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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Honorable William R. Cooper A
young man who has stamped the impress of his strong personality upon the minds
of the people of Jasper County in a manner as to render him one of the
conspicuous characters of the locality is Hon. William R. Cooper, the able and
popular retiring representative in the state Legislature. Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed
purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or
advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in his life, which has
been replete with honor and success worthily attained, and he has become an
important factor in the affairs of his County and stands in the foremost rank of
the legal profession. Few citizens in Jasper County are better known, none
occupy a more conspicuous place in the confidence of the public, and it is a
compliment worthily bestowed to class him with the representative men of his day
and generation in the city of his residence, having done much for the general
development of Newton and this vicinity. Mr.
Cooper is one of the native sons of Jasper County of whom she may well be proud,
his birth having occurred here on November 28, 1868, he being the scion of one
of the sterling old families that figured prominently in the pioneer history of
the County, the son of Levi and Ellen (Sanders) Cooper. The father was born,
reared and educated in Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Iowa about 1862
or 1863 and located in Jasper County, near Lynnville, where he developed a good
farm and became well established, and where he continued to reside until his
death in 1874, when his son, William R., was about six years old.
His wife was born in Indiana. The Cooper family is of Quaker stock and
its members have always been noted for their piety and clean citizenship. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cooper, two daughters, who are deceased, and William R. of this review. The mother is now living in California, having remarried, her last husband being Jackson Booth. William
R. Cooper was educated in the rural schools of this County and at Hazel Dell
Academy at Newton. He
afterward entered Iowa State College at Ames, and graduated in 1894 taking the
scientific course. He prepared
himself for a teacher and for several years successfully followed that vocation,
winning the admiration of both pupil and patron; but growing tired of the school
room, he entered the abstract and loan business in 1900, in Newton. Still not
satisfied with his work, although again successful, he finally turned his
attention to the law, for which he seemed to have a natural bent, and, making
rapid progress in the same, he was admitted to the bar in 1904, since which time
he has been actively engaged in the practice, and at the same time has carried
on an extensive abstract and loan business.
He has been successful as an attorney and abstractor, winning a
reputation as a conscientious, capable, well-grounded and energetic advocate,
who, by his judicious course, has won the good will and admiration of all
classes. Owing
to his public spirit and his recognized ability, Mr. Cooper was soon singled out
by party leaders for public positions, and in 1908 he was elected representative
from Jasper County, and his eminently worthy and satisfactory course in the
Legislature has evidently justified the wisdom of his selection for this
important position, for he has labored untiringly for the good of his locality,
winning the hearty approbation of all concerned, irrespective of party
alignment, making his influence felt in the counsels and deliberations there and
often on the floor, challenging forcefully and eloquently any measure that did
not seem to warrant his support, and always defending in a relentless and
tactful manner such movements as were calculated to make for the general good.
He was chairman of the federal relations committee and a member of the
judiciary, ways and means, insurance, banks and banking, mines and mining,
pardons, labor, telegraph and express, and engrossed bills committees, in all of
which he displayed rare soundness: of judgment and business acumen. He was the
author of the bill, "Place-of Trial of Citations," which provides
grounds for change of place of trial. He was instrumental in securing the
passage of a bill to change the place of trial to the home County where there is
an alleged fraudulent contract. He was the author of many bills, and his efforts
were always directed toward the betterment of the moral conditions of the state.
He was largely instrumental in securing the passage of a bill providing
against the sale of cigarettes and cigarette papers and providing for search
warrant of any building where same was thought to be kept for sale, and which
provides for the assessment of a fine of three hundred dollars against the owner
of the building. Judging
from the past meritorious record of Mr. Cooper, it is safe to predict that the
future years hold much of honor and success for him and that he will in due
course of time take his place among the eminent and useful men of the great
commonwealth of Iowa. Mr.
Cooper's domestic life began on October 26, 1898, when he was united in marriage
with Virginia Russell, a lady of culture and genial address and the daughter of
S. G. Russell, president of the Farmers' Insurance Company, of Newton, and a
well known business man here. This union has been blessed by the birth of four
children, Florence, Robert, Russell and Richard. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 549. |
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