U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooper, Armor Stewart (1866-1942) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 449-452 ARMOR STEWART COOPER, a prominent citizen of New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia, has served in the capacity of county clerk since 1896 in such a manner as to gain the approval of his fellow citizens. He was born at Port Homer, Jefferson County, Ohio, February 6, 1866, and is a son of Ephraim W. and Harriet S. (Stewart) Cooper, and grandson of Alexander and Elizabeth (Vantilburg) Cooper. Alexander Cooper, who was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, migrated in early life to Jefferson County, Ohio. He was married to Elizabeth Vantilburg, May 12, 1812, and they became the parents of the following children: Sarah, wife of John Travis, both deceased; Jane, wife of _Mr. Leatherberry, both deceased; Elizabeth, wife of John Gulp, both deceased; Susan, wife of Isaac Hukill, both deceased; Henry, deceased; Alexander, Jr., deceased; Ann Eliza, wife of Silas Householder, both deceased; Francis V., deceased; Nancy, widow of Mathias Householder; and John and Ephraim W., who live in Jefferson County, Ohio. Ephraim W. Cooper was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 24, 1834, and is now engaged in fruit growing on an extensive scale, his earlier life having been devoted to mercantile business. He is a well known and substantial citizen. He has the honor of serving as justice of the peace in his county longer than any other man in the State of Ohio. He is a Republican and has always taken an active part in political affairs. He was united in marriage with Martha A. Cole, of Jefferson County, Ohio; she died in one year after their marriage, leaving an infant daughter, named Jennie S., who died at the age of 18 years, being at the time of her death a member of the graduating class of the Wellsville High School. Mr. Cooper was again married, on the 12th day of April, 1865, to Harriet S. Stewart, of Hancock County, West Virginia. She was born on the 22nd day of August, 1838, and is a daughter of James and Catharine (Fibbs) Stewart, and a granddaughter of Col. George Stewart, deceased. Col. George Stewart was born in Ireland, and immigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary War, locating in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. He served in the Colonial Army as colonel and hove an honorable record. Whilst that memorable struggle was in progress, he paid a short visit to his home. One day during the period of this visit, three Tories, or British sympathizers, entered the house of a widow lady in the vicinity, and conducted themselves in such a shameful and discourteous manner that the lady and her daughter were greatly alarmed. Colonel Stewart was dispatched for and immediately went to their assistance, captured the three men and held them as prisoners until he could report to headquarters, when they were justly dealt with. When capturing them, he relieved them of a sword, bayonet and pistol, which remained in the possession of the Stewarts until a few years ago. Colonel Stewart was married to a lady in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; she died after a union of 15 years, leaving a family of six children, namely: John, George, Joseph, David, Robert and Charles. Colonel Stewart was again married, after the lapse of a few years, to Susan Wilson; six children were born to them: Samuel; William; Benjamin; James, grandfather of our subject; Mary and Ross. At an early day he moved with his family to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and in 1790 they migrated to Grant district, Hancock County, Virginia, now West Virginia, settling on a farm owned later by Franklin Stewart. On this farm Colonel Stewart remained until his death which occurred about 1800. His relict survived him until 1842, when she too departed this life. James Stewart, father of Mrs. Ephraim W. Cooper, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1787, and removed with his father to Hancock County in 1790. He lived there until his death in 1869, and his wife followed him to the unknown beyond in 1871. He married Catharine Fibbs, and shortly after their marriage they located on a tract of land now in possession of Samuel Stewart's heirs. Eleven children were born to bless their union, namely: Mary Ann, wife of James Pugh, both deceased; Mrs. Eliza White, deceased; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of David S. Anderson; Harriet S., wife of Ephraim W. Cooper; Margaret, deceased; George deceased; John, deceased; Charles, deceased; William, deceased; Samuel,, deceased; and Robert, who lives at Colfax, Iowa. Seven children were born to Ephraim W. and Harriet S. (Stewart) Cooper, namely: Armor S., our subject; Edwin W.; Lorena B., wife of Dr. W. L. Carroll; Dr. Chase D.; R. Hayes; George W., who died in childhood; and Charles A. Armor S. Cooper was reared in Jefferson County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools. He graduated from Duff's Commercial College in 1886, after which he engaged in the steamboating business as a partner of T. J. Garlick and others, under the name of the Silver Cliff Towboat Company, operating between Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Louisville, Kentucky, for a period of three years. He then withdrew from that business and became identified with the Shetter Foundry & Machine Company, of which he was secretary and treasurer for several years. He has been a resident of New Cumberland since 1888. In 1896 he became a candidate for the office of county clerk of Hancock County, and his election followed; he took charge of the office in January, 1897. In 1902, he was re-elected for a second term of six years, and is now serving in that office. Mr. Cooper was united in marriage October 6, 1887, to Mame V. Thomas, of Hancock County, a daughter of William and Sarah A. (Collver) Thomas, who reside at Moscow, West Virginia. Her father was born June 28, 1847, in Hancock County, his parents having migrated from Lynchhurg, Virginia, in 1820, — his father's name was William Thomas and his mother's maiden name was Lynch. On the 15th day of February, 1864, at the age of 18 years, the father of Mrs. Cooper responded to the call of his country, enlisting at Wheeling, West Virginia, as a private in the War of the Rebellion, under Capt. Oliver Phelps, in Company K, 1st Vet. Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf. He was present and took part in Hunter's Raid, and the historic battles of Lookout Mountain, Winchester and Cedar Creek, and was honorably discharged from the service at Cumberland, Maryland, July 21, 1865. Mr. Thomas was united in marriage January 21, 1866, to Sarah A. Collver, who was born in Hancock County, May 28, 1848, and is a daughter of the late Levi and Mary Collver. Levi Collver was born in Canada, February 14, 1805, came to this country in early life and located in Hancock County, Virginia, now West Virginia. On August 3, 1830, he was united in marriage to Mary Latimer, who was born October 21, 1805, and was a daughter of William and Mary (Brown) Latimer. William Latimer was born in Ireland in 1796 and with his family immigrated to this country in 1805, settling in Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia. Mrs. Mame V. Cooper was born in Hancock County, October 6, 1869, and is one of the following children born to her parents, Edward A.; Mame V.; Charles; Lewis; George B.; Hugh W.; Maude E.; Jeffry, deceased; Florence N., deceased; Bennett, deceased; Harry and Elizabeth. Three children have blessed the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Walter Waldo, born July 16, 1888; Donald Beaumont, born July 3, 1900, and died November 10, 1902; and Kathryn Virginia, born July 17, 1895. Mr. Cooper has always been an active worker in the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, having united with that church when a boy, and has always been much interested and actively engaged in church and Sunday- school work. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Hancock County, WV #4548 FULL-NAME: Armour Stewart Cooper BIRTH-DATE: February 1, 1866 DEATH-DATE: April 15, 1942 (at age 76y-1m-15d) DEATH-PLACE: Ridge Ave., New Cumberland, Hancock County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Mamie Thomas Cooper) OCCUPATION: Real Estate FATHER: E. W. Cooper (born in Jefferson Co., Ohio) MOTHER: Harriett Stewart (born in Hancock Co., W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Hypostate Pneumonia / Cerebral Hemorrhage INFORMANT: Mamie Cooper (of New Cumberland, W.Va.) BURIAL: New Cumberland Cemetery, New Cumberland W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tombstone in New Cumberland Cemetery, Hancock County, WV COOPER Armour S. Mame V. 1866-1942 1869-1943 ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Hancock County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/hancock/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------