Sylvester Wesley Cooper

COOPER, HOMAN

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 6/9/2014 at 16:38:50

The death of Wesley Cooper, one of the respected pioneer citizens of Adams County, occurred at his home here in Corning at 1:30 a.m. last Monday, November 17th and the passing of this kind and faithful gentleman brought sorrow to a great number of people in Adams County. Mr. Cooper located in Carl Township in this county in 1865 and during his entire life here has been one of the influential and highly respected citizens of the community.
Sylvester Wesley Cooper, son of Sylvester and Caroline Cooper, was born May 8, 1855 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 100 miles southeast of Pittsburg, near the town of Somerset, and departed this life November 17th, 1930 at the age of seventy-five years, six months, and eleven days. He was born in poverty, and his father died when he was two weeks old, so the mother was left with six children, five boys and one girl to provide for. As the mother was not able to make a living for the children, four of them were place in the care of other families. At the age of four years, Mr. Cooper was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Howser, who had no children. They too were for many years had run financially.
In 1859 they moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois, where they lived six years, moving around to different places. In 1865 when the deceased was ten years old, they moved from Springfield, Illinois to Adams County, Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives and where Mr. Cooper has since resided.
When a young man Mr. Cooer endured eighty acres of Adams County land in Carl township on which he made a home, and where he resided until twelve years ago, when he moved to Corning, where he has since made his home.
On January 1, 1880, Mr. Cooper was married to Miss Sarah Ellen Homan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hon Edmund Homan. To this union were born six children, James Weaver, Irwin Prentice, Annie Jane, Sylvester Walker, all of Corning, and Bessie May of Canfield, Ohio. One son Edmund Homer, deceased. Later in life, Mr. Cooper was again married to Eva M. Homan. To this union was born one child, Florence Mildred. In 1922, his second wife passed away.
When twenty-three years old, the deceased was elected township clerk and served as clerk and assessor for fifteen years in succession, until he resigned; later on he was again elected but declined to accept. Years later he was nominated for a member of the county board and voted for his opponent and was defeated by a very few votes. He served thirty-four years in succession as school treasurer.
Mr. Cooper never had much chance for education, but studies his books at home when he had an opportunity, so at twenty one he secured a second grade teaching certificate and continued teaching for twelve winter terms with the first two terms with a second grade certificate and the other ten terms with first grade certificate. All of these terms were taught in his home school and the school two miles east and the school two miles south of his home school
In 1893 he was nominated as a candidate for the state legislature by a unanimous vote on the first ballot of the county convention, without his known that such a thing was thought of. It was a People's Party nomination, endorsed by the democratic party. There was a majority of 400 on the republican side, but he was only defeated by seventy-three votes. Two years later he was again nominated unanimously for representative, and was again defeated by sixty-four votes.
At the age of eighteen he united with the First Baptist Church of Adams County and remained a loyal member all through life. He served in the church as Moderator, Deacon, Clerk, and trustee, and served many years as superintendent and teacher in the Sunday School. He was an industrious and conscientious man, always trying to be fair in all transactions with his fellow men. He believed in the church and its teachings as set forth by Christ and was for many years an active worker in the work of the Master.
For many years he drove the team from the home to the little white church on the hill to attend Sunday School and church services, not only because he thought it was his duty, but because of the blessing and inspiration he received from the Master he was so faithfully endeavoring to serve.
His admonition to his children was to always be honorable in all things and prepare for the eternal life in which he so earnestly believed.
Funeral services were conducted from the Adams County First Baptist Church, Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The services were in charge of Rev. Guy Prather, a former pastor of the church. Interment was made in the First Baptist Church Cemetery.
Adams County Free Press, November 20, 1930, page 8