Cooper, Lewis C. ~ Obituary

Submitted by Jason Cooper  Jaytravis@aol.com
My name is Jason Cooper and I've recently returned form a research trip in Calhoun and Webster counties.  I have collected some information from the Webster Progress newspaper in Eupora that I would like to share on  the Calhoun page. My family lived in Bentley, near the Calhoun-Webster line and there was a lot of crossover between the two counties.The articles refer to deaths at Bentley and Eupora for these families. 

From the Webster Progress, Thursday, February 13, 1930

Lewis C. Cooper Died at Bentley
Lewis Columbus Cooper, 69, passed away at his home in Bentley Sunday night, and was buried at Bethlehem Church cemetery Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. McPhail, of Slate Springs, conducting the funeral rites.  Mr. Cooper was known over a large section for his splendid character and good christian citizenship, numbering his friends by the hundreds.  He was a member of the Baptist faith.  He is survived by a widow, who before marriage was Miss Mollie E. Taylor, a sister of T. F. and W. G. Taylor, of Eupora. He also leaves five sons and two daughters, who are James Cooper, Fresno California; H. A., T. G and Charles Cooper, of Bentley; Rev. O. C. Cooper, Farmersville [sic], La.; Mrs. Olive Wade, of Derma; and Mrs. Harley Streeter, of Wilson, Ark.

{Lewis was actually 68 at the time of his death, being born on June 15, 1861. The article notes that he died Sunday night (which was February 9), though his headstone and death certificate indicate the date was February 10. Perhaps he died in the early morning hours of Monday.
Lewis was the father of thirteen children. Five of these died in infancy or childhood, and are buried near him in Bethlehem cemetery. A sixth, William Andrew Cooper, was his eldest son and died in Ruston, Louisiana, nearly one year to the day before his father.
His son, Reverend Oliver Columbus Cooper, was living in Farmerville, Louisiana, at the time of this obituary. His daughter, Mrs. Ollie Wade, was called Olive in this article, as she was in the obituary of her mother four years later.
The article makes no mention of Lewis’ parents or siblings. Lewis may have been survived by at least one of his six sisters--Mrs. Mary Jones.}