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Name: COOPER, Henry Douglas
Nee: younger bro of Archibald Samuel Cooper and Philip Ward Cooper
Birth Date: 13 Oct 1875 Marlborough
Death Date: 3 July 1936 Camberley, Surrey, while on a visit
First Date: 1904
Last Date: 1936
Profession: Partnership with C.N.M. Harrison, E.G. Harrison, J.H. Gailey and A.S. Cooper he took up 3000 acres at Kabete (Kirawa Farm). Was a pioneer of coffee planting in Kenya obtaining seed from French Mission. Farmed until his death.
Area: Kabete, 1925 'Kirawa Farm', Nairobi, 1908 Kageera Estate at Limuru
Married: In CMS Mission Kabete 25 July 1914 Fanny Maud Paten of the Scott Sanatorium, physiotherapist, b. 31.7.1876 St Albans, d. 10.9.1955 Kabete
Children: Elizabeth Paten (Eaten) (12 Sep 1915 Kabete-2 Oct 2002 Ivybridge, Devon); James Paten (10 Dec 1916 Kabete-28 July 2013 Dartmouth, Devon)
Book Reference: Gillett, J.P. Cooper, SE, HBEA, Land 1903, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, North, Playne, Drumkey, Red 22, F. McCartney, EAHB 1906, AJ, Gazette, EAHB 1907, Barnes, Leader14, Red 19
General Information:
Playne - 'The Leader' - founded on the remains of the fallen 'Star', was the project of Mr Thomas Raynes, a prominent citizen of the Nairobi community, who acquired the whole of the essential stock and machinery of the defunct journal. The first intention of that gentleman was to send to England for a capable editor; but at the psychological moment he was informed of the arrival at Mombasa of Mr Alexander Davis, and experienced South African journalist and the editor-in-chief of the 'African Review' of London. A correspondence ensued, resulting in the engagement of Mr Davis as managing editor. Mr Davis brought out the first number of the 'Leader' on May 23, 1908, and the journal instantly enjoyed public favour. The enterprise was formed into a company, under the title of the Caxton Printing and Publishing Company Ltd., with Mr Thomas Raynes as managing director; Messrs Stephen Ellis, Dr. Hannigan, D. Cooper, and H. Howitt, directors; and Mr S.C. Fischat, secretary. Later Mr A. Raynes joined the firm as business manager.
Advertiser - 11/12/08 - Nakuru Agricultural Show - donations from - D.E. Cooper
Pioneers - The Coopers of Kirawa - Jim Cooper - My uncle Archie Cooper, went to BEA in 1896 as assistant accountant to the Uganda Railway. In 1904 he suggested to my father, Douglas Cooper, that he should take up land in partnership with himself, two Harrison cousins and J.H. Gailey. The immediate object was to grow potatoes for the South African market. Their capital was £500 and a lot of hope. ……. My father had spent his twenties in Chile. The land they took up at Kabete was 3000 acres, stretching from the railway line, where Wellcome Institute now is, to Matundu Estate and Kitisuru. Archie named it Kirawa.
Red Book 1912 - Hon. Treasurer and Secretary - Masara Hunt Club - D. Cooper
EAHB 1905 - Gaitani, nr Nairobi
HBEA 1912 has D. Cooper, Lumbwa,
Hut the same
SE - H.D. Cooper - Oct 1908
Took up 3000 acres at Kabete, Kirawa Farm, between the old Railway Line and the Govt. Veterinary Farm (Welcome Institute?) Jeanes School and the Kikuyu Reserve. This land subsequently divided inbto several farms, Nyanduru, Loresho, Kirime Kimwe etc. etc. He was the active partner in a partnership that included his brother A.S. Cooper, J.H. Gailey, originally an engineer on the building of the Uganda Railway and later founded the engineering firm of Gailey & Roberts, and C.N.M. Harrison, lawyer and founder member of the legal firm Hamilton, Harrison and Mathews, and E.G.H. Harrison, cousin of C.N.M. Harrison. He had been seconded from the Duke of Wellington's Regt. to the Sultan of Zanzibar's forces in 1896 and had taken an active part in quelling Uganda Mutiny of 1897 and later commanded 3 KAR. Douglas Cooper was amongst the first to plant coffee in EA obtaining seed from the French Catholic Mission outside Nairobi. Source J.P. Cooper.
Stephen Ellis's ledger shows an H.D. Cooper as Bad Debt - 1909
HBEA 1912 has H. Douglas Cooper as Secretary of the Masara Hunt, Kisawa, Nr. Nbi.
Land Grant 1903 - H.D. Cooper - Agricultural, 708 acres - Mile 332 - Dec 24. - Freehold and leasehold
KAD 1922 - On Committee of Dagoretti Settlers' Association
Playne - Kirawa Farm - owned by Messrs H. Douglas Cooper, J.H. Gailey and C.N.M. Harrison. It is managed by the first-named, while the two latter are sleeping partners ......... There is a store on the property for Europeans and natives, and Mr Cooper gives personal attention to everything himself, employing only one European to assist him. Mr Cooper came to BEA in 1904 from England, and had had previously farming experience in Chili. [sic]
Drumkey - Member of Land Board
Red 22 - President, Kabete District Association
Fergus McCartney - photo of grave of Henry Douglas and Fanny Maud Cooper
Agricultural Journal - Brands Allotted and Registered, September 1908 - H.D. Cooper, Kirawa, Nairobi - Kiambu E2K Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Dagoretti - H.D. Cooper
North - Land Grant application for Homestead at Mile 332 24-12-1903; At Kikuyu 20-8-1904; Kirawa Farm Nairobi 18-2-1905; Member of the Nairobi Mounted Section of the EAP Volunteer Reserve June 1905
St Mary's Church Kabete cemetery - Fanny Maud Cooper, 31/7/1876 - 10/9/1955, for 42 years resident at Kabete, and to the memory of Henry Douglas Cooper who came to Kabete in 1904 and died in England 3/7/1936
Gazette 15/1/1908 - Appointed non-official Member of the Land Board
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Nairobi, North Area - Henry Douglas Cooper - Planter, Kirawa Farm and Mrs Fanny Maud Cooper - Kirawa Farm
Red Book 1919 - District Committees - Kyambu - H.D. Cooper
Red Book 1919 - Coffee Planters' Union of BEA, Nairobi - Hon. Secretary - Nairobi - H. Douglas Cooper
Gazette 16 Nov 1936 - Voters List 1936 - Henry Douglas Cooper, Planter, Kirawa Rd., and Mrs Fanny Maud Cooper, Kirawa Rd., Nbi