James David Cooper Life History

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James David Cooper of Cass County (Bartow) Georgia 1845 1930

Born on December 17, 18451 in Cass County, Georgia, James David Cooper was theoldest of eight children of Andrew Jackson Cooper and Mary Francis White Cooper2,both of Henry County, Georgia (southeast of Atlanta). Information from both the 1850

and 1860 census records indicate that the A. J. Cooper family remained permanently inHenry County, Georgia, and that A.J., a farmer, and his wife Mary could both read andwrite3. Davis D. Cooper (James David Cooper's grand-father) passed away in June of1857 and left James David "2 pots"4.

During the Civil War, James David was a fireman on a train that ran from Atlantato Macon5. After the war, Andrew Jackson Cooper (James Davids father) passed awayon December 4, 1865. In January of 1867, 50 acres of land in Henry County, GA wassold as part of the A. J. Cooper Estate for $50.006. Later, on February 2, 1867, theperishable property of the estate was sold. The items sold included a buggy ($5.00); acrop cut saw ($4.00); a grindstone ($3.00); a box of old irons ($2.85) and a scythe &cradle ($0.75); all totaling $15.607.

On December 28, 1867, James David married Martha Speed at the bride's home8

and continued in his father's tradition of what he knew best, farming. He chose near thattime to accept Jesus Christ into his life and joined the Baptist Church in Henry County9

and between 1867 and 1870 the young Cooper family moved to Cherokee County10,Alabama; a distance of 123 miles to the northeast. James and Martha had a daughter,Callie, born December 13, 1868. Sometime between 1877 and 1880 the Coopers movedto Birmingham, Alabama and then on to Blount County, Alabama11 (about 60 miles fromwhere they had lived in Cherokee County). By that time they had four more children:Mary (1871), Charles (1873), Rufus (1875), and John (1877) (info for birth of John from1880 census)12. James David was ordained a Deacon in the Baptist Church in BlountCounty, Alabama in 1880 at the age of 3513.

There is no record of the 1890 census, but by that time James (1880), Sarah(1881), Nancy (1884), Ida (1886) and Martha (1890?) were born14. It was on March 25,1890, assumedly in childbirth, that Martha passed away with 10 children at home,ranging from 21 to newborn. With such a tremendous need at home, it is not surprisingthat on August 17, 1890, James David married Amanda Arminda Burgett (born March

1 1850 Census of Henry County, Georgia.2 Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.3 1860 Census of Henry County, Georgia.4 Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate settlement filing Book C, p. 400 in Henry County, Georgia on July 1,1857.5 Letter from Tommy A. Cooper to Clarence and Dana Cooper dated 17 July 1978.

6 Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 1888 p. 229 in Henry Co., Georgia in January 1867.7 Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 1888 p. 264 in Henry Co., Georgia on Feb. 2, 1867.8 Marriage listing A. J. Cooper and Mary F. White May 22, 1844 Book 1837 1851, p. 255 Henry Co.,Ga.9 James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.10 Inferred from children's birth places.11 Inferred from the 1870 and 1880 census records Cherokee Co., AL and Blount Co., AL.12 1880 census Blount County, Alabama.13 James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper, The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.14 1900 census from Blount Co., Alabama.


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19, 1857) who was 12 years his junior15. The wedding took place at the home of John J.Burgett (Amanda's father).

Amanda was 33 at the time of her wedding. It is hard to imagine what it was liketo come into a family with ten children. James and Amanda then had six children of theirown: Thomas (1891), Marion (1893), Cynthia (1894), David Barto (1895), Luskie

(1896), and Jessie (1899). David Barto Cooper is Janice Faye Cooper Johnson's (Honey)father16.The 1900 census shows an additional child living with the family. This additional

child, born in 1891, (a grandson) was raised with the Cooper family. It happened thatJames David and Martha Speed Coopers oldest daughter Callie married AmandaArminda Burgett's youngest brother George. Callie died giving birth to their first child,and the baby (James Franklin Burgett) was raised by James David and Amanda as one oftheir own. He went throughout life as James Franklin Cooper.

James David and Amanda moved from Blount County, Alabama, to a new life inSeymour, Baylor County, Texas, a distance of 843 miles by 191017. I wonder what theirfeelings were on leaving the absolute beauty of Blount County, Alabama and moving to

the baked plains of Baylor County, Texas. James David was between 55 and 60 at thetime of the move, and Amanda was between 45 and 50.The 1910 census shows that all the children from his second marriage came to

Texas, including James Franklin Cooper (the grandson). The census shows James livingnext door to James David and Amanda, married to a Pearl (Whetsell). Between 1910 and1920 James David, Amanda ("Mandy"), and Jessie moved to Floyd County, Texas18,which is at the base of the Texas Panhandle area. Finally, James David (age 84) andMandy (age 73) moved to Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas to live with theirdaughter Luskie Vienna and husband Ira and their six children19.

James David died a few short months after the 1930 census on August 4, 193020.His obituary states that he was survived by his wife and twelve children. He actually had16 children in addition to raising James Franklin Cooper. It is uncertain which of thesehad passed away prior to James David's death. Amanda always referred to her husband(James David Cooper) as "Mr. Cooper" in public and said he was " a good Christianfather"21. She moved back to Seymour, Texas after his death, and lived another sixyears until her own passing on October 5, 1936 (age 79). Amanda was referred to by herdaughter-in-law Pearl Whetsell Cooper as "a dear somebody" who was "always therewhen there was a need" and "a good mother and grandmother"22.

Both James David and Amanda Arminda Cooper are buried in Hereford, TX inthe West Park Cemetery.

15 Marriage certificate James David Cooper and Amanda Arminda Burgett, Blount Co., Alabama.16 Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.17 1910 census of Baylor Co., Texas.18 1920 census Floyd Co., Texas.19 1930 census Deaf Smith Co., Texas.20 James David Cooper obituary Herford , TX newspaper, The Herford Brand, August 7, 1930.21 Personal interview of Pearl Whetsell Cooper June 3, 1977.22 ibid.


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James David Cooper Life History

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