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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Biographical Review of LIVINGSTON and Wyoming Counties, New York
Biographical Review Pub. Co., Boston, 1895

         [206 - 207]
         
         GILBERT M. COOLEY, an eminent contractor and builder in
      Leicester, Livingston County, N.Y., first saw the light in
      the town of York, December 17, 1815, the year when GENERAL
      JACKSON fought the famous battle of New Orleans.  He was the
      second son of JONATHAN and ZEVIAH COOLEY, the father being
      the second child of JONATHAN COOLEY, Sr.  GILBERT'S early
      life was passed amid pioneer scenes.  He can remember the
      time when there were neither canals nor railroads, and practi-
      cally no machinery used in farming, his father, in common
      with others, cutting grain with a sickle.
         When GILBERT was a lad of ten years, a man came to that
      place with a cradle, which he tried to introduce into the
      harvest fields.  The child took particular notice of its con-
      struction, carefully observing the proportions.  Being a coun-
      try boy, with ample leisure to think out his work and work out
      his thoughts, he soon made a grain cradle, the first which was
      ever used in that section.  He made good use of the opportun-
      ities afforded him to secure an education, attending the dis-
      trict school and Wyoming Seminary.  In 1830, at the age of
      fifteen, he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, serving
      three years as apprentice, after which he became a contractor
      and builder.  In 1840, the last year of VAN BUREN'S Presi-
      dency, he moved to Cuylerville, where he remained eight years,
      filling many large contracts with MR. CUYLER for the erection
      of buildings.  In 1848, the year gold was discovered in Cali-
      fornia, a contract was made to build canal-locks at Nunda and
      other points, which he worked on two years.  In 1850, the year
      that PRESIDENT TAYLOR died, MR. COOLEY with a company built
      twenty miles of the Erie Railroad, and has since been quite
      extensively engaged in railroad construction.  In 1884 he
      became a retired resident of Moscow.
         MR. COOLEY married in 1840 his first wife, ELIZA ANN DAILEY,
      who was born near Newburg on the Hudson.  She died October 7,
      1879.  In 1886 he married MRS. CLARISSA WHEELER SMEAD, a native
      of Leicester, and a sister of JOHN WHEELER, whose biography
      may be found elsewhere in this volume.  MR. COOLEY is a Presby-
      terian, as was also his first wife.  The present MRS. COOLEY
      is a member of the Baptist church.  MR. COOLEY is nearly eighty
      years of age; but he is hale and hearty, and still looks after
      his private interests.  He and his sister, MRS. LUCINDA C. MAY,
      still own the old homestead at Covington.  MR. COOLEY says,
      "I have lived to see steam and electricity introduced, and I
      expect to see electricity supersede steam as a motive power."
      Though there are no children in the COOLEY household, it is,
      nevertheless, a bright centre of life and friendship.
      
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