Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024

Private Hiram Herman Matt Cooley was born Jan. 27, 1828 in Franklin County, Vermont. His parents were Luke Cooley (1782-1829) and Olive Knight Cooley (1799-1858).

Colonist-settler Herman, as he was called, was a farmer, as his father, in Georgia, Franklin, Vermont. In fact, Herman’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, Ensign Benjamin Cooley was the first Cooley who was born in 1615 in England, and died in Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.

Private Hiram Herman Matt Cooley’s grandparents were Solomon Cooley (1753-1833) and Lucy C. Stephenson Cooley (1760-1849); and Private John Knight Jr. (1754-1833) and Abigail Gabby Nabby Towne Knight (1755-1833). His great-grandparents were Eliakim Cooley III (1707-1793) and Mary Ashley Cooley (1718-1795); Joseph Stephenson, Sr. (1729-1777) and Margaret Peggy Webb Stephenson (1735-1769); John Knight, Sr. (1727-1772) and Eleanor Wood Knight (1729-1763); and Sgt. Edward Towne (1724-1779) and Abigail Brewer Towne (1721-1780). Sgt. Edward Towne was in the U.S. Revolutionary War.

Herman’s great-great-great-great-grandparents were Ensign Benjamin Cooley (1615-1684) and Sarah Savage Colton Cooley (1620-1664). They were born in England, but arrived at Springfield, Massachusetts Colony, British Colonial America in 1643.

Herman’s fifth grandparents, in a note on March 27, 1676: ”Presented by the Grand jury to the Courte at Northampton. …some for wearing of silk in a flaunting manner & attire, some for Long haire & other extravagancies, Contrary to honest Labor & Order & Demeanor not Becoming a Wilderness State at Least the Profession of Christianity & Religion.” Sarah Savage Colton Cooley was among those presented to the grand jury. This occurred at a time when the town was being attacked by Indians and it suggests that in their haste to save their best attire from the flames on that day, these ladies donned their silk clothing, and expensive jewelry. “Sumptuary laws restraining excess of apparel in some classes were common in England for centuries.

Massachusetts enacted such a law in 1651, ordering that persons whose estates did not exceed L200 should not wear gold or silver lace, gold or silver buttons, bone lace above 2s. per yard, or silk hoods or scarves. Any persons wearing such articles might be assessed a tax on their property as if they had estates of L200. In other words, a person could not successfully plead for abatement of taxes if their attire indicated a position of affluence.

In the autumn of 1635 William Pynchon with two scouts sailed North on the Quinecticot River (now the Connecticut). They found a district “Fitly” suited for a beaver trade; for the beaver skin furs were a most prized and profitable trade for the colonies for many years to come. The European women of the higher classes loved and admired the beaver hats and other accessories made from this little creature. On May 14, 1636 there gathered eight men to organize this place that would be called Long Meadows, and did declare there; a “Body-Politic” fifteen bylaws were adopted that day to govern the chosen land. Rich land to grow crops, graze their cattle, and raise their families in the “Agawam meadows”. Following the preamble was an affirmation of their intent “to establish a Church” and to “acquire only those families into the town, be they rich or poor that would contribute skill and talent to the community.” And of course, to trade beaver hides. William Pynchon and the eight men had negotiated with a small tribe of Indians to share this land with them and had given them four fathom of wampum (small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into string or belts), four coats, four hatchets, four hoes, and four knives for the “Masackic” what the English call the “Long Meadow” below Springfield on the East side of the Quinecticot River.

My guess is that the Indians did not give the land, but did take the wampum.

In 1643, Sarah had given birth to their first child Bethia Cooley, and Benjamin had been chosen as the tailor for this new community they referred to as Long Meadows, there is ample evidence that Benjamin was a skilled worker in both flax and wool, supplying the weaving of cloth and tailoring needs for a growing community.

On Aug. 17, 1684, Benjamin died at the age of sixty-seven. Six days later Sarah died. During his forty years in Springfield, Benjamin acquired a competence far beyond the average, while yet retaining the goodwill of his fellows. At his arrival he acquired forty acres of mediocre land. At his death he owned 524 acres of the choicest. He had houses and barns to meet his own needs and those of his eldest sons. Of livestock, gear and equipment and the merchandise of his trade he had a sufficiency. The debts he owed, amounting to £9-16s-6d were more than offset by the £15-15s-2d due to him. The inventory of his estate totaled over 1241 pounds sterling, having a present value of perhaps $60,000.

Benjamin and his wife were interred in the ancient burying place by the riverside in Springfield, west of the church that he had helped to build. There Benjamin and Sarah rested until the railroad arrived. In 1849, to make room for the tracks, the remains of 2404 bodies and 517 markers were removed to the Springfield Cemetery on the hill that had been opened in 1841. The Cooley Monument was erected after the ancient burial grounds were relocated to Springfield Cemetery, according to Find a Grave.

So, after two hundred years in America, Hiram Herman Cooley, who was probably pretty rich, headed west, and arrived in Minnesota. He married Betsey L. Boyd (1831-1882), and in 1860 they were living in Eagle Creek, where he was a carpenter, joiner, and a farmer. Betsey met Herman in Vermont, where Betsey’s parents, James Boyd (1794-1871) and Martha Rice Boyd (1784-1854) lived.

Private Cooley joined the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment on Oct. 3, 1864 in St. Paul according to Gale Family Library’s “Civil War Military Units from Minnesota: 1st Minnesota Regiment of Heavy Artillery.” The 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment mustered in at St. Paul, and Rochester, Minnesota, between November 1864 and February 1865. Many of the officers were recruited from discharged veterans: sergeants from the 1st Minnesota while corporals came from the 3rd, 4th, 5th Minnesota Vol. Regiments. The 1st Minnesota Heavy was composed of twelve companies/batteries, of 140 men plus officers in each. It was the largest unit Minnesota sent to war numbering 1700 men. The regiment was assigned to garrison duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee. There it oversaw the heavy guns at forts defending the city. The regiment saw no combat, remained there until the close of the war. The 1st Minnesota “Heavies” were mustered out of service on Sept. 27, 1865.

Betsey and Herman had three children in Eagle Creek: Alson Elision (1864-1911), Oscar Sherman (1866-1938), and Jennie Cooley (1870-1933).

Betsey died Sept. 7, 1882 in Eagle Creek, and was buried at Valley Cemetery.

On Oct. 15, 1887, Hiram married for the second time to Carrie J. Byers. According to the Saint Paul Globe, Sunday, Oct. 16, 1887, a marriage license was issued to Herman M. Cooley and Carry J. Byers. Herman was 56, and Carrie was 50 years old.

But the marriage did not last. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Saturday March 31, 1888, a court briefs included a divorce suit: “A divorce suit was commenced yesterday by Carrie J. Cooley against Herman M. Cooley. They were married last fall and are 50 and 56 years of age respectively. Mrs. Cooley alleges a course of cruel and inhumane treatment extending from a few weeks after their marriage. Her husband frequently threatened and abused her, calling her vile names and trying to force her to work out to assist in supporting the household. He is worth $20,000, but according to Mrs. Cooley exceedingly penurious and stingy.”

Hiram died Dec. 12, 1928, and was buried at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.