COOPER, THOMAS
PIONEER REACHES THE CENTURY MARK
McKinney Courier-Gazette, September 24, 1912
On last Sunday at the home of his youngest daughter a few miles west of McKinney, Thomas Cooper celebrated his one hundredth birthday. He was born on September 22, 1812, in the little city of Nashville, Tenn. He has lived in four states in the American Union and has seen the nation as a whole develop from a rough wilderness to its present greatness. He has seen Texas develop from an uncivilized state in the Mexican province to America’s greatest state. He has fought in two wars and is one of the few survivors of the battle of San Jacinto. After the Mexican struggle was over he lived in Missouri and Kentucky and when the civil war broke out he joined Morgan’s brigade and fought through that struggle.
Born of English parents in the little city of Nashville, Tenn., he grew to manhood in that state. In 1833 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Boyd. To that union thirteen children were born, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood. He came to Texas in 1835. When the Mexican war broke out Mr. Cooper joined the Texas forces and began the fight for independence. He fought through that struggle, was in the battle of San Jacinto and a number of minor engagements. After this contest was over, he removed to Missouri, where he resided for a number of years. Later he removed to Kentucky and resided there until the beginning of the Civil war.
After the close of the Civil war he moved to Tennessee and remained there until 1882 when he came to Texas and settled in McKinney. His wife died here in 1885. He has resided here most of the time until a short time ago he moved to seven miles west of McKinney with his youngest daughter. On Sunday he celebrated his one hundredth birthday with a family reunion at which about twenty members of the family were present, including four generations of children. He has begun to show the weight of the many years that have passed over his head and is in an extremely feeble condition. Without doubt he is the oldest resident in North Texas.
His children living are: A. H. Cooper, fireman, 125 East Eight street, Oak Cliff; Geo. W. Cooper, McKinney; Thomas D. Cooper, seventy-three years of age, McKinney; Rachael Gray, Nashville, Tenn.; Mary Isabella Gray, Louisville, Ky.; Sarah Virginia Palmer, Arlington and G. P. Cooper, Arkansas. One son, Andrew W. Cooper, died in 1885.
COLLIN COUNTY CENTENARIAN DIES
Thomas Cooper Had Passed The Century Mark
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR VET
Dies at Home of Daughter, After Long, Eventful Life: An Honored Citizen.
Newspaper, January 13, 1913
News was received here about 1 o’clock today by relatives announcing the death of Thomas Cooper, which occurred at noon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. W. Crowder, in the Mt. Zion community, about five miles east of McKinney. Mr. Cooper bore the distinction of being the oldest person in Collin county. At the time of his death today, he was 100 years, 2 months and 22 days of age. He had been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Crowder for several years. They formerly resided a few miles west of McKinney, having moved to the Mt. Zion community only a few months ago. The day Mr. Cooper was 100 years old, which was the 22nd of September, a big dinner was given at the home of his daughter, celebrating his one hundredth birthday. Mr. Cooper was born in Tennessee, near Nashville. He came to Texas with his parents when a very young man. He served through the Mexican war, and although he served throughout that war and until Texas had won her independence and freed herself from the tyranny of Mexico, on account of the company of which he was a member, failing to arrive in time, he was not in the battle of San Jacinto, which battle, won by those brave hearted Texans, threw off the yoke of Santa Anna, and established a free and independent country. Mr. Cooper was one of the very, very few of those survivors who lived to see Texas wrested from the Mexican rule and develop into one of the best states in the Union.
He left with his parents in 1858 and went to Kentucky, at which place he resided until 1881, when he returned to Texas, and had made his home here since. It was while in Kentucky that he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Boyd. To this union ten children were born, nine of whom survive, as follows: H. Cooper of Dallas, T. D. Cooper of this city, Mrs. Rachel Gray of Tennessee, Mrs. Sarah Pharmer of Denton county, Gabe Cooper of Arkansas, George Cooper and Mrs. J. W. Crowder of Mt. Zion. We were not able to get the names and address of the other two children. Jim Cooper, the contractor of this city, is a grandson of the deceased.
Mr. Cooper also served throughout the civil war. He professed faith in Christ and united himself with the Baptist church many years ago, and afterwards lived a consistent Christian life. he was always jovial and enjoyed talking with his friends,. The last few years of his life, Mr. Cooper was very much bent as a result of his advanced age, and his eyesight had almost failed him entirely. At the time this paper goes to press the funeral arrangements had not been made. The editors of this paper extend condolence to the bereaved ones in this sad hour of sorrow.
PIONEER REACHES THE CENTURY MARK
McKinney Courier-Gazette, September 24, 1912
On last Sunday at the home of his youngest daughter a few miles west of McKinney, Thomas Cooper celebrated his one hundredth birthday. He was born on September 22, 1812, in the little city of Nashville, Tenn. He has lived in four states in the American Union and has seen the nation as a whole develop from a rough wilderness to its present greatness. He has seen Texas develop from an uncivilized state in the Mexican province to America’s greatest state. He has fought in two wars and is one of the few survivors of the battle of San Jacinto. After the Mexican struggle was over he lived in Missouri and Kentucky and when the civil war broke out he joined Morgan’s brigade and fought through that struggle.
Born of English parents in the little city of Nashville, Tenn., he grew to manhood in that state. In 1833 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Boyd. To that union thirteen children were born, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood. He came to Texas in 1835. When the Mexican war broke out Mr. Cooper joined the Texas forces and began the fight for independence. He fought through that struggle, was in the battle of San Jacinto and a number of minor engagements. After this contest was over, he removed to Missouri, where he resided for a number of years. Later he removed to Kentucky and resided there until the beginning of the Civil war.
After the close of the Civil war he moved to Tennessee and remained there until 1882 when he came to Texas and settled in McKinney. His wife died here in 1885. He has resided here most of the time until a short time ago he moved to seven miles west of McKinney with his youngest daughter. On Sunday he celebrated his one hundredth birthday with a family reunion at which about twenty members of the family were present, including four generations of children. He has begun to show the weight of the many years that have passed over his head and is in an extremely feeble condition. Without doubt he is the oldest resident in North Texas.
His children living are: A. H. Cooper, fireman, 125 East Eight street, Oak Cliff; Geo. W. Cooper, McKinney; Thomas D. Cooper, seventy-three years of age, McKinney; Rachael Gray, Nashville, Tenn.; Mary Isabella Gray, Louisville, Ky.; Sarah Virginia Palmer, Arlington and G. P. Cooper, Arkansas. One son, Andrew W. Cooper, died in 1885.
COLLIN COUNTY CENTENARIAN DIES
Thomas Cooper Had Passed The Century Mark
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR VET
Dies at Home of Daughter, After Long, Eventful Life: An Honored Citizen.
Newspaper, January 13, 1913
News was received here about 1 o’clock today by relatives announcing the death of Thomas Cooper, which occurred at noon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. W. Crowder, in the Mt. Zion community, about five miles east of McKinney. Mr. Cooper bore the distinction of being the oldest person in Collin county. At the time of his death today, he was 100 years, 2 months and 22 days of age. He had been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Crowder for several years. They formerly resided a few miles west of McKinney, having moved to the Mt. Zion community only a few months ago. The day Mr. Cooper was 100 years old, which was the 22nd of September, a big dinner was given at the home of his daughter, celebrating his one hundredth birthday. Mr. Cooper was born in Tennessee, near Nashville. He came to Texas with his parents when a very young man. He served through the Mexican war, and although he served throughout that war and until Texas had won her independence and freed herself from the tyranny of Mexico, on account of the company of which he was a member, failing to arrive in time, he was not in the battle of San Jacinto, which battle, won by those brave hearted Texans, threw off the yoke of Santa Anna, and established a free and independent country. Mr. Cooper was one of the very, very few of those survivors who lived to see Texas wrested from the Mexican rule and develop into one of the best states in the Union.
He left with his parents in 1858 and went to Kentucky, at which place he resided until 1881, when he returned to Texas, and had made his home here since. It was while in Kentucky that he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Boyd. To this union ten children were born, nine of whom survive, as follows: H. Cooper of Dallas, T. D. Cooper of this city, Mrs. Rachel Gray of Tennessee, Mrs. Sarah Pharmer of Denton county, Gabe Cooper of Arkansas, George Cooper and Mrs. J. W. Crowder of Mt. Zion. We were not able to get the names and address of the other two children. Jim Cooper, the contractor of this city, is a grandson of the deceased.
Mr. Cooper also served throughout the civil war. He professed faith in Christ and united himself with the Baptist church many years ago, and afterwards lived a consistent Christian life. he was always jovial and enjoyed talking with his friends,. The last few years of his life, Mr. Cooper was very much bent as a result of his advanced age, and his eyesight had almost failed him entirely. At the time this paper goes to press the funeral arrangements had not been made. The editors of this paper extend condolence to the bereaved ones in this sad hour of sorrow.
