Elizabeth A. Boyd ~ James Cooper

Elizabeth A. Boyd ~ James Cooper

Jane Boyd ~ Joshua Cooper, Sr

Cambria Co., PA

Anson B. Cooper, superintendent of farms for the Cambria Iron company, and a resident of Coopersdale, is a son of James and Elizabeth A. (Boyd) Cooper, and was born on the old homestead, at Coopersdale, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1860. He was reared at his native place, and after receiving his elementary education in the public schools, pursued his academic studies in private schools, and entered Mount Union college, Ohio, from which well and favorably known institution he was graduated in the class of 1883. Immediately after his graduation he entered the service of the Cambria Iron company, and had received several promotions before his father's death, which occurred in 1887. He then succeeded his father as superintendent of farms, stables and teams, an important and responsible position under this company, whose lands are so extensive, and whose teams, used about their furnaces, mills and mines, far exceed in number those of any other company in western Pennsylvania. Under his immediate orders is a large force of hands, comprising laborers, farmers, stablemen, and teamsters. He is a practical man of business, as well as a man of education and general information. In his political views Mr. Cooper is a republican. He has served as a councilman, was justice of the peace for several years, and has been active in various ways for the material of advancement of his borough. He is a member of Coopersdale Methodist Episcopal church, which he has served as trustee for several years.

On September 20, 1883, Mr. Cooper married Nannie Stutzman, a daughter of George W. Stutzman, a retired merchant of Coopersdale. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have five children: James, Blaine, Sarah Elizabeth, Myrtle Stutzman, George Stutzman, and Anson Boyd.

James Cooper, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a son of Joshua and Jane (Boyd) Cooper, and was born in Somerset county, February 27, 1821. His early life was passed in farming and teaching, and in 1847 he removed to Ben's Creek furnace, where he entered upon a remarkable career as a furnace manager. He ran Ben's Creek and Washington furnaces, and in 1851 became manager of Cambria furnace, which he ran successfully until it went out of blast in 1860. The Cambria Iron company, not willing to lose his services, then made him general farm manager, and placed all of their stables under his supervision, a position which he held until his death June 8, 1887. He was a man of excellent judgment, keep discernment and good taste, served one term as county commissioner, and was complimented by the republicans with a nomination for the legislature, but as a natural consequence was defeated at a time when the county was so strongly Democratic. He was a member and one of the pillars of strength of the Coopersdale Methodist Episcopal church. Coopersdale was laid out on his land and named in honor of him, and numerous positions of trust and responsibility were given him on account of his integrity and stainless character. He lived a life of honor and usefulness, and died regretted by the whole community. He married Elizabeth Boyd, who was a daughter of James Boyd, and their children were: Dr. Joshua M., Maggie J. (Mrs. D. A. Harris), Kizzie E. (Mrs. N. B. Griffith), Emma L. (Mrs. C. H. Loughrey), and Anson B., whose name heads this sketch.

Joshua M. Cooper, A.M., M.D., a surgeon and physician of large experience and extensive practice, now resident of Johnstown, is a son of James and Elizabeth A. (Boyd) Cooper, and was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1844. His father, James Cooper, was a son of Joshua Cooper, who was born in County Tyrone, North Ireland, in which country their family was well connected and respectable. Joshua Cooper, Sr., came from Ireland to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, at the age of eight years.

He married Jane Boyd, and died when their son, James, was but seventeen years of age. James Cooper took care of his father's family, and after teaching school for a time, went to Ben's Creek furnace, contracting for the delivery of the ore. He afterwards managed Washington furnace and then served as manager of Cambria furnace until it went out of blast in 1860. In that year the Cambria Iron company made him heir farm and stable superintendent, which position he held until his death, June 8, 1887. He owned the site of Coopersdale, which was named after him, and was a very energetic and active business man. He was a republican and a Methodist, and took and active part in the interest of his party and his church. His life was such as to command respect and win friendship. Just, honest and fearless, he was a born leader and exercised a controlling influence in his community. At his death he left a priceless heritage to his children, that of a spotless reputation.

He married Elizabeth A. Boyd, who died September 8,1894, and their surviving children are: Dr. Joshua M.; Maggie J., wife of D. A. Harris; Kizzie E., married to N. B. Griffith; Emma L., wife of C. H. Loughery; and Anson B., now holding his father's position as superintendent of farms and stables for the Cambria Iron company.

Dr. Joshua M. Cooper received his early education in the common schools of the county and the public schools of Johnstown, attended Latrobe academy, at Westmoreland county, and took the full course of Duff's Commercial college of Pittsburgh. He then taught a term of school at what is now Coopersdale, and in the ensuing summer entered Allegheny college, of Meadville, this State, from which he received the degree of A M. Leaving college he read medicine with Dr. John Lowman, of Johnstown, and in the fall of 1866 entered Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia. From which time-honored institution he was graduated in the class of 1868. Immediately after graduation he opened an office at Canton, Ohio, which he left two years later to locate at Erie, where he remained six years and was surgeon at that place, and during that time, of the Erie and Pittsburg Railroad company. Leaving Erie, in 1876, on account of the rigorous climate, Dr. Cooper resided for two years at Braddock, Allegheny county, as physician and surgeon of the Edgar Thompson Steel company, and then removed to Meadville, this State, where he practiced eighteen months. At the end of that time, in 1879, he came to Johnstown, where he built up a fine practice and secured quite a valuable property, which was nearly all swept away in the great flood. After the flood he returned to Meadville and practiced there up to January, 1895, when he located in Pittsburg, remaining in that city till June, 1896. He then returned to Johnstown, where he is now engaged in active practice.

On December 15, 1869, Dr. Cooper married Salome McFarland, a daughter of John McFarland, a prominent merchant of Meadville, Crawford county. To their union were born three children: Lizzie McFarland, who passed away at eleven years of age; John Bertram, who died at eight years of age; and James deceased in infancy.

Dr. Cooper is a republican in politics, and a member of Council, No. 401, Royal Arcanum. He has made a specialty for some years of throat and lung diseases, having completed a course in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and is a surgeon of high standing for coolness and skill. Dr. Cooper has devoted his active life strictly to the duties of his profession. He is a member of the Cambria County Medical society, the Pennsylvania State Medical society, and the American Medical association.

James Cooper, in honor of whom Coopersdale is named, so lived that his life presents one of the marked examples of success as the reward of ability, integrity and industry. He was a son of Joshua and Jane (Boyd) Cooper, and was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1821. His family is on of the respectable and well-connected farmer families of North Ireland, whence his father, Joshua Cooper, emigrated, when a boy of eight years of age, about 1786 to Somerset county, where he was reared, followed farming and served for many years as a justice of the peace. He married Jane Boyd, and died in 1838 at the age of sixty years.

James Cooper was the eldest child of the family, and at his father's death, although but seventeen years of age, took upon himself the care of his mother and sisters. He acquired the limited education of his section, and taught several winter terms of school. He married in 1841, and six years later removed to Ben's Creek furnace, which he was to furnish with ore from the Mill Creek mines. Two years later he was employed by J. Bell & Bro. to manage Washington furnace, in Westmoreland county, which position he resigned in 1851 to become manager of Cambria furnace, where he remained until it went out of blast, in 1860. The Cambria Iron company appreciating his services, was desirous of retaining him and made him superintendent of farms and stables, which position he held until his death in 1887.

On November 25, 1841, Mr. Cooper married Elizabeth Ann Boyd, a daughter of James Boyd, of Jenner, and who died on September 8, 1894. To their union were born eleven children: those surviving are: Dr. Joshua M., of Johnstown; Maggie J., now Mrs. D. A. Harris; Kizzie E., now Mrs. N. B. Griffith; Emma L., now Mrs. C. H. Loughery, and Anson B. now holding his father's position with the Cambria Iron company.

James Cooper was an old-line whig and republican in politics, and served several terms as a school director, besides acting as an aide-de-camp to Governor Pollock during his term of office. He served one term of three years as commissioner of Cambria county, and was the nominee of his party for the legislature, but was defeated, although running ahead of his ticket in the county, which was then strongly Democratic. He was a man of integrity in business, and in 1858 purchased the tract of land on which Coopersdale is built. The place was named in honor of him and received many substantial favors at his hands. He was a man of remarkable capacity, and transmitted these qualities in a marked degree to his children. He was a trustee of the Savings bank of Johnstown and president of Ridgeview Park association at the time of his death.

Mr. Cooper was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Coopersdale, to which he donated a lot and contributed liberally towards the erection of the present church edifice which stands as a monument to his liberality and loyalty to his church. James Cooper attained a position of independence and influence entirely by his own force of character and industry, and when he passed from time to eternity, on June 8, 1887, his loss was felt by the entire community. His remains rest in a pleasant spot in Grandview cemetery, but the memory of life well spent remains as a monument to him ore enduring than those of iron or stone.

Source: Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania : comprising about five hundred sketches of the prominent and representative citizens of the county; Philadelphia : Union Publishing, 1896. FHL Film 1000547

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