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Louis P. Coopers :  Prominent in the business circles in San Jose, Louis P. Coopers is also a native son, having been born in this city on November 23, 1866. He is one of eight children, five of them still living, that were born to Edmond and Mary (Brady) Coopers, numbered among the earliest settlers of San Jose. The father was a native of Belgium, born in 1834, and while living in his native country was sent to the schools of his town and afterwards was in the employ of the customs service until he decided to strike out for America with some friends, who declared their intention of going to California.

Leaving home at the age of seventeen, Mr. Coopers spent six months in making the trip to San Francisco, having come around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel and arriving at his destiny tion during the year 1851. He immediately went to the mines on the Yuba and Feather rivers and was fortunate in making good money, averaging about $35 per day. At that time everything was high in price a meal of ham and eggs costing $1.50 so his money came easily and went the same way. In 1854 the young emigrant came to San Jose in his wanderings over this part of the state, then he went south to Los Angeles and San Bernardino, investigating the opportunities before locating. He was so well satisfied with San Jose that he returned here in 1855, and thereafter this was his home and the scene of his activities until his death.

Mr. Coopers engaged in the butcher business on Market Street on the present site of the post office, working for Peter Reeve for a time, then he began driving a butcher wagon for himself, after which decided he would try ranching and bought forty acres to The Willows, on Willow Street, what is now known as the Keesling Place. This was covered with willow trees and these he grubbed out and began setting cut one of the first orchards is this section. As an experiment he set out various kinds of fruit and vin s and found the soil adapted to their rapid growth. He spent about five years on the ranch and decided he was not cut out for a farmer and sold his property and moved back into town and embarked in business with M. Blanchard, who had a butcher shop on Market and Post streets. This partnership continued until 1881, when Mr. Coopers sold out and opened a place of his own. The Coopers' Meat Market was located on First Street, between San Antonio and San Fernando streets, for thirty years and Mr. Coopers had the satisfaction of assisting in the growth of the city and as a consequence he profited by it as he built up a good trade.

It was.in 1864 that Mr. Coopers was united in marriage in San Jose, with Miss Mary Brady. She was born in Ireland and had come to America and lived in Boston for a time, then came to California, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, in company with an older sister and they settled in San Jose. It was in this city that their eight children were born and educated and here both parents passed to their last resting place surrounded by a host of friends who knew them for their true worth as citizens. Mr. Coopers died in 1901 and his wife in 1913, aged seventy four.

Louis P. Coopers attended the public schools in San Jose and at the age of fourteen went into the shop to work for his father and from the bottom of the ladder he gradually climbed until in 1900, on account of his father's illness, he took over the butcher business and carried it on alone until 1913, when it was incorporated and his brother, Joseph B. was taken into partnership, becoming secretary of the new concern, while Louis P. is the president and manager. As their business increased they added to their number of employees until they now have six. The Coopers' Market at 85 South Second Street, where they moved in 1908, is one of the most sanitary as well as busiest shops in the city and they handle only the very best of meats and prompt and courteous treatment is accorded all patrons.

The marriage of Louis P. Coopers and Miss Laura M. Dewart was celebrated in Gilroy in 1900, the bride being a native of that city, whither her parents had settled upon coming to California. Of their union two daughters have been born, Marie Louise and Agnes Lorraine. Mr. and Mrs. Coopers are popular in their social circle in San Jose and have many friends. Mr. Coopers is a member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce; the Commercial Club and the Merchants Association and fraternally he belongs to the Y. M. L, where he is one of the charter members. He is public spirited and gives his support to all worthy movements for the advancement of the social and commercial interests of city and county. The family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Source : Sawyer, Eugene T. ; History of Santa Clara County, California ; Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1922, 1776 pgs.