____________________________________________________________________________
J.T. Cooper, one of the leading merchants of Pike County, Wolf Creek
Township, Antoine post-office, was born in Georgia in 1847, one of a family
of fourteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and none of whom are
still living, viz., William H., Mark A., Matthew T., Charley L., Clark E.,
Mary E., Martha A., Sarah and Pinkie M. His parents, Sterling T. and Nancy
E. (Hamilton) Cooper, were born in South Carolina in 1824 and 1827,
respectively; the former, a farmer by occupation, emigrated from Georgia to
Arkansas in 1859, and located in Pike County, where (he) resided until (his)
death ... which occurred January 14, 1890. The mother is still living at the
old home place, at the age of sixty-three. Mr. Cooper, Sr. was a man who
who took a deep interest in the building up of churches, schools and
society. He and his wife were both earnest members of the Christian Church,
and his death was universally regretted. The subject of this short
biographical sketch was reared and schooled in Pike County, receiving his
education in the private schools, and at the age of twenty began doing for
himself, choosing farming as his occupation, at which he continued for five
years. In 1872 he began a mercantile business in Boughton, starting with a
capital of $500. In 1877 he moved his business to Antoine, and now has a
capital of $10,000. January 5, 1881, he was married to Miss Martha J. Dyre,
a native of Arkansas, born in 1861, and to this union have been born three
children, viz., Wirt Dyre, Pearl and Archie. In 1887 Mr. Cooper was
appointed postmaster at this place, and is still serving in that capacity.
Mrs. Cooper is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Cooper takes a deep
interest in the building up of this county, and is a good citizen, highly
respected by all in the community.
____________________________________________________________________________
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
page 323.
____________________________________________________________________________
HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.