Cooper, Joseph Calvin

Cooper, Joseph Calvin a Congregational minister, was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts, May 10, 1820. In early life he rejected the Bible. At the age of seventeen he became a sailor, and led a seafaring life about eight years. After he had settled at Denmark, Iowa, he was converted. In 1848 he was engaged as a colporteur of the American Tract Society, and became specially successful in combatting infidelity for two years in southern Iowa. After this he studied theology at home, and commenced preaching in the church at Denmark, while the pastor was absent on vacation. In October 1852, he was licensed by the Denmark Association, and was ordained May 1,1853. His roving sailor habits followed him through life, and he went from place to place, especially in southern Iowa, and was always acceptable as a preacher. He labored, in 1856, in Fairfield, and an addition of twenty-five was made to he Church; was settled for some years in Hillsboro', and also preached for a time at Salem, but the most of his ministerial career was spent as an evangelist. He died at Cincinnati, Iowa, August 23, 1872. See Cong. Quarterly, 1874, page 315.