Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-25

held, and it was decided to build fort
This was how Fort Robinson came to
be built in 1850 on what is now known
as the old David Birks farm. The fort
was ninety feet square, and was con-
srructed Of solid oak timbers. hewn for
the express purpose. Port holes every
few feet admitted the rifles of the
sturdy frontierlnen, and the ground on
the outside was cut away so that IL an
attack were made the bullets from the
Indians guns would pass above the
heads of those inside. Barrels were
stocked with water. and larders with
provisions. anticipating an attack. but
none came. The government was OH
hand with troops, and the Indians We're
sent back to Missouri.
Games Abundant; No Game Laws.
Game OF all kinds was abundant in
those days. consequently there was no
need Of nor were there any game laws.
Marion Cooper was handy with his
rifle and kept the family larder we'll
supplied. not only with game, but fish.
Marion and his next two younger
brothers. James and Joseph had one
gun between them. and wild turkey.
duck. prairie chickens. grouse. and
quail fell to thei- aim in large numbers.
If the young hunters preferred
something larger and more exciting. the
timber and prairie abounded with Wild
cat. deer and wolves. Timber creek
was then twice its present size, and
no purer water was ever drunk by any
settlers in a virgin country. Fish were
plentiful. and could be secured at any
time Of the year. The Iowa river was
one-third again as large as it is now
and as there was not mill dam from
the mouth up. this stream afforded an
other fine fishing ground.
Hunted Where MarshaIItown Stands.
The three young Coopers hunted and
tramped over all the land that is now
called the city OF Marshalltown. for
there was not even the slightest sign
of town here until 1853. five years
after they came. They often ventured
on hunting expeditions as far north
as the river. Much Of the present
townsite was prairie, but the river was
skirted with timber, which ran in
streaks out from the stream. extending
arthest to the south from where Fifth
and Sixth streets are now situated and
gradually dim inishing from that point
east to Center. The strip Of big oaks
that extends thru the present residence
property Of D. w. Norris. Jr.. and on
the Duffield place. are remnants Of
the thickest patches of native timber
At that time the Coopers went to
Oskaloosa for their groceries, and took
their grist to a mill at South Skunk
river. three miles north of the Maha ska
county capital to exchange 1t for flour
or have it ground. Another favorite
milling place was Winners mill. ten
II.
county.
Elder Cooper Buys First Land.
Every foot Of land in Marshall coun-
ty then belonged to Uncle Sam ard
it was Joseph Cooper, ST., and his
brother-in-law. Joseph Ferguson. who
entered the first land in Marshall coun-
". The men rode horseback to Iowa
| City, following an Indian trail along
the south side of the Iowa river. and
on June /, 1s4s, Mr.. Cooper entered
the first land ever granted a white
| man in Marshall county-160 acres at
s1.25 per acre. Ny Ferguson entered
an eighty" one mile east Of his
brotherin-law's farm. Today each OF
the tracts Is easily worth 800 an acre,
and probably couldn't be bought for
that.
Native Of Indiana.
| John Francis Marion Cooper was a
| native OF Owen county, Indiana, where
he was born Nov. 2. 1881. He had been
| twice married. and his second wife sur
wives him. Mr.. Cooper's first marriage
was to Miss Elizabeth Alexander, Of
Timber Creek. in 1853 She died in
this city June II, 1898. On Dec 20,
1899. Mr. Cooper married Mrs Mary
Jane Griswold, widow OF Fordyce H.
Griswold, who was then living in the
home where Mr.. Cooper died, and
where Mr.. and Mrs. Cooper have lived
since their marriage. The old Cooper
home in this city was at $50 North
Second street. which Mr.. Cooper owned
at the time OF his death.
I Mr.. Cooper was an old-time demo-
crat in politics. and in the earlier days
was prom inent in his party's affairs
in the county. having at one time been
chairman Of the county central COM
nittee. In religion he was Baptist.
or hard SHELF Baptist as the denom-
nation to which he belonged was
known. In the affairs OF the Marshall
t County Old Settlers Association Mr..
Cooper had taken an active part for
many years, and was a former presi-
dent OF the association
Leaves Several Brothers and Sisters.
IN this large pioneer family of the
county, several members, brothers and
sisters OF Mr.. Cooper, are still living
The oldest sister living is Mrs. Ma
hala Smith, of Ferguson. James NJ.
Cooper who lives in this city, but
who is spending the winter with his
daughter, Mrs. Glenn Coppock, at
Pasadena Cal. is the oldest brother.
The next older brother is j. N Cooper.
of this city, and the youngest is Carl
c. Cooper, of Eagle. Neb. The other
sisters are Mrs. Laton Butin, MARY
lCooper.) who lives at Dorchester,
Neb.; and Mrs. Samuel Windrem
(Nettie Cooper.) Of Richmond. Cal. A
half brother Joshua Cooper, lives in
Idaho as does also a half sister, Mrs
Emma Bradley. Another half sister is
Mrs Lucy 1rp. Of Dorchester, Neb.
and at Dorchester also lives Marion
Cooper's stepmother. Mrs. Catherine
Cooper, who is now 81.
The children of the family who are
dead are David E. Cooper, the Oldest
son. who died in Montezuma in 1906:
Mrs. Seth Smith. martha Cooper. J
who died in Timber Creek township in
1864; Marcus, who served in Company
With Iowa infantry, and died in