, in size 16x32 ft. and 16x20 ft.; barn. 36x50 ft., with 14-ft. posts, and a shed on one side 10x50 ft. in size; cribs, sheds, scales, stock yards and a switch on the R. P., L. & X. Ry. On his Missouri bottom farm, where he resided until March, 1901, when he removed to the premises described above, are improvements second to none in the county. The house, which was erected at a cost of $4,000, is a two-story structure, the dimensions of which are 40x46 ft. and 14x16 ft. The barn, in size, is 40x70 ft., with 18-ft. posts; the place is also improved with cribs, sheds, scales and everything else necessary for a large farm. Mr. Cooper has owned more than 1,700 acres of land in Atchison county at one time, and, although he has deeded 1.200 acres to his children, he yet has several hundred acres. He markets about one hundred head of fat cattle annually and several hundred head of hogs. Mr. Cooper is indeed a self-made man. He emigrated from his native land in his twentieth year, his brother loaning him the money to bear the expense of the trip. He first located in Illinois. Remaining there about six years, he then located in Nebraska. After a residence of three years in that state he bought 170 acres of land in Ben ton township, Atchison county, Missouri, at $30 per acre, and moved to and improved same. Here Mr. Cooper raised his large family of children, and raised them well — so that they became useful citizens, like himself. He also, by industry and economy and the application of his admirable judgment and keen foresight, acquired a fortune, the disposition of which cannot be criticised.
Mr. Cooper was born in Aurich, Hanover, Germany, Jan. 13, 1837, the son of John and Heibe Cooper. He is the youngest of a large family of children. On March 14, 1861, the marriage of Mr. Cooper and Miss Rixtie Harmes took place in Illinois. Mrs. Cooper is a daughter of John and Matilda Harmes and was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 28, 1844, the third in a family of ten children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were born eleven children, eight of whom are living, viz: Thos. G.; Matilda, wife of John Bowers; Eilert, Weitje; Heibe, wife of Jacob Heyen; John and George. Rosa died at the age of seven years and twin boys died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are members of St. Peter's German Lutheran church in Benton township. Mr. Cooper has served as school director about eighteen years. He is a director of the Bank of Atchison County and also owns stock in the Citizens’ Bank of Atchison County. He also accommodate borrowers with money. In politics he is a Democrat.
As printed in Biographical history: Atchison County, Missouri (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Jacob Heyen (b. 1870)
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.