The Cooley Family

Samuel Cooley’s signature was found in old church records.

Samuel, who was born in Baldwin Township, was also a farmer. He and his wife, owned 130 acres in the Castle Shannon area. Nancy was the widow of Samuel Kennedy (the brother of David Kennedy). Samuel and Nancy Cooley were members of the Seceders’ Church and had two children-Eleanor, who married William Crouch and Sam B., who in 1862 married Jane Hultz-the daughter of Preston and Jane Hultz (and niece of Richard Hultz). Francis’ headstone is buried in one of the cemetery’s large trees.

Francis Cooley (1769-1842) came to what is now Baldwin Township from New York in 1805, two years before his son Samuel (1807-1897), see below, was born. Francis’ father, William, was a native of England who had settled in New York and reportedly fought in the Revolutionary War as an aide-de-camp under General Anthony (“Mad Anthony”) Wayne.

Francis was born in New York and trained to be a silversmith. He married Eleanor Vandervort (1769-1853), also of New York, and they had eight children. Francis was a prosperous farmer and helped haul the timber for MLEP Church’s first house of worship-a log church located in what is now the lower part of the cemetery. Francis was a Democrat who for many years operated a stillhouse. Both Francis and Eleanor died at their son Samuel’s home in Castle Shannon.

Samuel, who was born in Baldwin Township, was also a farmer. He and his wife, Nancy Beltzhoover Kennedy (1804-1883)-daughter of Elizabeth Bell and Henry Beltzhoover-owned 130 acres in the Castle Shannon area. Samuel and Nancy were members of the Seceders’ Church and had three children-Eleanor, who married William Crouch and Sam B., who in 1862 married Jane Hultz-the daughter of Preston and Jane Hultz (and niece of Richard Hultz).

Church records say Francis’ headstone is buried under one of the cemetery’s large trees.