General Nathan A. Cooper (April 29, 1802 – July 25, 1879) was an American landowner, businessman, and military officer from Chester Township, New Jersey.

Nathan A. Cooper
BornApril 29, 1802
Chester Township
DiedJuly 25, 1879 (aged 77)
Resting placePleasant Hill Cemetery

Biography

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Nathan A. Cooper was born on April 29, 1802, to Anna Wills (1774–1856) and Abraham Cooper (1762–1818) in Chester Township.[1][2] He had a sister, Beulah Ann Cooper (1800–1885), who married Henry Seward.[3]

Circa 1818, when he was 16 years old, his father died. Cooper inherited the family estate, consisting of 1600 acres, originally purchased by his uncle, Nathan Cooper (1751–1834). It included farming lands, an iron mine (operated by Marsh, Craig & Evans) and a grist-mill.[1]

In 1826, his uncle built a new mill, now known as the Nathan Cooper Gristmill. Nathan A. inherited this mill when uncle Nathan died.[4][5] By 1854, he was commissioned a Brigadier General of the state cavalry.[6] In 1860, he built the General Nathan Cooper Mansion.[6]

In 1841, Cooper's stallion Messenger won first prize "for the best stud horse" at the American Institute Fair.The Cultivator reported that Cooper's prize was a "gold medal or silver cup of the value of $15."[7]

He married Mary Henrietta Leddell in 1843. He died on July 25, 1879, and is buried at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester.[1][8][9]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Brewster, Rev. James F. (1882). "Chester Township: General Nathan A. Cooper". History of Morris County, New Jersey. New York: W. W. Munsell & Co. pp. 211–2.
  2. ^ A History of Morris County, New Jersey: Embracing Upwards of Two Centuries, 1710-1913 ... Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1914.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Henry Seward". The New York Times. November 12, 1885. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2008-06-04. Mrs. Henry Seward died at Chester, New Jersey, on Monday evening.
  4. ^ Greenidge, Frances (1974). "Nathan A. Cooper". Chester, New Jersey: A Scrapbook of History, 1713–1971. Chester, New Jersey: Chester Historical Society. pp. 52–3. OCLC 1009789. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  5. ^ Kostrub, Nanci (November 21, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Nathan Cooper Gristmill". National Park Service.
  6. ^ a b Karschner, Terry (June 5, 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Cooper, Gen. Nathan, Mansion". National Park Service.
  7. ^ "Premiums Awarded by the Institute". The Cultivator. L. Tucker. 1841. p. 191.
  8. ^ "Abram W. Cooper". Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County, New Jersey. Lewis Publishing Company. 1899. pp. 566–7. OCLC 20473027. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  9. ^ "Veterans Buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery". Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association. Archived from the original on 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2022-03-07.