ROBERT S. COOLEY was born September 16, 1843, in Hanover township, Beaver county, Penn. He was a son of Joseph J. whose father, Robert, was born near Pittsburgh, Penn. Robert Cooley was married to Jane Smith, who was born near Saw Mill run, in Allegheny county. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked near Pittsburgh for some time, then moved to Hanover township, Beaver county, locating about two and a half miles east of Frankfort. He worked at his trade there, and afterward turned his attention to farming, following that pursuit the remainder of his active life. His death occurred about 1868, having been preceded by his wife in 1863, and both are now buried in Hopewell cemetery, Allegheny county. They were the parents of the following children: Joseph, Jane, Mary Ann, Robert, Francis, Nancy, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, Ellen and William (who died in infancy). The children of this family now living are: Francis, residing near Abilene, Kans.; Elizabeth, a maiden lady of Beaver county; and Margaret (Mrs. McCallister Dunlap), of Beaver county. Joseph Cooley, son of Robert and Jane Cooley was born in 1816 in Allegheny county, where he attended the rate schools. He then served a four years' apprenticeship as a carpenter, and worked at his trade in various places. In 1838 he was married to Matilda Anderson, who was born in 1818, and their children were born as follows: Mary Ann (Mrs. Samuel Kiefer, of Beaver county, Penn.), Elizabeth J. (wife of John Cool, of Allegheny county), Robert S. (whose sketch follows), Letitia E. (Mrs. Thomas), Joseph (a farmer of Beaver county), Matilda (wife of John Donnell, of Allegheny county) and Nancy (who died in infancy). After his marriage Joseph Cooley located on the farm of his father, in Beaver county, and resided there the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Republican, taking an active interest in the success of his party, and in religion was formerly a member of the Presbyterian Church at Hopewell in Allegheny county, afterward uniting with the Frankfort Presbyterian Church. He died in 1881. Robert S. Cooley was born September 13, 1843 in Beaver county, passing his youth on the farm and being educated in the common schools. On October 28, 1874, he was married to Jennie L. Gilleland, who was born in 1849, daughter of William Gilleland, of Beaver county. Robert S. and Jennie L. (Gilleland) Cooley have had six children, viz.: Mary E., William R., Harry A., Estella, a son deceased in infancy, and Robert C. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley began wedded life on the farm in Hanover township, Washington county, where they yet reside. He has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is numbered among the well-to-do and successful farmers of the community. He is ever ready to assist in any beneficial enterprise, and was among the first to aid in the establishment of a creamery, which was opened near his home some time since. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion he and his wife are members of the Frankfort Presbyterian Church, in which he is a member of the Session.

Text taken from page 721 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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