Jesse was born shortly after his father, Rees Cooper, enlisted in the Civil War. His father died during the Civil War, and his mother died when he was about four years old, so he lived with and was raised by Jesse and Phoebe Grimm. He was a close friend of his cousin, John Wilbur Grimm.

Listed with grandmother Barbara Grim in both 1870 and 1880 WV Censuses.

1900 Census, Waterford Twp., Washington Co., OH
Cooper, Jesse C., head, b. Jan. 1863, 37, m. 16y, b. WV, parents b. WV, farmer
Maggie C., wife, b. Aug. 1867, 32, m. 16y, 6 children/5 survive, b. WV, parents b. WV
Alva N., son, b. May 1884, 16, b. WV, at school
Martin R., son, b. Jan. 1887, 13, b. WV, at school
Gilbert F., son, b. Mar. 1890, 10, b. WV, at school
Wilbur, son, b. Feb. 1892, 8, b. WV, at school
Russell B., son, b. Apr. 1895, 5, b. WV

1910 Census, Bloom Twp., Morgan Co., OH
Cooper, Jesse, head, 48, m. 26y, b. WV, father b. OH, mother b. WV, farmer
Maggie, wife, 42, m. 26y, 7 children/6 survive, b. WV, parents b. WV
G. Floyd, son, 20, b. WV, teacher, county school
Arley W., son, 18, b. WV, farm laborer, home farm
Russell B., son, 17, b. WV
C. Raymond, son, 7, b. OH

1920 Census, Bloom Twp.., Morgan Co., OH
Cooper, Jesse C., head, 57, b. WV, father b. PA, mother b. WV, farmer
Maggie C., wife, 51, b. WV, parents b. WV
Clarence R., son, 17, b. OH

1930 Census, Bloom Twp., Morgan Co., OH
Cooper, Jesse C., head, 68, m. age 21, b. WV, parents b. PA, farmer
Maggie C., wife, 62, m. age 15, b. WV, parents b. WV