Cooperw

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     WILLIAM Z. COOPER, who resides one mile south from Pateros, is engaged in the culture of fruit. He is one of the most skillful and extensive orchardists in Okanogan county. His place is known as the Boulder Park Orchard and consists of one hundred and sixty acres, a large portion of which is grazing land. The balance is very profitable for orchard productions and consists of fifteen acres. He has eight acres set out to peaches which produce from four to five thousand boxes annually. In addition to this, he has a very fine apple and pear orchard, just coming into bearing, which produces about four hundred boxes annually and will soon produce much more. He also has a fine prune and berry orchard and, as stated, a good large vineyard, which produced last year a shipment of over one hundred and fifty boxes of first-class grapes. All these extensive bearing trees indicate the thrift and skill possessed by Mr. Cooper and he not only has made a fine success of his work here but has stimulated others to commendable efforts in these lines.
     William Z. Coper was born in Scotland county, Missouri, March 8, 1860, the son of Joseph D. and Sarah (Worth) Cooper, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Worth county, his native state and received a good common school education. Eighteen hundred and eighty-nine was the year in which Mr. Cooper came to Washington. He first settled in Waterville, Douglas county, where he engaged in the restaurant business. This continued until 1897, when he located his present place, which is just opposite the Methow rapids. Since that time he has devoted himself as stated above and has manifested a commendable ability in his efforts.
     Politically, Mr. Cooper has always been a good, stanch Democrat. He has been school director for five years and is a member of the A. F. & A. M., also the W. 0. W.
     At Waterville, Mr. Cooper married Miss Martha M., daughter of William and Nancy (Todd) Burgess, natives of Missouri, and now engaged in farming in the Big Bend country. To this union three children have been born, Frank H., Jesse L. and Edith E. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Cooper owns some fine mining property in the northwestern part of the county. The most valuable claims are the Sunday Morn and the Sunday Eve, which have about fifteen hundred dollars worth of development work done upon them. They show very fine values and it is expected that in due time they will become shipping mines.