Cooper, Arthur V. 1845-1911

COOPER, DAVIS, SELLMAN, WADDELL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/23/2010 at 09:41:00

Arthur V. Cooper

Arthur Van Kirk Cooper, son of J. Y. and Sarah Cooper, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Sept. 16, 1845. He died Sept. 7, 1911, after a short illness of heart disease, aged sixty-five years, eleven months and twenty-one days.

He moved with his folks to Ohio in 1852 and to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1864, settling near Galesburg where he lived until 1906 when he moved to a farm one and one-half miles east of Prairie City. He was the second child of a family of ten children, all but one of which survive him.

The first year the family was in Iowa the mother was taken and to him was left much of the responsibility of the home.

In 1872 he was married to Elmira Amanda Davis to this happy union were born seven children, six of whom are living: Mrs. Frank Sellman and Carey of Newton, Mrs. Waddell, deceased, Hugh of Bancroft, William, Virgil and Elmer of Prairie City.

Mr. Cooper was one of the few men whose lives we cannot explain or describe. Quiet, unselfish and unassuming he always lived a life which was appreciated by friend and neighbor.

The two qualities for which his neighbors honor him were his patience and integrity.

The supreme interest in his life was his family. He was a good man and was a worthy example ofr his boys.

At the age of seventeen years a peculiar incident occurred in his life. One night he started for a dance but while on the way remembering the words of his mother he turned and went to church and confessed the Christ. This was the beginning of forty-eight years of active Christian life. The church at Galesburg owes much to him. The church and community at Prairie City mourn the loss.

Mrs. Cooper and the children, his brothers and sisters and hosts of friends will long miss him, his counsel, and sympathetic interest. ~ Newspaper unknown.