William M. Cooper (1953)

BASSFORD, COOPER, JARNIGAN, SHEPARD, THOMPSON

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 12/8/2004 at 22:27:27

Winterset Madisonian, February, 1953

William Cooper Died Here Sunday

Long-Time Resident Dies at Reported Age of 102

William M. Cooper, who is said to be Madison county’s oldest resident, died Sunday, Feb 1, at Memorial hospital. His age is reported as 102 years.

Mr. Cooper was a native of West Virginia where he was born in Tyler county, a son of Josephus and Ethelinda Martin Cooper. Madison county officials, who investigated his age several years ago, were unable to obtain an official record of his birth, and some confusion resulted.

Mr. Cooper’s father was a soldier in the Civil war. Following that war, the family moved to Indiana, making the trip down the Ohio river by boat. After three years in Indiana, the family came to Iowa by covered wagon. Mr. Cooper’s first home in Iowa was a big log cabin. He was married in Ottumwa on May 7, 1881 to Lucy L. Shepard. They were parents of 11 children. The wife and mother died about 40 years ago. Two of the children died in infancy, and three others preceded their father in death.

Mr. Cooper lived most of his life in Scott township of this county, but in recent years his home has been in Winterset.

He is survived by six children, Mark Cooper of Winterset, Frank and George Cooper of Des Moines, Mrs. Rose Thompson of Dunlap, Mrs. Edith Jarnigan of Des Moiens and Mrs. Mary Bassford of Austin, Texas. He also leaves a brother, Frank Cooper of Winterset; 30 grandchildren; 75 great grandchildren; and nine great great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held from Andreson’s home for funerals this Tuesday, conducted by the Rev. Clement D. Loehr, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Burial in Union Chapel Cemetery.

Transcriber's Note: The 1880 census showed William Cooper to be 20 years old making his birth year ca 1860 rather than the reputed 1850.