A goodly capital of energy and perseverance, sustained by
determination, when intelligently applied invariably wins recognition in
the business world and results in success and substantial reward. This
fact was most clearly demonstrated by the life of the late Henry Cooper,
of Nilwood, who was born in England on Christmas day, 1825. His father
was James Cooper, whose last years were spent in Australia.
Henry Cooper remained a citizen of the mother country until he was
twenty-four years of age, acquiring his education in the common schools.
An unusually ambitious youtb, he became dissatisfied with conditions as
he found them in his native land, so as soon as he could accumulate the
necessary money he took passage for the United States. Two years after
arriving in this country he walked from Alton, Illinois, to Nilwood and
took a sub-contract for grading and finishing a portion of the Chicago &
Alton Railway, while later he was made foreman of construction on the
road from Springfield to Alton. His keen foresight and business sagacity
early revealed to him that a contract to supply wood to the railroad
must prove a very good source of revenue. There were extensive timber
lands throughout this section of the state at that period, which could
be acquired for a very reasonable price. Being awarded the contract, in
1852 he purchased a forty-acre tract to begin with, constantly adding to
his holdings until he had obtained possession of three thousand acres of
timber land. Later he also bought land for agricultural purposes and at
one time owned one thousand acres of farm land, all of which was
improved and under cultivation. In addition to these properties he owned
a large portion of the village of Nilwood, where he subsequently erected
two grain elevators and engaged in the grain and coal business with his
two sons, Charles and Frank. In 1877 he bought four hundred acres of
coal land that he leased to operators. All of his enterprises proved a
success and his investments constantly increased in value until he
became one of the affluent men not only of the county but of this
section of the state.
In 1852 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage
to Mrs. Mary (Murphy) Dea, a native of Ireland and the widow of Richard
Dea. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, two of the sons,
Charles and Frank, being among the leading business men of Nilwood.
Fraternally Mr. Cooper was identified with the Masonic order, while
his political allegiance was always given to the democratic party,
though he never prominently participated in political affairs. He passed
away in November, 1906, being survived by his widow, who continues to
make her home in Nilwood. Mr. Cooper possessed the essential qualities
for success in any vocation, having the ability to recognize
opportunities that his keen discernment enabled him to utilize to the
best possible advantage.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 539-540.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022