Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 493-494; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Rev. Marcellus T. Cooper. Looking upon the present
prosperity of Fulton County and Pleasant Township, it is almost
impossible to realize that only a few years ago the country around here
was little more than a wilderness with a heavy growth of timber and
thick shrubs. Strange what energy and perseverance can accomplish, and
how man in a brief space of time can transform a spot where Nature runs
riot into a most habitable and attractive business center. Among the
early settlers of this place, and of those who underwent all the
privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, were Levin and
Eleanor Cooper, natives of Maryland and Delaware respectively. They
reached Fulton County and for a time settled in the vicinity of
Vermont, but afterward came to Pleasant Township, settling on section
21. Everything was in a crude state, and their dwelling place was a
small log cabin but they worked faithfully and constantly to improve
the land and bring about a happier state of affairs. The father was an
exceedingly kind hearted man besides possessing much ability and was
enabled thus to be of much benefit to the community. His popularity was
great and at different times he held public offices, being for a number
of years Justice of the Peace, and afterward Constable. His political
sympathies were at one time with the Whigs, but he later became a
member of the Republican party. Mr. Cooper died on the 28th of July,
1863, his death being caused by a runaway horse. His widow still
resides at the old homestead, though in her eightieth year. To them
were born twelve children, of whom the following are living: Mary E.,
wife of J. Rutledge, of Keokuk, Iowa; Margaret, now Mrs. William
Robinson, of Smithfield, Ill.; Irena F., wife of N. R. Knowles, of
Pleasant Township; William H., who makes his home in Iowa; Serepta,
wife of J. W. Weese, of Lewistown Township; Theresa, who lives in
Pleasant Township; Marcellus T., the subject of our sketch; Christopher
T., of Havana, Ill.; K. Perry, and Philetus H., both of Pleasant
Township.
Marcellus Cooper was born in Fulton County on the 10th of June,
1846, and here grew to manhood, receiving only a common school
education. He enlisted in the Civil War on the 24th of March, 1864, in
Company H, Twenty-eight Illinois Infantry, and became a part of the
Army of the Gulf under Gen. Canby. He was in the siege of Spanish Fort,
and spent most of the time in garrison duty, spending nine months in
Texas and nine months in Mississippi. He was honorably discharged at
Brownsville, in the "Lone Star" State, on March 17, 1866, and returned
to Illinois.
Mr. Cooper was married October 28, 1869, to Miss Artha
Littleton, a native of Fulton County, and daughter of W. A. and A. J.
Littleton. Her birth occurred May 24, 1852, and she was the eldest of
the five children born to her parents. Those living at the present date
are: Mrs. Cooper; Susanna, who lives in Colorado, and Ella, wife of
Samuel Bassford, of Colorado.
To our subject and his wife has been born one son, William T.,
whose birth occurred September 12, 1870. Mr. Cooper owns one hundred
and twenty acres of fine farming land. For the past thirteen years he
has been engaged in ministerial work, and at the present writing is
pastor of the Christian Church at New Howard, this State. In politics
he is in sympathy with the Republican party, and as an intelligent and
kindly Christian man has won many warm friends.
