Biographical Sketch of

Harry C. Cooley

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Page 539

 
Harry C. Cooley, deceased, a pioneer of Berlin, Green Lake County, of 
1855, was born in Darien, Wyoming County, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1817, and was 
a son of Thomas and Denise (Cook) Cooley, whose family numbered six sons 
and nine daughters. He was educated in his native town, and was married 
in Attica Center, N. Y., in 1840, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy 
M. De Mary, a daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Churchill) De Mary. The 
De Mary family included one son and seven daughters, and two children, 
a son and daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooley. The latter died 
in infancy, while the son, Walter N., who was born July 15, 1843, is 
now engaged in the livery business in Berlin.

Mr. Cooley came to Wisconsin in 1843, during its territorial days, and 
for nine years was engaged in farming in the town of Palmyra, Jefferson 
County. He then removed to the village of Palmyra, and engaged in the 
dry goods business, also devoting his attention to the duties of the 
Postmaster, to which position he was appointed by President Pierce. He 
also served as Deputy Sheriff, and carried on a livery stable until Dec. 
25, 1854, when he removed to Appleton, Wis., whence he came to Berlin in 
January, 1855. On his arrival in this city he purchased an interest in 
the livery stable situated on the present site of C. S. Morris' mill, 
where he did business until the fall of 1855, when he moved to the stables
now owned by his son, where he continued business up to the time of his 
death, which occurred July 5, 1889. His wife was called home on the 8th 
of October the year previous.

Mr. Cooley was a man of superior ability, and came from a good family. 
He was a brother of Judge Thomas Cooley, of Michigan, a distinguished 
jurist and author of law reports, who was at one time considered a 
promising candidate for Chief Justice of the United States, and is now 
Chairman of the Inter-State Railway Commission. The late A. B. Cooley, 
of Ripon, a prominent citizen and Justice of that city, was his half 
brother. Mr. Cooley, like his distinguished brother was an old-time 
Democrat, and never failed in his allegiance to that party and its 
principles. Scrupulously exact in ways and matters of business, his 
word was as good as his bond, and in his death Berlin lost an excellent 
citizen of whom all speak in high terms. (Also see the Harry COOLEY 
Family tree page)






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