Coopersville Observer, November 23, 1900

Henry C. Cooley was born in Knox County, Ohio, June 30, 1834. In June, 1847, at the age of thirteen years, he moved with his mother to Tallmadge, Ottawa County, Michigan, where he resided until 1865. September 23, 1860, he was married to Amanda Blood, of Walker Township, Kent County, Michigan, who survives him.

Upon the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted August 11, 1862, in the Twenty-First Michigan Infantry. He was in the engagement of Perryville and also in the Battle of Stone River, "one of the most severe of the war," which closely followed, where he was severely wounded in the arm. He returned home on a furlough and on April 24, 1864, received an honorable discharge from the United States service for total disability of the left arm.

In the year 1865, he purchased a farm and moved to Allendale, where he has resided almost continuously up to the time of his death.

As a business man, Mr. Cooley was cautious, shrewd, economical, honest and successful, as his beautiful home and broad acres will readily attest, and while careful in business matters, his integrity was never questioned.

As a citizen, while quiet and unassuming in manner, he took a lively interest in all that pertained to the interests of the community in which he lived, and many times held positions of trust and responsibility.

Politically for many years he was a staunch adherent of the Republican Party, but in later years, owing to his strong opposition to the liquor traffic, he has acted with the Prohibition Party.

While not a member, Mr. Cooley took an active interest in church affairs. He gave the site where the Wesleyan Methodist Church now stands, gave substantial aid to the erection of the Congregational Church in Allendale, and has long been one of its officers and most liberal supporters. Never having identified himself with any church and while not being recognized by his acquaintances as a man of God, it is said of him that recently when asked if he was a Christian, he replied in the affirmative.

Mr. Cooley was a man of character, nervous temperament, strong will, decided prejudices, yet gentle, sociable and of sterling qualities of manhood and virtue.

His illness of typhoid fever was of short duration, and on the 12^th day of November, 1900, at the age of 66 years, 4 months and 12 days, death claimed him. The funeral service was conducted at the residence and at the Congregational Church by Rev. Howland. The remains were borne to their last resting place in Allendale Cemetery by comrades of the G. A. R., of which organization he was a member, followed by many sorrowing friends.