The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-28
AN OLD SETTLER GONE.
James Cooper Died at His Home in
Beechwoods Last Friday Morning.

James Cooper Died at His Home IN
Beechwoods Last Friday Morning.
James Cooper, one OF the old patri-
archs Of Beechwoods settlement, and q
brother of our townsman, Ninian Coup
er, peacefully folded his hands a.rI
closed his eyes in death at 745 a. m.
Friday, January 23rd, 1903, on the old
homestead where his parents located
about u years ago. James Cooper was
born in Tyrone County, ireland, Feb
ruary 13, 1918, making him "a years,
IL months and 10 days old at time Of
death. He was the oldest son OF Will
liam and Martha Cooper. When James
was five years old, in 1923, his parents
emigrated to America, locating at
Bellefonte, Centre county, Pa, where
they resided three years and then NOV
ed to Beechwoods, James then being
lad eight years old. His parents settled
on a section OF wilderness that after
wards was transformed into splendid
farm and is now known as the old
Cooper homestead. At that time the
section OF country lying between PUNK
sutawney and Brockwayville and Luth-
ersburg and Brookville was vast
wilderness, where wild animals roamed
at will. James Cooper had four BROTH
ers and one sister, all of whom but one
brother, Mr.. Ninian Cooper of Reyn-
oldsville, have ended their earthly pill
grimage. His father died February
Ia, 1S47, and his mother died April IL,
1915. His brothers and sisters died on
following dates John, April o, 1900, at
Clarion; Hugh, June 26, 1894; William,
August 9, 1875; Mrs. Elizabeth Bond,
Brockwayville, October IS, 1902.
James Cooper was married to Martha
Isabel Patton October %, 1s45. Unto
them seven sons and one daughter were
born, all of whom, but one son, survive
the father. William resides on the
homestead in Beechwoods, Robert and
Samuel are in Kansas, John lives in
Iowa, James S. at Brockwayville, Elmer
and Martha on the homestead. Hugh
died April "a, 1874. James Coopers
wife died October 3, 1900. Mrs. Cooper
was born in October, married In Oc-
tober, joined the Presbyterian church
in October and died in October. Mr..
and Mrs. James Cooper joined the Pres
byterian church in 1S46.
Politically, James Cooper was Re-
publican. He was elected assessor OF
Washington township in 1899, the year
he became of age, when Washington
and Winslow townships were one town
ship. He afterwards held almost every
office in the township, was supervisor,
constable, school director and poor over
seer at different times. He never learn.
ed a trade, but was farmer all his life.
He was never known to have a lawsuit,
never sued man nor was he ever sued.
He was never under the influence of
intoxicating liquor. He was not much
OF traveller and was never outside OF
the adjoining counties of Elk, Clear
field, Indiana and Clarion during the
II years he resided in Beechwoods. He
was an honest, upright Scotch.Irish
farmer, always Industrious and thrifty.
He was able to do chores around the
house and barn up until Christmas,
when he became to i'll to go out OF the
house and gradually grew worse until
dissolution took place. Six hours be-
fore he died he was able to sit up In a
chair and stir the fire in the stove.
Dropsy was the cause of his death.
Funeral services were held at the
Cooper homestead at 200 p. m. Sunday,
conducted by Rev. Geo. III. Hill pastor
OF the Beechwoods Presbyterian church.
lnterment was made In the Beechwoods
cemetery, the silent city where so
many of the old patriarchs and saints
| OF Beechwoods have been laid to rest.
There are only two pioneers OF Beech
woods now living that are older than
James Cooper. They are John Morri-
son, in his Goth year, and William
Smith, In S7th year.
l