Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 624] a prominent member of the medical profession of New Castle, Lawrence County, was born in Butler County, near Grant City, this State, Sept. 24, 1872. His education was commenced in the common schools of Grant City, Pa., and continued in the Slippery Rock State Normal School of Slippery Rock, Pa., and Grove City College, Mercer Co., Pa. Then wishing to adapt himself for work in business fields he attended Duff's Business College at Pittsburg, from which he graduated in 1889, after which he taught a short time in the same college. He pursued his medical studies in the Medical Department of the Western University of Pennsylvania, and graduated with the highest of honors in 1894. His first field of practice was in New Castle, where he has been successfully engaged in medical practice since 1894; as a physician he is well and favorably known throughout a very large circle of patrons, a reputation which he has won by an energy, determination and skill that have secured for him an extensive field of practice and have fairly given him a leading place among the practitioners of his profession.
Socially, he is a Mason, belonging to Mahoning Lodge No. 243, of New Castle, Pa.; he is also a member of Lodge No. 909, I. O. O. F., of Portersville, Pa. His religious sympathies link him to the Baptist Church. Although a Democrat on general principles, he is no slave to party lines, but supports the candidates whom he thinks are best qualified to fill the offices; especially is this true in local elections.
Dr. Cooper is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Pence) Cooper, the former a native of Butler County, and the latter a native of Lawrence County. Our subject's grandfather, Thomas Cooper, was a native of Ireland and came to America when a young man, settling two miles east of Grant City, Pa., where he bought a tract of uncultivated land, and was engaged the remainder of his years in clearing and cultivating it, wresting a comfortable livelihood from the virgin soil. He married Phoebe Dean, who bore him seven children: Jacob; Jesse D.; Marshall, who was killed in the United States service in the late war; Harvey; Robert; Mary E.; and Polly. They were stanch supporters of the Baptist Church.
Robert Cooper, the youngest son of Thomas, was educated in the school of Grant City, and upon attaining manhood's estate turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, following the life of a farmer until his death in 1878. He was uniformly successful in his labors, and was esteemed a valued member of the community. Politically he was a firm Democrat, but as his taste did not run to the holding of offices nor to active political life, he did not permit his name to be placed in nomination as an aspirant for honors. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of James Pence, a native of Scotland; to our subject's parents were born four children: Martha J.; James Mc; Phoebe; and our subject, Dr. Jesse R. The eldest daughter married William English of Portersville, Pa., and bore him four children: Robert B., Maggie J., Franklin B., and Ira. James Mc married Anna Davis of Jacksville, Butler Co., Pa.; their union was blessed with four children, namely: Frank, Porter, Harry, and an infant. Phoebe married W. P. Book of Harlansburg, Pa.; three children were born to them: Howard, deceased, Jessie, and George. Both of our subject's parents were Baptists. Mrs. Cooper died in 1894, aged sixty-six years; her husband was forty-seven years at his death.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 24 Jul 2001