Cooper, James Wesley, 1842-1916.

James Wesley Cooper: pastor of the Congregational Church, Rockport, Massachusetts, 1868-1871; pastor of the Congregational Church, Lockport, N.Y., 1871-1878; pastor of South Congregational Church, New Britain, Ct., 1878-1903; senior corresponding secretary of the American Missionary Association, 1903-1907; fellow of Yale University, 1886-1916.

From the description of James Wesley Cooper papers, 1787-1925 (inclusive), 1787-1916 (bulk). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702206462

James Wesley Cooper: pastor of the Congregational Church, Rockport, Massachusetts, 1868-1871; pastor of the Congregational Church, Lockport, N.Y., 1871-1878; pastor of South Congregational Church, New Britain, Ct., 1878-1903; senior corresponding secretary of the American Missionary Association, 1903-1907; fellow of Yale University, 1886-1916.

James Wesley Cooper, B.A. 1865

Born October 6, 1842, in New Haven, Conn.

Died March 16, 1916, in New York City

James Wesley Cooper was the son of James Ford Cooper, a carriage manufacturer, and Cornelia (Walkley) Cooper, and was born October 6, 1842, in New Haven, Conn., where he was prepared for college at the Hopkins Grammar School. His father was the son of Timothy and Sarah (Ford) Cooper and a descendant of Timothy Ford, who came to this country from England in 1639. Through his mother, who was the daughter of Joel and Sybil (Austin) Walkley, he was descended from Richard Walkley. At Yale, he was a member of Linonia and the Beethoven Society, and received a Dispute appointment in Junior year, in the latter part of which he withdrew to accept a commission as assistant adjutant general of Connecticut with the rank of captain. On petition of his classmates, the degree of B.A., with enrollment in the Class of 1865, was voted to him by the Yale Corporation in 1879, because of the fact that he had seen service in the Civil War.

In 1868, Mr. Cooper was graduated from Andover Theological Seminary, and, following his ordination to the Congregational ministry in September of that year, he served for three years as pastor of the Congregational Church at Rockport, Mass. He held the pastorate of the Lockport (N. Y.) Congregational Church from 1871 to 1878, and in the latter year accepted a call to the South Congregational Church of New Britain, Conn. He held that charge for the next twenty-five, years, and during his pastorate the church membership increased until it became one of the largest in the state. In 1903, he resigned to become senior corresponding secretary of the American Missionary Association, with headquarters in New York City. For the next seven years, while directing the home mission work of the Congregational Church in America, he traveled extensively in the interests of the association. He was made one of its vice presidents upon his retirement in 1910, and held that office until two years ago. For the past six years, he had made his home at Hartford, Conn., and had given most of his time to writing on theological subjects, although he continued to preach occasionally.

From 1884 until 1914, Dr. Cooper was a corporate member of the American Board of commissioners for Foreign Missions, and in 1891 he was sent as a delegate to the International Council of Congregational Churches at London. From 1878 to 1888, he acted as chaplain of the First Regiment, Connecticut National Guard. He was a member of the Governor's Staff Association. Dr. Cooper had served as a Fellow of Yale University since 1885, being also a member of the Prudential Committee. He was a trustee of Hampton Institute, Piedmont College, Atlanta Theological Seminary, Fisk University, Talladega College, Tougaloo University, Straight University, and Tillotson College. In 1886, Olivet College conferred the honorary degree of D.D. upon him.

Dr. Cooper's death occurred very suddenly, from heart trouble, March 16, 1916, in New York City, where he was staying for a few days. His body was taken to New Britain for burial in Fairview Cemetery.

He was married August 13, 1868, in Manchester, Conn., to Ellen M., daughter of Elisha Edgerton and Charlotte Day (Spencer) Hilliard, who survives him. He leaves also his two sons: Elisha Hilliard (B.A. 1892) and James Earnest, who received the degree of B.A. at Yale in 1895 and that of LL.B. at Harvard three years later.

From Obituary Record of Yale Graduates, 1915-1916, pp. 61-62

From the guide to the James Wesley Cooper papers, 1787-1925, 1787-1916, (Manuscripts and Archives)