James Oakley Cooper

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

James Oakley Cooper

The name of COOPER is an old and honored one in New Jersey, it having been planted here in the colonial epoch of our national history. The ancestry is of Dutch origin and is traced back to James COOPER, great-great-grandfather of James O. COOPER. He was born in Holland and immigrated to America as a young man, settling in what is now Sussex county, New Jersey, where he was one of the prominent old pioneer farmers. He married and had two sons, Peter and John, the latter of whom spent his entire life in Sussex county, where he married and reared to maturity the following children: John, Abraham, Joseph, Garret, Katie, Peggie, Hiley, Eliza, James. James COOPER, youngest of the foregoing children, lived and died in Sussex county, New Jersey. He married Nancy WRIGHT, who bore him seven children, namely: John, Rachel, Sarah, Moses, James, Garret, Joseph.

James COOPER, fifth in order of birth of the children of James and Nancy (WRIGHT) COOPER, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, July 16, 1823. He passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, in the work and management of which he early became an important factor, and he was educated in the neighboring district schools. After reaching his legal majority he too engaged in farming operations and continued to devote many years of his life to that line of enterprise. Naturally studious, he gradually accumulated enough knowledge to pass the requirements of teachers in the State of New Jersey and during many a winter term he taught school, caring for his farm during the summer season. His pedagogic efforts were not confined to rural schools, however. He taught in the Dover schools for a number of years and served as principal of the public schools in that city for several years. He was a man of broad mind and keen observation and as a teacher was a great systematizer. He was in poor health during the last few years proceeding his demise, which occurred at Dover, September 6, 1911. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat, and in religious faith was a fervent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Phoebe Jayne DAVENPORT, born at Milton, Morris county, New Jersey, November 30, 1825, died June 5, 1912. The marriage ceremony was performed at Milton, New Jersey, October 27, 1849. The following children were born to James and Phoebe Jayne (DAVENPORT) COOPER:
Henrietta, married David LEE and is now deceased;
Sarah J., married D.H. DALRYMPLE and they reside at Center Grove, New Jersey;
James O., whose name forms the caption for this article;
Eugene J., mentioned in a following paragraph;
Carrie, deceased;
Frank R., married Emma JENKINS and is now deceased.

James Oakley COOPER was the third child born to James and Phoebe Jayne (DAVENPORT) COOPER. His birth occurred on the homestead farm in Randolph township, Morris county, New Jersey, September 30, 1858. After completing the curriculum of the district schools of his native township, he attended and was graduated in the Dover High School as a member of the class of 1876. He immediately began to teach school and subsequently pursued a post-graduate course in high school. He also completed the three-year course in pedagogy at the State Normal School and he continued his studies until he received the highest teacher's certificate given in the State. For several years he was a member of the Morris county board of examination for teachers' certificates and for fourteen years taught in the public schools of this section, during seven years of which he was principal of the Mount Hope schools. He gained the reputation of having the best school in northern New Jersey, and in 1890 was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Dr. B.C. McGEE as superintendent of the Morris county schools. He served in that capacity with the utmost efficiency for the ensuing four years, at the end of which he engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Dover, at the same time operating a farm near this city. He erected a beautiful residence in Dover and here maintained his home until 1908, at which time he went to Texas, there spending a year and a half, during which time he was secretary of a Commercial Club at Sulphur Springs and superintendent of the public schools of Mertzon, in western Texas. The teachers and general public gave him credit for organizing the best and most efficient system of high school work ever introduced into the Lone Star State. The teachers in a raius of seventy-five miles disbanded their schools for a week and came to Mertzon in order to study the methods of Mr. COOPER.

Owing to ill health Mr. COOPER was forced to seek a more salubrious climate than that of Texas and in 1910 went to California, locating in the San Joaquim Valley, where he followed general contracting work for a year and a half. No sooner had his own health improved than he was sent word of the declining health of his parents owing to their advanced years. He returned home to Dover in June, 1911, and lived on the old homestead with his parents until their respective deaths, the mother passing away in June, 1912, and the father in September, 1911.

In April, 1913, Mr. COOPER purchased the TRETHAWAY property, an estate of one and a half acres adjoining the James COOPER estate of twelve acres. He now owns all this property, with two fine residences, and he devotes his attention to the growing of fruits and vegetables. During his leisure time he writes for periodicals and for agricultural papers. During the winter of 1912-13 he had articles published in the papers and journals of New Jersey which were commented upon the literary authorities as being the best written and edited of any papers that have appeared in publications of northern New Jersey for many years past. Mr. COOPER is a valued and appreciative member of the Dover Choral Society and he takes an active part in musical work in his home community. He is a Presbyterian in religious faith. In politics he has always been a Democrat and he has taken an active part in the local councils of that party. He was secretary of the Democratic county committee for seven years and has served as a delegate to numerous conventions, including county, State, congressional and gubernatorial, and in 1913 was a candidate for State senator.

Mr. COOPER is the father of four children:
Lela H., at the parental home;
Martha D., graduated in the Dover High School and for the past three years has been a popular and successful teacher in the Morris county schools;
James B., a graduate of the Dover High School, now in the employ of the Prudential Life Insurance Company;
Millie E., graduated in the Dover High School in June, 1913, now at home.

While superintendent of the Morris county schools, Mr. COOPER gained much distinction as an educator in this section of New Jersey, and during his long connection with the schools of this locality he succeeded in greatly raising the intellectual standard and promoting the efficiency of the system as a preparation for the responsibly duties of life. Indeed, the constant aim and general character of Mr. COOPER's work as an educator might be summed up in the famous dictum of Sidney Smith, "The real object of education is to give children resources that will endure as long as life endures; habits that time will ameliorate, not destroy; occupation that will render sickness tolerable, solitude pleasant, age venerable, life more dignified and useful, and death less terrible." Mr. COOPER is still deeply interested in educational work and through his writings and in politics works enthusiastically for improved conditions. He is a representative and high-minded citizen, the type that reflects credit upon any community. His life has been exemplary in all respects and stands as a worthy model to the youth of Morris county.