"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884"
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR.  CHICAGO:  F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS.  1884.
F. A. BATTEY.  F. W. TEPPLE

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 833

JOHN J. COOPER, Justice of the Peace, is a native of Kentucky, born 
June 2, 1818. His parents John and Polly (Wilson) Cooper, lived in Wayne
County, Ky. The father died there in the year 1823. The mother came to
Owen County, Ind., with John in 1830; she died in 1878/ After eight
years residence in Owen County, the mother rented a farm in Monroe County
to which place our subject accompanied her, remaining one year. He then
returned to Owen County, and was married in October of the same year 
1839, to Elizabeth McDonald, daughter of William and Ruth McDonald, 
respected citizens of Owen County. After his marriage, Mr. Cooper farmed
in the summer and taught school in the winter for ten years. 
In 1850, he was elected County Auditor on the Whig ticket, and his first
term of service being satisfactory, he was re-elected in 1852 and has
faithfully filled the office during the second term. He then went into 
the general mechandise business in which he continued for many years.
He was appointed Justice of the Peace, and still holds that office.
In 1881, he was appointed agent of the Adams Express Company at Spencer
and has won the position which he is quite competent to fill.
During his life he has been quite a politician. He has held all the 
minor offices. He was Trustee for ten years; he has been County 
Commissioner, Supervisor and Constable. He has been an active member of
the Christian Church forty two years and is a member of the A.F & A.M.
and of the I.O.O.F. fraternities.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings