Edward Cooper, vice-president of the Hempstead Bank and the leading merchant of this village, was born in Babylon, December 1, 1839. He is the son of Samuel and Maria (Cornwell) Cooper, the former of whom a tanner by trade, died in 1841; the latter, who was a native of Hempstead, departed this life when over sixty years of age. In the parental family there were five children, those besides Edward being Michael and Samuel, who took part in the Civil War and are now deceased; Elbert, deceased, formerly for several years a partner in the mercantile business with our subject, and Mary, wife of Samuel Mott, of Jamaica.

Educated in the schools of Babylon and Hempstead, Mr. Cooper, at the age of sixteen, entered the store of S. C. & I. Snediker, with whom he remained for three years. Later he became a clerk for L. D. Rushmore & Son and after three years he and his brother, Elbert, bought the business. This was in 1861, and his brother remained in partnership with him until his death, when his interest was purchased by Henry Powell, and the present firm of Cooper & Powell was formed. When Mr. Cooper first secured a clerkship, his wages were only $40 a year, but he was economical and saved his earnings until he had $400. Though this amount was small, yet from it, as a nucleus, he has built up the largest general mercantile business in Hempstead.

Aside from his mercantile business, Mr. Cooper has had other important interests. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Hempstead and has been its vice-president from the start. During the Civil War he was a member of the Eighty-ninth New York Regiment of militia and was an orderly sergeant, but saw no active service. In politics a Republican, his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has voted for every Republican candidate since that time. For six years he has held the office of treasurer of the village. For three years he was vice-president and for three years president of the Queens County Agricultural Society, serving longer than any other official of that organization. The society was nearly bankrupt when he became its head and its treasury was empty, but at the expiration of his term of office, it was in good financial condition with all bills paid and $17,000 in the treasury. Into this work he put the same energy that has made his private business a success. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has held nearly all of the local offices. At the present time he is chief of the Hempstead fire department.

The first wife of Mr. Cooper was Lydia Thomas, of Hempstead, who died, leaving a daughter, Ida L. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Addie H. Hendrickson, of Hempstead, and one child, Ethel May, blesses their union. He owns and occupies a pleasant residence in Washington Street. For several years he was a trustee in the Presbyterian Church. He is numbered among the progressive men who have contributed to the growth and prosperity of Hempstead.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York"
(Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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