Thomas Jefferson Cooper
Thomas Jefferson Cooper
Merchant, Ginner, Farmer, Real
Estate Dealer, Justice of the Peace
Thomas Jefferson Cooper was born in Muscogee County, Ga in 1837.
He was the son of Primitive Baptist minister William M. Cooper and
Millie McGinty Cooper, formerly of Wilkinson County. Mr. Cooper's family
moved to Baldwin County about 1845. In 1858 Mr. Cooper married Sarah
Etheridge, daughter of Joseph S. and Frances "Fannie" Branan
Etheridge. "On attaining to manhood he began farming, but in 1862
enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Conn, went to Virginia, and was
discharged. He re-enlisted under Col. (afterward Gen.) Doles, serving
six months; next under Capt. Lofton, and later, for awhile under both
Capts. Beman and Rutherford, and was finally discharged in Augusta in
1865. "
After discharge from the civil war Mr. Cooper came home and became a
prosperous farmer and merchant, in addition to being a justice of the
peace. The Cooper's had twelve children:
(1)Nancy Catherine married Robert Branan of Wilkinson County, 4
children. Then married George S. Carpenter and had one son.
(2) James Oliver, left Coopers, became conductor for Central of Georgia
Railroad in Covington, then to Prattville, Al where he was a merchant.
(3) William T. died as an infant and is buried at Camp Creek Cemetery
(4)Charles Harris, merchant, farmer, ginner. Married Amarintha
Etheridge. Two sons, 1 daughter.
(5) Robert J. died as infant. Buried at Camp Creek Cemetery
(6)Sarah Ann married Charles I. Robinson, moved to Eatonton, had two
sons.
(7) John Orrie, merchant & ticket agent for Central of Georgia Railroad
in Hardwick. Married to Alice Branan, had three sons, one daughter.
Second wife Annie Alford of Washington County
(8)Frances Winifred married Dr. George Edward Bigham, lived in Coopers
(9) Effie Inez never married, cared for father, was ticket agent for
Central of Georgia railroad
(10)Mary Elizabeth "Mamie" married Pratt Wood. They had five sons - all
who settled in Coopers.
(11) Roy Emmett married Sadie Bigham. He worked for the Central of
Georgia Railroad for a few years and then the Savannah and the Atlantic
Railroad as a conductor. Retiring in 1948 they moved back to Coopers and
lived in the Bingham home where one of his sons Ralph still lives. Ralph
has a brother Marvin who lives out of town.
(12)Joseph Cleveland served as Clerk of the Superior Court for 66 years.
He married Alma Echols who died in 1907 leaving a 2 day old infant Joe.
He then married Mildred Johnson of Rome. They had a daughter and three
sons.
Mrs. Sarah Cooper died in 1892 and is buried in the Coopers
Cemetery which was established at the time of her burial. Years later
Thomas Cooper gave land where Cooperville Baptist Church is next to the
cemetery. December 18, 1892 he married Mary Eliza Gibson Finney who
died in 1899. There were no children of this marriage. Mr. Cooper died
Feb 2, 1921 and is buried in Cooperville Baptist Church cemetery where
many members of this family lie. His parents, William M. and Millie
Cooper, are buried at Camp Creek Church cemetery a few miles away.
Descendants of this family still live in Coopers.
Sources: Coopers Memoirs, A
Treasure of Memories, Family Histories & Stories of Coopers, Georgia;
Memoirs of Georgia
