Cooper, Thomas A. 1879-1915

COOPER, EDWARDS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 5/24/2016 at 19:57:03

Hawarden Independent October 14, 1915

Thos. A. Cooper Dies After illness of Only Two Days
Thos. A. Cooper died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Angle, west of town about two o'clock a.m. Sunday morning following a very brief illness from peritonitis,

The news of his as a great shock to his many friends in this vicinity, very few having even been aware of his illness. Mrs. Cooper had been ill with pneumonia and had been moved to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Angle, that she might receive more constant care and Mr. Cooper had been looking after the work at home. He was stricken while at home on Friday but so severe was the attack that grave alarm was felt from the first and as soon as possible he was moved to the Angle home. He suffered intense pain from the moment he was stricken and never for an instant was he free from agony until death came to his relief. Although deemed almost futile, it was decided to operate upon him Saturday night in a final effort to save his life, but the effort was unavailing and he died upon the operating table.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Presbyterian church in this city, conducted by Rev. John Erb, pastor of the Baptist church, of which the deceased was an honored member. The business places were closed during the funeral hour as a mark of respect and the church was filled with friends who were present to pay a last tribute to the memory of the deceased. The floral tributes which were heaped upon and about the casket attested the feeling of high regard in which the deceased was held in this community. A floral design of especial significance was the offering of the Farmers Grain Co. of which Mr. Cooper was a member. It consisted of a wheel with three spokes, one of which was broken emblematical of the breaking of the ties of the business in which Mr. Cooper was a partner with Mr. Angle and Mr. Falde.

The Baptist choir sang well known hymns and Mrs. W. F. Wolf rendered a beautiful solo, which together with the comforting words spoken by Rev. Erb, helped to appease the mental anguish of those near and dear before the remains were taken to their resting place in Grace Hill cemetery. The Odd Fellows lodge, which attended the funeral in a body, gave their impressive ritual service both at the church and at the grave.

Thomas Augusta Cooper was born in Franklin county, Va., Jan. 17, 1879, and died in Union county, S. D., Oct. 10, 1915, at the age of 36 years, 9 months and 23 days. He left Virginia and came to Union county in the spring of 1898, at the age of 19 years, and except for a year or two spent in Virginia has since made his home on a Union county farm in this vicinity. He attended the Hawarden high school for a year in 1900 and 1901 and it was during this period that an affection ripened into love for Miss Stella May Edwards which culminated in their marriage Aug. 6, 1901. They were happily mated and their home life has ever been ideal. Three children were born to them but two of them died in infancy. A daughter, Miss Vesta, is left with her mother to mourn the loss of a kind, sympathetic and indulgent husband and father,

He is also survived by his mother two brothers and six sisters. The mother, one brother, Clarence
Cooper, and the sisters, Mrs. Jas. Law, Mrs. J. R. Webb, Mrs. Pearl Bailey, Mrs. Nannie Cobler and Misses Bessie and Irene Cooper, all reside in Virginia, while one brother, Sam Cooper resides on a neighboring farm in Union county. Closely associated with them in their bereavement are Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Angle, Mrs. Helen Coberly and Misses Ruth and Esther Angle. A bit of consolation to the distant relatives will be the memory of a brief visit to the old Virginia home by Mr. Cooper and family just a few weeks ago. During his life in this community Mr. Cooper had won the admiration and friendship of all with whom he came in contact. Ever of a cheery and optimistic nature of clean habits and sterling integrity, he had the natural gift of making and holding friends. He was a successful farmer and enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors and associates. (The obit goes on and on with the tributes of Mr. Cooper. )