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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HUGH COOPER, formerly one of the representative citizens of township 5, range 4, Perry County, departed this life in August, 1889. He was a man of decided ability and was generally conceded to rank among the first agriculturists of his district. He started out in life a poor boy and succeeded in accumulating a handsome property of over two hundred acres, which he distributed among his children prior to his decease.

A native of South Carolina, our subject was born in 1819, and was young in years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to Illinois, locating with them in the western part of Perry County. The father of our subject, Andrew Cooper, was likewise a native of South Carolina, and although a typical southern gentleman, objected strongly to slavery. He and his wife, who prior to her marriage bore the name of Margaret McKelvey, became the parents of the following children: John; Margaret, deceased, formerly the wife of Capt. James Cunningham; Elizabeth, who married William Munford, of Coulterville; Nancy, who became the wife of Samuel Burns, of Sparta; Ebenezer, a minister in the United Presbyterian Church, of Kingman County, Kan.; and Andrew, who died while serving as a soldier in the late war.

Hugh Cooper, of this sketch, grew to manhood in this county, where he received a common school education. When ready to establish a home of his own he married, in November, 1841, Miss Eliza Desper, and to them have been born six children who grew to mature years, namely: Sarah A., the wife of Daniel Benson, of Randolph County; Nancy J., who married Jasper Thomas, of Perry County; John R., a Presbyterian minister, of Brush, Colo.; Mary E., who married Samuel Douglas, and makes her home in this county; and Albert J. Our subject was one of the most enterprising citizens of his community and was always identified with the movements which would be beneficial to the county. In politics, he voted with the Republican party. The United Presbyterian Church found in him one of its most active members.

John R. Cooper, the eldest son of our subject, has been a minister of the Presbyterian Church for eight years. His youngest son, Albert J., has always lived in this county and now owns one hundred and forty acres of land, which he has placed under the best methods of improvement. Besides raising the cereals, he gives special attention to stock-raising and has many registered animals. The wife of our subject is still living (1894), at the age of seventy-two years, and since the death of her husband has made her home with her youngest son.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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