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Mentioned in 18310422fms_whs.

The following is from The History of Morris County 1739-1882, published by W.W. Munsell, 1882: "The Cooper family of which Nathan A. was a member descended from Sir Astley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, of England. Some of the family in 1700 settled on Long Island, when Nathan Cooper came to Roxiticus, which comprised what are now the towns of Mendham, Chester, Washington, Mount Olive and Roxbury. He purchased 1,600 acres of land, made a clearing, and erected a small framed house, in which the family resided some years. His son, Nathan Cooper, was born February 22nd 1725, and was married in 1748 to Mehitable Seward, great aunt to ex-Secretary of State William H. Seward. They had six children. Nathan built a house near where the present Cooper mansion stands. It was recently demolished, but the stone steps remain to mark the site. He died December 20th 1797. His wife died April 15th 1812. Their son, Abraham Cooper, was born February 18th 1762. He was married in 1799 to Anna Wills. Their children were Beulah Ann and Nathan A. Cooper. Abraham died September 13th 1818, and his wife April 25th 1856. Nathan A. Cooper, the subject of this article, was born April 20th 1802. His wife, to whom he was married in 1843, was Mary Henrietta, youngest daughter of Dr. John W. Leddel of Ralstontown. Their children were: Anna E.Cooper; Abram W. Cooper; Beulah S. Cooper; Mary L. Cooper; Tillie R. Cooper; Laura H. Cooper; and Nathan A. Cooper. All of whom, as well as their mother, are living. General Cooper died of cardiac rheumatism July 25th 1879. At the age of sixteen he inherited the large Cooper estate, comprising nearly all of the tract originally purchased by his ancestor. This is now owned by the fifth generation from the original purchaser. It includes extensive farming lands, an iron mine, operated by Marsh, Craig & Evans, much undeveloped mineral property, and a grist-mill. About nineteen years ago the house in which General Cooper was born was demolished, and the present elegant and substantial mansion erected. The brick, sand, line and timber used in building this house were all produced or manufactured on the Cooper estate. Mr. Cooper was always an active and prominent man in the public affairs of Morris county. He was thoroughly conversant with the political history of the country, and politics was with him a favorite theme of discussion, though from choice he never held any prominent political office. He was always a consistent and unwavering Democrat. He was a man of extraordinary ability, a natural orator, of imposing appearance, and endowed with a voice and manner at once commanding and impressive. His conversational powers were great. His memory was wonderful. He forgot nothing, and with great accuracy he could recall the dates and circumstances of events that transpired more than half a century before. In 1854 he was commissioned a brigadier general of cavalry, and at the time of his death was the oldest general officer in the State. He was a lover of horses and an expert horseman. He had great fondness for field sports, and was unexcelled as a marksman. He was a man of strict and unbending integrity, a good citizen, and a kind husband and father." Gioia Weber writes: "Nathan Cooper in 1825 bought about 4.5 acres of land [in Chester] which included a milldam, sawmill, an old gristmill, and the water wheel for $750. The following year, he replaced the mill with the present stone mill (Cooper Gristmill) and gave the new mill and property to his nephew Nathan A. Cooper. The younger Cooper became a general in the N.J. Cavalry in 1854. He was a wealthy man and also very generous. He had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. Seven of them lived to maturity, and five of those married. To each child upon marriage, he gave a farm or a house. One of these children was Abram to whom he gave the house presently used as the Cooper Mill Visitors Center, adjacent to Cooper Mill on old Route 24 in Chester Township." 

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Biography: 
Mentioned in 18310422fms_whs. The following is from The History of Morris County 1739-1882, published by W.W. Munsell, 1882: "The Cooper family of which Nathan A. was a member descended from Sir Astley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, of England. Some of the family in 1700 settled on Long Island, when Nathan Cooper came to Roxiticus, which comprised what are now the towns of Mendham, Chester, Washington, Mount Olive and Roxbury. He purchased 1,600 acres of land, made a clearing, and erected a small framed house, in which the family resided some years. His son, Nathan Cooper, was born February 22nd 1725, and was married in 1748 to Mehitable Seward, great aunt to ex-Secretary of State William H. Seward. They had six children. Nathan built a house near where the present Cooper mansion stands. It was recently demolished, but the stone steps remain to mark the site. He died December 20th 1797. His wife died April 15th 1812. Their son, Abraham Cooper, was born February 18th 1762. He was married in 1799 to Anna Wills. Their children were Beulah Ann and Nathan A. Cooper. Abraham died September 13th 1818, and his wife April 25th 1856. Nathan A. Cooper, the subject of this article, was born April 20th 1802. His wife, to whom he was married in 1843, was Mary Henrietta, youngest daughter of Dr. John W. Leddel of Ralstontown. Their children were: Anna E.Cooper; Abram W. Cooper; Beulah S. Cooper; Mary L. Cooper; Tillie R. Cooper; Laura H. Cooper; and Nathan A. Cooper. All of whom, as well as their mother, are living. General Cooper died of cardiac rheumatism July 25th 1879. At the age of sixteen he inherited the large Cooper estate, comprising nearly all of the tract originally purchased by his ancestor. This is now owned by the fifth generation from the original purchaser. It includes extensive farming lands, an iron mine, operated by Marsh, Craig & Evans, much undeveloped mineral property, and a grist-mill. About nineteen years ago the house in which General Cooper was born was demolished, and the present elegant and substantial mansion erected. The brick, sand, line and timber used in building this house were all produced or manufactured on the Cooper estate. Mr. Cooper was always an active and prominent man in the public affairs of Morris county. He was thoroughly conversant with the political history of the country, and politics was with him a favorite theme of discussion, though from choice he never held any prominent political office. He was always a consistent and unwavering Democrat. He was a man of extraordinary ability, a natural orator, of imposing appearance, and endowed with a voice and manner at once commanding and impressive. His conversational powers were great. His memory was wonderful. He forgot nothing, and with great accuracy he could recall the dates and circumstances of events that transpired more than half a century before. In 1854 he was commissioned a brigadier general of cavalry, and at the time of his death was the oldest general officer in the State. He was a lover of horses and an expert horseman. He had great fondness for field sports, and was unexcelled as a marksman. He was a man of strict and unbending integrity, a good citizen, and a kind husband and father." Gioia Weber writes: "Nathan Cooper in 1825 bought about 4.5 acres of land [in Chester] which included a milldam, sawmill, an old gristmill, and the water wheel for $750. The following year, he replaced the mill with the present stone mill (Cooper Gristmill) and gave the new mill and property to his nephew Nathan A. Cooper. The younger Cooper became a general in the N.J. Cavalry in 1854. He was a wealthy man and also very generous. He had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. Seven of them lived to maturity, and five of those married. To each child upon marriage, he gave a farm or a house. One of these children was Abram to whom he gave the house presently used as the Cooper Mill Visitors Center, adjacent to Cooper Mill on old Route 24 in Chester Township."
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