Thomas Valentine Cooper

Thomas Valentine Cooper (January 16, 1835 - December 19, 1909), also known as Thomas V. Cooper, was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County for the 1870 and 1872 terms. Cooper served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for district 5 from 1873 to 1874 and for district 9 from 1875 to 1889. He was reelected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1901 and served until his death in 1909.[2]

Thomas Valentine Cooper
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Delaware County
In office 1870–1871
Preceded by	Augustus B. Leedom[1]
Succeeded by	Tyron Lewis
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Delaware County
In office 1872–1873
Preceded by	Tyron Lewis
Succeeded by	Orson Flagg Bullard
Pennsylvania State Senate, 5th district
In office 1873–1874
Preceded by	William B. Waddell
Succeeded by	John Edgar Reyburn
Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district
In office 1875–1888
Preceded by	William M. Randall
Succeeded by	John Buchanan Robinson
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Delaware County
In office 1901–1909
Preceded by	Thomas Henry Garvin
Succeeded by	William D. Jones, Jr.
Personal details
Born	January 16, 1835 Cadiz, Ohio
Died	December 19, 1909 Media, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ada F. Cooper
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Union Army
Years of service	1861–1864
Rank	1st lieutenant
Commands	26th Pennsylvania Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Second Bull Run Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Cooper served as a private and an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, was a newspaper editor of the Delaware County American newspaper for 54 years and an author of books on political and civil war history.

Early life and education

Cooper was born in Cadiz, Ohio to Dr. J.W. and Henrietta (Fields) Cooper.[3]

From 1861 to 1864, Cooper served in the Union Army during the Civil War for three months as first lieutenant in the 4th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment and for three years as a private in Company C, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry.[4] He served in 13 engagements during the war including Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.[5]

Career

In 1855, Cooper founded the Media Advertiser newspaper. In 1856, the name was changed to the Media Advertiser and Delaware County American and again in 1859 to the Delaware County American.[3]

Cooper served as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and had a pivotal role in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln.[5]

In 1865, Cooper received an appointment from the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, as director of government printing. He became the publisher of the Soldier's Journal but turned down a permanent appointment as director of the Bureau of Military Printing.[6]

In 1869, Cooper was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County, was defeated in 1871 and reelected in 1872.

In 1873, Cooper was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate and was reelected continuously until 1889. In 1878, he was president of the Senate.

In 1889, Cooper was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as collector of the Port of Philadelphia.

In 1900, Cooper was elected again to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County and served until his death in 1909.[3]

Personal life

In 1858, Cooper married Ada F. Turner and together they had six children.[3]

Cooper was a member of the George W. Bartram Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons and of the Bradbury Post, Grand Army of the Republic.[3]

Cooper died in his home in a fire started by his own cigar[5] and is interred at Media Cemetery in Media, Pennsylvania.[7]

Bibliography

• American politics (non-partisan) From the Beginning to Date, Fireside Publishing Company, 1892
• Campaign of '84, Baird & Dillon, 1884
• Pennsylvania's Memorial Days, September 11 and 12, 1889: The 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Self-published, 1889

References

1. Wiley, Samuel T. (1894). Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Delaware County Pennsylvania. New York: Gresham Publishing Company. pp. 92-93. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
2. "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Thomas Valentine Cooper". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
3. Jordan, John W. (1914). A History of Delaware County Pennsylvania and Its People. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 683–685. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
4. Smull, John Augustus. Smull's Legislative Hand Book and Manual of the State of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Harrisburg Publishing Company. p. 926. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
5. "Senator Thomas Valentine Cooper". www.alanehunter.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
6. "Pennsylvania State Senate - Thomas Valentine Cooper". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
7. "Thomas Valentine Cooper". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.