George F. Cooper was born on July 9, 1852, near Lansing, Michigan, the second son of Frank and Catherine Cooper. Frank Cooper, whose parents were English immigrants, was a printer by trade. He worked for the “Old Oaken Bucket” in Racine, Wisconsin, and for the Wisconsin State Printing Department. In 1857 he settled in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and in 1888 became the active proprietor of the Black River Falls Banner.
George F. Cooper attended grade and high school at Black River Falls, although he never graduated. For three years he served as an apprentice under his father, finally joining him in partnership in March 1874. In 1888, after his father retired, he took over complete control of the Banner. In the meantime, he had married Mary L. Bowman of Black River Falls; they had no children. Mr. Cooper continued to operate the Banner for almost fifty years until March 4, 1926, when failing health forced him to sell the paper to Merlin Hull, who combined it with the Jackson County Journal to form the Banner-Journal.
Mr. Cooper was one of the pioneer Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin, and the Banner was an influential and vocal organ in La Follette's movement for better government in the state. Mr. Cooper served as treasurer of the Northern Wisconsin Press Association, 1902-1907; as president of the Wisconsin Press Association, 1908-1910; and as secretary of the Black River Falls Relief Committee after the flood of 1913. He died in 1933 following a long illness.
