Thomas and Caroline Cooper of Vermont were the parents of 11 children. Three of their children died quite young. Two of their sons played an important part in the early history of Cooperstown and Griggs County. Thomas J. spent very little time here but provided much of the finances while Rollin C. managed their bonanza farm. One sister, Mrs. Barnard lived here for a time.
Their oldest sister, Julia, was married to T. J. Smith. She lived at Red Wing, Minnesota the greater part of her life and was a widow for many years.
James B. Cooper, the oldest son in the Cooper family, spent most of his life mining and lived in California.
Thomas J. was the third child and the father of Charles L. and Julia Cooper Merriell. Charles L. was associated with his father and uncle in the farming enterprise.
Mary Elizabeth Cooper died at 8 years of age.
Eliza Jane (Lizzie) married Mr. Palmatier. They had one daughter. She lived in Colorado for a time.
Henry Harrison Cooper lived in Colorado. He had four daughters and one son.
Nellie and
Edwin were twins. Edwin died at age 21. Nellie married Mr. Rice who lived only a few years. She then married George Barnard Sr., a widower. They lived in Griggs County and farmed on Section 28 in Washburn Township until the big freeze in 1888 caused them to quit farming.
Rollin C. Cooper was married to Miss Emma Hutchins. They had two children who died in infancy and they adopted a daughter, Florence, who passed away at the age of twenty-seven.
George Baker Cooper died at three months.
Arabella Jenny Cooper died at 17 years.
In September of 1974 a great-great-granddaughter of James Burnett Cooper wrote a letter from Florida. In her letter she states a distant cousin, Robert L. Cooper, who is a grandson of Henry Cooper, has two young sons, who are the last of Thomas and Caroline Cooper's descendants to bear the name of Cooper.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 62