Near Cartersville in Bartow County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Mark Anthony Cooper's Iron Works
Photographed By David Seibert, August 30, 2008
1. Mark Anthony Cooper's Iron Works Marker
These ruins of an old iron furnace built by Moses Stroup are all that remain of Cooper's Iron Works, developed by Mark Anthony Cooper, pioneer industrialist, politician, and farmer.
Cooper was born in 1800 near Powelton, Ga. Graduating from S.C. College (now the University of S.C.) in 1819, he was admitted to the bar in 1821 and opened a law office in Eatonton. A member of the Ga. Legislature in 1855, he later served in the 26th Congress, filled a vacancy in the 27th, and was reelected to the 28th. Resigning to run for Governor in 1843, Cooper was defeated by George W. Crawford and retired from politics.
Cooper bought an interest in the furnace then owned by Stroup, and in 1847 he and Leroy M. Wiley bought Stroup out. Cooper's plants, including a nail factory, rolling-mill, and flour mill, were destroyed by Sherman's army. Cooper and Strop were incorporators of the Etowah Railroad, completed to the rolling-mill in 1858. A yard engine of this road, the 'Yonah', was involved in the famous chase of the 'General' in April, 1862.
Cooper, the first president of the Ga. Agricultural Society, a trustee of Mercer University, the University of Ga., and the Cherokee Baptist College, died in 1885 at his home, 'Glen Holly'.
Erected 1962 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1862.
Location. 34° 9.886′ N, 84° 44.003′ W. Marker is near Cartersville, Georgia, in Bartow County. Marker is on Old River Road, 2˝ miles east of Joe Frank Harris Parkway (U.S. 41), on the left when traveling north. The marker is located at the old furnace at the end of Ga 293 in the US Army Corp of Engineers "Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area". Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cartersville GA 30120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Etowah and the War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Allatoona (approx. 0.2 miles away); Federal Fort (approx. 2.4 miles away); Etowah (approx. 2˝ miles away); Friendship Cemetery (approx. 2.6 miles away); Emerson (approx. 3 miles away); Amos T. Akerman (approx. 3.4 miles away); Amos T. Akerman (1821-1880) (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cartersville.
Regarding Mark Anthony Cooper's Iron Works. Mark Cooper erected a marble monument to his creditors who allowed him to save the iron works during the panic of 1857. That
Photographed By David Seibert, August 30, 2008
2. Mark Anthony Cooper's Iron Works , Historic Marker, and descriptive sign
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . . Mark Anthony Cooper. New Georgia Library website entry (Submitted on September 2, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 4,192 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on June 12, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
