William Cooper, Jr. a pioneer was born in Lincolnshire, England and married Mary Jackson. She died in 1839, and he married Ann Bennett of Surrey, Kingston, England. In 1853 the couple crossed the briny deep to America, and lived three years in Kane County, Illinois. Then they lived a while in Fillmore county, this state, and in 1858 came to Bennington township, where William Cooper pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 24. Later he acquired the northeast quarter, thus making 320 acres. On this tract he followed general farming and he and his good wife underwent all the trials and privations of pioneer days.

He died in November, 1887, and his wife in March, 1888.