The Cooper Family Legacy
3rd in The Family Legacy Series
The Family Legacy Begins
with Duvall/DeValt Cooper. Devalt is spelled many different ways on the various records.
He was born in 1759. Where was he born? Records, domestic & international do not verify exactly where he was born. Some source indicated Germany. We will revisit this later.
Devalt married Margaret McDermid (born 1761) and to the union were born six traceable children: Isaac, Nicholas, Samuel, Francis (Fanny), Alfred & James.
On the 1790 Kentucky Census Record, Devalt and family are residing in Fayette County, Kentucky. By the 1800 Census, the family has relocated to Mason County, Kentucky (which is now Fleming County)
According to the Last Will & Testament of DeValt, he owned 468 acres on Philips Creek in Mason County at the time of his death. he passed on December 30th, 1819. Margaret lived on until 1842.
Our narrative continues with son Alfred Cooper who was born in Kentucky on May 22, 1803. Alfred wed Nancy (Dixon) Dickson on August 27, 1825. Nancy, the daughter of John & Rachel (Rogers) Dickson was born on April 14, 1804 also in Kentucky.
The 1840s and 1850s find them still residing in Mason County, Kentucky. Alfred is a farmer by trade. According to records of the day, the value of his estate in 1850 was $7,000, very respectable for that time. The couple have ten traceable children: John James, Edwin, James Addison, Theodore, Thomas, F.J (Annie), Francis, Orlander, Rachel & David Alexander.
By 1860, changes are coming to the couple, Nancy is 56 years old and Alfred is 57. Their children are going out on their own, there are only five children residing with them. Son, Edwin is farming on the next farm. Sadly, by the 1870s, Nancy has passed away. Alfred is 67 and still farming his own land. Daughter, Rachel (26) is residing with him and "keeping house" while son, David (23) lives at home and is working the farm with his father.
In 1877, Alfred the father of nine living children and one deceased made out his Last Will and Testament. he left two of his sons as executors, Thomas L. and David A.
In 1878, Alfred passes from this life. Nancy and Alfred are both interred at the Cooper Family Cemetery in Mason County, Kentucky.
According to "Mrs. Wells", a granddaughter of Alfred, her grandfather had a prayer book written in German and his father was from Germany. This seems to support of the above mentioned belief that DeValt Cooper was born in Germany.
For our Family line, we will be following son, James Addison Cooper, born 1831 at "Cooper's Farm, Mason County, Kentucky"