Biography

01/16/1835 - 12/19/1909

COOPER, Thomas Valentine, a Representative from Delaware County; born, January 16, 1835 in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio; first lieutenant, Company C, 26th and 4th Regiments, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (1861-1864, Civil War); editor, Delaware County American (1855-1909); elected, delegate, Republican Convention (1860); appointed, director of government printing, Soldier’s Journal (1865); elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1870 and 1872 terms; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (1871); not a candidate for reelection to the House (1873); elected, Pennsylvania State Senate (1874-December 1, 1890); elected, Senate President pro tempore (1877); presidential appointee, collector, Port of Philadelphia (1890-1894); director, Baltimore Central Railroad and Chester Creek Railroad (1889-1909); reelected to the House to serve the 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, and 1909 terms; elected, Majority Leader (1901-1902, 1905-1906); died while in office, December 19, 1909 in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; interred, Media Cemetery, Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.