Councilor William Greyer Coop View All Years

Compiled Historical Information
Date of Death: 6/4/1874
Birth Place: Greene County, Virginia
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Assemblies Served:
Senate: LA3 (1840) - LA4 (1841)
LA7 (1845) - LA8 (1845)
4 (1852) - 5 (1854)
House: LA1 (1838) - LA2 (1839)
Home County: Henry
Jefferson
William Greyer Coop
Jefferson County
Born in Greene County, Virginia, February 26th, 1805. While yet a child, he removed to Tennessee; thence to Washington County, Pennsylvania where they resided about two years, when they removed to Wabash County, Indiana. In 1830, the family again joined the tide of emigration flowing westward, and this time settled in Macoupin County, Illinois. Mr. Coop had now grown to manhood, endowed with physical and mental qualities peculiarly fitting him for discharging the duties and contending with the hardships of a life on the frontier. Very soon after settling in Illinois, he contracted to deliver a lot of cattle to the military, at that time stationed at Green Bay. Having performed his contract to the satisfaction of the Government, he returned home, and for several terms filled the office of Sheriff of this county. In the meantime, the Black Hawk War came on, and the young Sheriff of Macoupin County was among the first to respond to the call of Governor Reynolds for volunteers to meet the hostile savages. He was elected Captain of a company, and soon after received from Governor Reynolds a commission as Colonel of a regiment of Illinois volunteers. Having served the country and his State with credit through that decisive campaign of 1832, which resulted in restoring peace with the Indians, he returned home, where he continued to discharge the duties of Sheriff of this county almost to the time of his removal to Iowa. In the meantime, he had married Miss Nancy Harris, a native of Lexington County, Kentucky. The Black Hawk War had resulted in opening a new territory for the pioneer, west of the Mississippi, and in 1833 settlements began in what was designated as the “Black Hawk Purchase.” These newly acquired possessions of the Government, it may be stated, were then included within the Territorial jurisdiction of Wisconsin. On the 6th day of June, 1836, Colonel Coop and family, with their goods and chattels, arrived at a point about seven miles east of the site of the present city of Fairfield, where they selected a location. Colonel and wife were the parents of the first white child born in the territory now within the limits of Jefferson County. Colonel Coop was a delegate to the 1846 Constitutional Convention held in Iowa City representing Jefferson County. He was elected to serve in the First, Second, Third, Seventh and Eighth Territorial Legislatures. He also represented Jefferson County in the Fourth and Fifth General Assemblies, 1852-1854. Colonel Coop was not a fluent and ready debater, but could express his ideas in a practical and common-sense way. As a legislator, he was always present in his seat, and ready to vote on all questions, no doubt as his conscience dictated to be right. His party fealty was strong, being a Democrat in the strictest sense, but he was always faithful to his constituency, and honest in the discharge of his public and official duties. Colonel William G. Coop died at his home, in Jefferson County, lamented by all, June 4th, 1874, at the age of sixty nine years, having passed thirty-eight of them in Iowa.
Sources:
Text above from Iowa Official Register/Other
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