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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Scotland County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Judge David B. Cooper, a prominent resident of Jefferson Township, Scotland Co., Mo., was born in Washington County, Penn., near Pittsburgh, April 30, 1817, and is the son of Sylvanus and Mary (Bryant) Cooper, natives of New Jersey, born in 1777 and 1780, respectively. The father was a very successful farmer, and died near Winfield, Henry Co., Iowa, in 1865, at an advanced age. The mother of our subject was of German extraction, and died in Washington County, Penn., in 1843. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church for many years, the father being an elder in the same. Our subject was the third of twelve children, ten now living. He received a liberal education in the schools of Washington County, Penn., and remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in merchandising with a younger brother at Washington, Penn., and there continued for two years. He then sold out, and purchased a farm, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has continued ever since. In 1840 he married Hannah Dille, a native of Washington, Washington Co., Penn., born in 1822, and the daughter of Ezra and Mary Dille. To this marriage were born ten children, all living: Mary J., Milton D., Ellen, Oliver G., Emma T., Frank D., Linie B., Ida, Charles W. and Edward S. In 1880 our subject sold his farm, and moved to Lee County, Iowa, where he farmed and also speculate in land. In the spring of 1857 he sold out, and moved to Scotland County, Mo., where he purchased the land he now owns. He was school director while in Iowa, and was elected clerk of the elections. In 1862 he was elected county judge, and after two years, when all the officers were thrown out, he was appointed by Gov. Gamble, and at the next general election was re-elected by the people and served in all about eight years. Our subject is a Republican and a worthy and enterprising citizen.

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This family biography is one of 140 biographies included in the Scotland County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Scotland County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Scotland County, Missouri family biographies here: Scotland County, Missouri Biographies

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