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On a dark and stormy night on April 14, 1814, Sarshall Cooper lived in one of the angles of Cooper's fort located north of the Missouri River in present day Howard County. While sitting around the fire with his family and friends an Indian made a hole in the fort just large enough to hold the muzzle of his rifle. When the deed was done, Sarshall Cooper lay lifeless at the feet of his family. Sarshall Cooper was a natural leader of men and a natural for the wilderness. Instrumental in the settlement of the region, it was natural that when all of the land of Howard County, Missouri south of the river was to be formed into a new county; that the new county should be named after this frontiersman. And on December 17, 1818 it became fact.
Cooper County as originally formed comprised the present day counties of Bates (Formed 1841 from Cass County), Benton (Formed 1835 from Pettis County), Camden (Formed 1841 from Benton County), Cass (Formed 1835 from Jackson County), Cole (Formed 1820 from Cooper County), Henry (Formed 1834 from LaFayette County), Jackson (Formed 1826 from LaFayette County), Johnson (Formed 1834 from LaFayette County), LaFayette (Formed 1820 from Cooper County), Miller (Formed 1837 from Cole County), Moniteau (Formed 1845 from Cole and Morgan Counties), Morgan (Formed 1833 from Cooper County), Pettis (Formed 1833 from Cooper and Saline Counties), St. Clair (Formed 1841 from Henry County), and Saline (Formed 1820 from Cooper and Howard Counties).
The county seat and offices are located, on the banks of the Missouri River in Boonville. Cooper County is divided into the following townships: Lamine, Blackwater, Clear Creek, Otterville, Pilot Grove, Lebanon, Boonville, Palestine, Kelly, Clark Fork, North Moniteau, South Moniteau, Saline, and Prairie
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