Cooper - Samuel Champion Cooper (1840-1904)

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Cooper - Samuel Champion Cooper (1840-1904)

Samuel Champion Cooper was born on April 6, 1840 to Joseph Wills and Rebecca Field (Champion) Cooper at Cooper's Point in Camden, New Jersey. The family descended from William Cooper (1632-1710). In 1681, William Cooper and his family settled on 300 acres in a wooded area near the mouth of the present Coopers Creek. Cooper named his estate Pyne Point and later established one of the earliest ferries to Philadelphia.

William Cooper, John Kaighn, and Archibald Mickle, some of the early settlers made significant improvements to their homes and properties and through their descendants, retained ownership of their lands for centuries. The lands owned by these three families eventually became the largest piece of the City of Camden.

Samuel Champion Cooper graduated from Haverford College in 1857. In 1859, he entered the law office of Richard W. Howell, remained with him until his death, and then entered the office of the Honorable Thomas H. Dudley, When Mr. Dudley was appointed consul to Liverpool he entered the office of Judge Woodhull. He was admitted at the February term of court, 1863.

On June 15, 1865 Samuel married Emma Jane (Widener) Kite, daughter of John and Susan (Fulmer) Widener. Emma's brother, Peter Arrell Brown Widener was a founder of the Continental Street Railway Company in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Traction Company, which built the electric trolley system in that city. P.A.B. Widener used the great wealth accumulated from these businesses to become a founding organizer of U.S. Steel and the American Tobacco Company as well as having substantial holdings in Standard Oil. He is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans of his time, having left an enormous fortune.