William C. Cooper

As printed in 1912

COL. WILLIAM C. COOPER.

William C. Cooper, among the eminent lawyers, brave soldiers and congressmen from Ohio, was one of Knox county's honored sons. He came of good old American-born ancestors on his father’s side and of sturdy Scotch-Irish on the material side. He was the son of Thompson Cooper and the grandson of Daniel Cooper, both of whom were natives of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and who settled in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1806. Daniel Cooper entered the army in the war of 1812, holding the rank of captain. Thompson Cooper, the subject’s father, came here when a mere boy, hence was reared among the scenes of true pioneer life in the wilds of this county. He served during his useful life as a justice of the peace for thirty and more years and was mayor of Mt. Vernon eight years.

Col. William C. Cooper, of whom this more especially treats, received a public school education and attended the Mt. Vernon Academy. It was early in life that lie had an ambition to become a lawyer and commenced the study of law with Joseph W. Vance and James Smith, Jr. He was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-two years and soon formed a law partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Vance, this relation continuing until the death of Mr. Vance, who was killed in battle during the Civil war. The law firm closed its office and both entered the Union army, Mr. Vance as colonel and in command of his regiment when killed. Mr. Cooper was among the first to enlist in defense of his country’s flag, becoming a first lieutenant in Company B, Fourth Ohio Infantry. He re-enlisted in 1864 and returned as colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, with which he participated in the great Petersburg campaign.

At the conclusion of his second term Mr. Cooper returned home and resumed the practice of law. He became a member of the firm of Cooper, Porter & Mitchell. His diligence and faithfulness toward his clients was noted as exceptional. He was in every way a thorough lawyer — an honor to the bar of Ohio and Knox county.

Politically, Colonel Cooper was a Republican; he seldom asked for an office, but was ever ready to aid the party of his choice and his council was frequently sought by those high up in office. Prior to the Civil war he had held the office of prosecuting attorney for four years. In 1860 he was elected mayor of Mt. Vernon, serving two consecutive terms. In 1871 he was chosen to represent his district in the Legislature and at the close of his term declined the position again. He was six years president of the board of education at Mt. Vernon and five years advocate-general of the state of Ohio. These are the only civil offices held by him until he was elected to the forty-ninth Congress in 1884. He was elected again in 1886 and 1888. As a debater on the floor and as a wise counselor in the various committee rooms, he was exceptionally strong and popular, being not only able, but very useful, just at that time in the halls of Congress. During his first term the bill providing for the order of succession in the office of President was passed and he was a member of the committee in charge of the bill. His argument along this line was masterly and logical. He was also influential on the committees on elections, on territories, on banking and on currency. He managed several campaigns as chairman of the Republican state central committee and was the representative of the Republican party in Ohio in the national committee from 1876 to 1884, during the period of the greatest contention in the party, and was a delegate to the national conventions in 1872 and 1880.

In January, 1864, Colonel Cooper was married to Eliza Russell, daughter of pioneer Dr. John W. Russell, a physician of more than ordinary skill, who for sixty years practiced medicine in Mt. Vernon. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper.

Colonel Cooper’s army relations naturally brought him in close touch with the Grand Army of the Republic after the end of the civil strife and he twice represented his state in the national encampment of this soldier fraternity. His citizenship was ever characterized by unswerving loyalty to the best interests of city, county, state and nation, and by mastery of every subject upon which his actions could have director indirect bearing; socially, he was most popular and he knew how to win and hold friendship. Professionally, he was most talented and prominent, his comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, combined with his logic and power of argument, rendering him one of the most able members of the Ohio bar. Such is the record of one who for more than seventy years was an honored citizen of Mt. Vernon.

On August 29, 1902, as the autumn of that year was just being ushered in, his soul took its flight from earth and his remains are buried in Mound View cemetery, Mt. Vernon, which city had always been his home. His family monument marks the resting place of a man who had always performed every known duty to his fellow man, and been loyal to the country in which he lived and labored so many years.

As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.