By: Henry C. Levens & Nathaniel M. Drake, Pub. 1876, Reprinted 2017, 250 pages, New Index, ISBN #0-89308-895-1.

Cooper County was created in 1819 from Indians lands. It sits in the heart or central portion of the state. It is the parent / grandparent county in whole or part to: Bates, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cole, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Pettis, Saline, & St. Clair. This book is not too different from other county history books of this era. With such topics as trade and transportation, labor, farming, politics, and race relations - all important in the development of the county - are carefully discussed. This type of county history book can help one develop ideas or paths to those missing ancestors by showing the customs and traditions of the local residents. The NEW FULL NAME INDEX that was produced for this volume mentions approximately 2,500 individuals.