Thomas Cooper
Had Passed The Century Mark - MEXICAN AND CIVIL
WAR VET - Dies at Home of Daughter, After Long, Eventful Life; An Honored
Citizen.
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, Mr. 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 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 bee made. The
editors of this paper extend condolence to the bereaved ones in his sad hour
of sorrow.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Thomas Cooper Dies,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
