William Cooper, retired farmer, now living in Spring Valley, is one of the pioneers of the county, having come here as a boy of seventeen. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, November 5, 1841, son of William and Mary (Jackson) Cooper, and was brought to America by his father and step-mother in 1853, living with them in Illinois, and in Fillmore County, this state, before coming to Bennington Township in 1858. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and remained at home until his father’s death. Then the farm was divided between him and his brother Robert; William taking the northwest corner of section 24.

To this he added until he now has 400 acres in section 24 and the northwest quarter of section 23, a total of 560 acres. Here for many years he conducted general farming, making a specialty of Durham grade cattle.

At the time of his father’s death, William rented out his part of the farm, but continued to live on the place until 1906, when he moved to Spring Valley and purchased his present home. Mr. Cooper is an independent voter and has served on the school board for several years. He is a man of sterling character, greatly respected by his neighbors. The subject of this sketch was married January 20, 1906, to Sophia Guy, daughter of Henry Guy, an early settler of Bennington.