Biographical Sketch of

Joseph H. Cooper

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou 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, Pages 728 - 729 


Joseph H. Cooper is the owner of a highly cultivated farm of 130 acres on section 4, in the town of Manchester, Green 
Lake County, where he has made his home since 1846.  On account of his long residence, if for no other reason, he would 
be entitled to a representation in this volume, but in connection with being an honored pioneer, he ranks among the best 
citizens of the community, and is one who has ever nobly done his part in the work of progress and transformation which 
has been steadily carried forward since the early days.  He was born on the 15th of February, 1833, in Lewis County, N.Y., 
his parents, Samuel and Maria Cooper, being also natives of the same State.  Their family numbered nine children, the 
following of whom are living:  Roxanna, widow of Jesse Pickering, who is now a resident of Iowa; Mahala, wife of Franklin 
Hall, of Minnesota; Enoch B., who is now engaged in farming in the same State; and Mary, wife of William Minnie, who is 
also engaged in agricultural pursuits in Minnesota.  It is not certainly known what became of James, a brother of the 
family, but he has not been heard of since 1868, and is supposed to have been killed in the war.
 
During he territorial days of Wisconsin the Cooper family arrived in Green Lake County.  Our subject was then a lad of 
fourteen years, but he bore an active part in the development of the farm which his father purchased.  Mr. Cooper bought 
a tract of sixty acres and shortly afterward entered eighty acres in what was then the town of Dayton, but is now Marquette 
County.  Little can the younger generation imagine the conditions of the county at that time, nor could the most far-sighted 
pioneer have dreamed of the changes which were so soon to take place.  The story of the frontier life is one of thrilling 
interest and we would that space permitted us to enter more elaborately into details.  Much of the land was still in the 
possession of the Government and on many, many acres not a furrow had been turned.  The homes of the few white settlers 
were widely scattered, the nearest neighbors being often miles away.  Indian wigwams were still seen in the settlement, 
but the red men were friendly and gave little trouble.  Many a meal was furnished by the deer and other wild game which 
was to be found in abundance, and wild animals, such as wolves and bears, were still seen in the settlement.  The nearest 
market was Milwaukee, whence all supplies were hauled by wagon.  Farming implements were of a crude character and the task 
of developing a farm in those days was no easily one.  Early and late the settlers toiled to make for themselves homes and 
it was indeed a lamentable affair if the crops proved a failure.  The first home of the Cooper family was a little log cabin 
and our subject well remembers the difficulties which were encountered.  The nearest mill was at Janesville, a distance of 
ninety miles, and during an extremely cold winter it was found that the supply of bread-stuffs was exhausted.  It was 
impossible to go that distance in such weather and each morning the old coffee-mill was taken down, Joseph taking his 
turn with others to grind the corn which furnished their meal.  Many years have passed since those times, but it was an 
experience never to be forgotten.  One by one the inmates of the little home left the old roof tree.  The brothers and 
sisters were married and in 1849 death claimed the mother.  She was a devoted Christian woman, and a faithful member of 
the Baptist Church.  She passed away in mid-life, dying at the age of forty-five years.  Her husband, however, lived to 
the advance age of eighty years, his death occurring in 1874.  He was also a member of the Baptist Church and one of the 
nature's noblemen.  He was married in 1819.  
 
Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Joseph Cooper was reared to manhood.  He has made farming his life occupation and in 
the town of Green Lake resided until 1867, when he removed to his present home.  He then owned forty acres on section 4, but 
now owns a tract of 130 acres, situated on sections 3 and 4, Manchester Township.  In addition to the operation of his land, 
which is highly cultivated and improved, he engages in stock raising, giving considerable attention to the breeding of 
Clydesdale horses.
 
Mr. Cooper was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Macauley, a native of Ohio, March 3, 1861, and by their union have been born 
the following children.  Ellen, the eldest, is now the wife of Edwin Cochran, a farmer of Edmunds County, Dak., by whom she has 
one child; Nora is the wife of Albert Bradbury, a farmer of the town of Green Lake, whose father was one of the first settlers 
of the county; Charles H.; Electa, Georgia, Laura and Maggie are all at home, while two other members of the family are now 
deceased, viz:  Emma and Anna.
 
For a number of years Mr. Cooper was Chairman of the Town Board of Manchester.  In politics he is a Republican, having supported 
that party since 1856, when he cast his first ballot for John C. Fremont.  To such men as our subject the community is greatly 
indebted, for with others he laid the foundation for the county's prosperity and present advanced position and placed it in the 
front rank of the counties in this vast commonwealth.  His labors have not been in vain.  He is honored by all who know him as 
a pioneer and respected citizen, and it is with great pleasure that we record this sketch.






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