Cooper & Taylor Obituaries

Submitted by Jason Cooper 

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, 1930Lewis 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.}  

From the Webster Progress, Thursday, September 20, 1934 Cooper Rites Held in Calhoun County
Deceased Related to Many Prominent Webster Citizens; Passed Away at Bentley Mrs. Mollie E. Cooper, 72, one of the best loved women in Calhoun county, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, September 12, at her home at Bentley after an illness of eight months. The cause of her death was said to have been a complication of diseases, aggravated by the informities [sic] of age.

The deceased was born at Bentley, in Calhoun county, in 1862. She was married to L. C. Cooper, member of a prominent Mississippi family, in 1884; and to this union there were born a number of splendid children who lived to honor their father and mother. This fine woman’s husband preceded her to the grave by a number of years. She was held in high regard by all who knew her, because of the patient devotion to family, church, friends and community.

She was a member of the Bently [sic] Baptist Church, and it was said of her that no person adhered more strictly to the tenets of religion as did she.

 Funeral services were held at Bethlehem Church on Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, with the Rev. McPhail in charge. Interment in the Bethlehem cemetery was made by McDaniels, Eupora.
 Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Olive Wall [sic], Bently [sic]; Mrs. Kate Streeter, Wilson, Ark.; T. J. Cooper [sic], Calhoun City; C. K. Cooper, Eupora; James Cooper, Bentley; a sister, Mrs. Letha Brister, Jonesboro, Ark.; and four brothers, T. F. and W. G. Taylor, Eupora, and J. R. Taylor, Memphis.

{In the above article, Mrs. Olive Wall refers to Mrs. Ollie Wade. T. J. Cooper refers to T. G. Cooper. The article omits her son, Henry Alton Cooper, who was living in Calhoun County at the time of Mollie’s death. Also note that the article mentions four brothers, but only names three. The fourth was her half-brother, Robert Dottery Taylor, who lived in Bentley at the time of this article. Mrs. Letha Brister was a half-sister.

Mrs. Mollie Cooper was the mother of thirteen children. Five of these died in infancy or childhood, and are buried near her in Bethlehem cemetery. A sixth, William Andrew Cooper, died in Ruston, Louisiana, five years before his mother’s death. Seven of her children survived her.}

From the Webster Progress, Thursday, October 7, 1943  Wm. G. Taylor Noted Leader
Death Claims Other Member Of Eminent Partnership At Greenville SundayWilliam Green Taylor, pioneer citizen of the county, passed away Sunday morning, October 3rd at seven o’clock in the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Greenville, after a lingering illness of five weeks.
The deceased had been in failing health for a number of years, and had retired from his active duties for almost a year.

With his passing, Eupora, the county and the State, has lost one of its finest citizens. A person who has been a leader in all activities, both civic and religious, and has served the county as a leader in various movements started for the betterment of the community. Active in campaigns for better roads, better schools, and better churches and for any enterprise that made the town of Eupora a much better place in which to live. He was a Mason and a member of the W. O. W.
Early in life he affiliated with the Methodist Church and had followed his religion devotedly in his many walks of life. At the time of his passing he was a steward of the Methodist Church and had given of his time and resources in the promotion of the new Eupora Methodist Church and took great pride in the lovely shrine of worship for the community. His presence as a good man will long be felt in the community.

“Bill” Taylor, as he was affectionately known throughout Mississippi, with his brother, the late, “Tom” Taylor established in 1902, the name of Taylor Brothers, and a business that has earned the respect throughout the State as a firm of fair dealings, and a firm that has meant much to the progress of the trade of the community. This firm realized the need for a market for the produce of the farm, and established a market for chickens and eggs that has gone a long way toward making Eupora today the largest poultry produce market in the State.

The deceased was born January 1, 1867, at Bentley, (Calhoun County), the son of W. C. and Millie Jane Neal Taylor, pioneer citizens of the county. In early manhood he was married to Miss May Fannie Lamb, who has preceded him in death. To this union were
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Wm. G. Taylor Noted Leader(Continued from first page) born two children, Mrs. Moss Watkins of Lake Charles, La., and William L. Taylor of Brookhaven, who now survive.
Twelve years ago he was married to Mrs. Janie Wilkes of Jackson, who has been a faithful companion and is grieved over her husband’s passing.
Four grandchildren survive: Ann and Frances Watkins of Lake Charles, La., Jimmie Taylor of Brookhaven and William Walter Taylor of Maben.
Other surviving relatives are a half-sister, Mrs. Letha Brister of Lipton, La., and a half-brother, R. D. Bailey [sic] of Bentley, Miss.

Services were held at the Eupora Methodist Church on Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock and the large congregation attending, and the beautiful flowers sent were expressions of respect and love for the deceased. The Rev. M. E. Scott, pastor of Mr. Taylor’s church paid a glowing tribute to the life of the deceased. He was assisted in the services by the Rev. J. R. Reedy, local Baptist minister.
Hooper Funeral Home was in charge of burial arrangements and interment followed the services in the Eupora cemetery.

Pallbearers were:
W. E. Taylor, Eddie Embry, Bob Sugg, Ned Lee, H. H. Reed, A. J. McCaslin, Bill Dunlap, Jim Curry, C. P. Fortner, Graydon Logan, H. H. Ross and Grady Doss.
Among the out-of-town relatives here for the service were Mr. and Mrs. Moss Watkins from Lake Charles, La., Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Taylor from Brookhaven; Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Harris, Mrs. James H. Tripp from Jackson; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Harris, Miss Martha Frances Harris, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Harris, of Water Valley, Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Latham, Mrs. Hugh Curtis and Mrs. Leon Hays from Winona.

The article was taken from a copy of a newspaper, and contains a photograph that could not be scanned. The photo headline and caption are as follows:

Photo: DEATH CLAIMS EUPORA LEADER

Business man, financier, civic leader died at Greenville Sunday morning after a long illness.

{The underlined words in the above article were difficult to read in the photocopy of the article, and are strictly a best guess. Otherwise, an attempt has been made to reproduce the article accurately, including all errors in punctuation and spelling.

William Taylor’s half-sister, Mrs. Letha Brister, was noted as living in Lipton, La. Lipton is not on any known map and is presumed to be a misspelling. William’s half-brother, named in the article as R. D. Bailey, was actually Robert Dottery Taylor. Letha and Robert were the children of William and Sarah Jane Howard Taylor.}

From the Webster Progress*, Thursday, July 9, 1908Excerpt from an article**: Mr. W. G. Taylor returned Sunday from his father’s home, near Bentley, Calhoun county, where he was called a week previous by the indisposition of his aged father, Mr. W. C. Taylor, and the last illness of his sister, Mrs. Bertha Morgan, whose death occurred on Thursday morning after a several months’ siege of tuberculosis. Her remains were laid to rest in Old Bethlehem graveyard in that community on Thursday afternoon. We deeply sympathize with the sorrowing loved ones in their bereft state. We are glad to state, however, that Mr. Taylor’s father, while very aged and decrepit, is doing as well as could be expected.

{* The Webster Progress was created by the consolidation in 1908 of the Walthall Warden (established in 1881) and the Eupora Progress (established in 1889). This article was written in 1908, and it is uncertain whether the article appeared in the Eupora Progress before the consolidation, or in the newly consolidated Webster County paper. During it’s first few years, the Webster Progress may have been called The Progress-Warden.

** The article from which this paragraph was taken is about the activities of the current week of the townspeople of Eupora, Mississippi.

Mrs. Bertha Taylor Morgan was the daughter of William and Sarah Jane Howard Taylor, and was actually a half-sister to W. G. Taylor. She was only 26 when she died, and was survived by her husband, Edgar F. Morgan, and an infant son, Taylor Morgan.

Her headstone at Bethlehem Cemetery is now broken, and indicates that she was born December 16, 1881 and died July 2, 1908.}

From the Webster Progress, Thursday, April 30, 1942  

DEATH OF TOM TAYLOR CAME AS SHOCK TO ENTIRE COUNTY

Pneumonia Took Life of Most Prominent Business Man In Webster History;Ill Health of Two Years Climaxed By Severe Illness Ending In Death At Greenville.Thomas Francis Taylor, Sr., Webster county’s most prominent business man, died of pneumonia at the King’s Daughters Hospital at Greenville on April 23rd, after an illness of five weeks. Mr. Taylor was in his seventieth year, and had enjoyed splendid health until about two years ago when he found it necessary to shift some of the details of his varied business interests to others.

At the time of his death he was president of the Taylor Brothers Lumber Company, a partner in the mercantile firm of Taylor Brothers, a vice-president and member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Eupora, member of the Board of Directors of the Columbus & Greenville Railroad, and executive director of the Standard Life Insurance Company, Jackson.

Since 1900 the name of Taylor has signified industry, integrity, and prominence in Webster county’s business life. The firm of Taylor Brothers, organized in 1900, when the deceased and his brother, W. G. Taylor, came to Eupora, has stood for fair dealing, widespread and increasingly important trade, and progress.

“Tom” Taylor, as he was known throughout North Mississippi, was recognized at least thirty years ago as one of the state’s most energetic and capable business men. After having launched and established on a firm basis the mercantile and produce business he and his brother jointly supervised, he became, in 1920, interested in the manufacture of lumber. Since that time the firm of Taylor Brothers Lumber Company has grown to be one of the largest producers of soft pine lumber in the state. To that business, in the last few years, has been added the younger, fast-growing T. F. Taylor Jr. Lumber Company, headed by the son of the deceased.

Developed Market

Early in the 20th century Tom Taylor saw the need in Webster county of a steady market for the produce of the county’s farms. He began slowly to build up a market for chickens and eggs. In those early days, according to his brother, W. G. Taylor, eggs and chickens were shipped to the Delta and other Mississippi regions “on a gambling basis”. The partners never knew what the price would be, but they managed (often at a loss) to maintain a market for farmers and gradually established a business that has gone a long way toward making Eupora today the largest poultry products market in the state.

Mr. Taylor was born at Bentley (Calhoun county) on August 14, 1872. He was the son of W. C. Taylor and Millie Jane Neal Taylor whose parentage was pioneer, and of the solid, early settler type of small farmers who hewed productive places out of the virgin forests of this section of Mississippi.

On reaching manhood Mr. Taylor accepted a place as store clerk for C. C. Cross, Montpelier merchant. Later he was employed by the Lowenstein Shoe Company and then the Goodbar Shoe Com-
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DEATH OF TOM TAYLOR CAME AS SHOCK TO ENTIRE COUNTY(Continued from First Page) pany, Memphis. He traveled for these firms in Texas and elsewhere for seven years. In 1899 he established a business at Walthall, later turning it over to J. R. Taylor, a half-brother, to come to Eupora and establish the firm of Taylor Brothers.

 In 1902 he was married to Miss Willie Trotter, of Winona, daughter of one of the most prominent Montgomery families, her forebears having included the famed Colonel I. P. Trotter of the Confederate Armies.

Directorships

Through the years Mr. Taylor, while never assuming leadership in civic affairs and never actively engaging in politics, gradually assumed a place of prominence in finance and merchandising. He had served capably for many years as member of the directorate of the Bank of Eupora, his advice and financial genius having stood the Grenada Banking System in good stead through years of depression as well as years of prosperity. On the death of the late Captain T. W. Foard, former vice-president of the local bank, in 1927, Mr. Taylor was named to that important post. Later, as he grew in stature, he was appointed to the boards of the Standard Life and the C. & G. Railroad.

He was a member of the Eupora Methodist Church in good standing; was also a member of the Masonic order and the Woodmen of the World.

Surviving relatives include his widow, Mrs. Willie Trotter Taylor; a daughter, Mrs. Don Wilson, New York; a son, T. F. Taylor, Jr., Eupora; a brother, W. G. Taylor, Eupora; a half-sister, Mrs. Letha Brister, Lipton, La.; and a half-brother, R. D. Taylor, Bentley, Miss.

Home Services

Funeral services, marked by large attendance, not only of friends of the town and county, but by hundreds from Mississippi and other states, and by the flowers which were expressions of respect for the deceased, were held at the family residence in Eupora on April 25th at 11 a.m. The simple rites were in charge of the Rev. M. E. Scott, pastor of the Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. J. R. Reedy, of the First Baptist Church.

 Mrs. Judie Courtney and Mrs. C. P. Fortner directed the committee in charge of the flowers at the home and at the cemetery.

 The following served as pallbearers: J. R. Phillips, Jr., W. E. Taylor, C. P. Fortner, R. H. Tyson, Dr. H. K. Curry, C. G. Logan, Ned Lee, H. H. Ross, A. J. McCaslin, Charles N. Field, Alex McKeigney, A. W. Sugg.

 Burial in Eupora Cemetery was in charge of Hooper Funeral Home.
 Included in the scores of out-of-town visitors who attended the rites were:
 Mrs. Robert Sabin, Greenwood; Mrs. John N. Trotter, Mrs. A. W. Kelso, Miss Fannie Morrow, W. J. Morrow, Henry Hart, Winona; Lake Hays, Memphis; Billy Hays, Memphis; Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Henry, Columbus; Mrs. J. R. Taylor, Tarrytown, N. Y.; Mrs. John Morrow, Atlanta; W. Chamberlin Trotter, Oxford; G. S. Gaines, Columbus; Paul Taylor, Greenwood; Mrs. Etta Mae Taylor, Maben; Mrs. Moss Watkins, Lake Charles, La.; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McNutt, Miss Mary McNutt, Miss Eva McNutt, Sam Giardina, Greenwood; Miss Pauline Taylor, Derma; Mr. and Mrs. Wade Forrest, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Sumners, Stewart; Dr. J. R. Hervey, Moorhead; Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Mabry, Sampson Mabry, Derma; Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Griffis, Miss Virginia Griffis, Grenada; L. T. Griffis, F. M. Adams, M. W. Barron, Barron Thomas, Sturgis; E. E. Raper, Duck Hill; Mr. and Mrs. Hilliary Collins, Maben; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Finger, Ackerman; Robert D. Taylor, H. A. Cooper, Bentley; A. M. Hill, Columbus, Miss., and St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Spellman, Birmingham; T. B. Harrison, L. K. Arrington, Jackson; J. A. Cooper, B. C. Adams, G. W. Patty, J. T. Thomas, A. N. Rayburn, Mrs. Willie Smith, Grenada; Mrs. A. T. Patterson, Mrs. Edward Pryor, Calhoun City.

The article was taken from a copy of a newspaper, and contains a photograph that could not be scanned. The photo headline and caption are as follows:
Photo: PROMINENT CITIZEN CALLED BY DEATH

“Tom” Taylor

…shown here at his desk, died in Greenville Hospital after long peiod [sic] of ill health.
{An attempt has been made to reproduce the article accurately, including all errors in punctuation and spelling.

The article erroneously makes reference to Thomas Taylor’s half-brother, J. R. Taylor. James R. Taylor was actually a whole brother, also the son of William and Millie Jane Neal Taylor. Thomas’ half-sister, Mrs. Letha Brister, was the daughter of William and Sarah Jane Howard Taylor. She was noted as living in Lipton, La. Lipton is not on any known map and is presumed to be a misspelling.}

From the Webster Progress*, Thursday, April 28, 1910   DIED IN CALHOUN

Mr. William C. Taylor, the aged father of Messrs. William and Thomas Taylor of this city, passed away at his home at Bently [sic], Calhoun county, on last Sunday morning at two o’clock, after having been in declining health for a long period of time.  Mr. Taylor was stricken with paralysis about two years ago and suffered for a long while, but finally partially recovered. He was stricken again last year, and again he convalesced, but the third stroke which appeared some ten days ago proved more than a man of his great age could stand and he grew steadily worse untill [sic] the end. Mr. W. G. Taylor of this city, together with a number of other children were with him in his last hours, and also Mr. Tom Taylor attended the funeral obsequies, which occurred late Sunday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. Flynn, and the interment taking place at Bethlehem cemetery.

 Mr. Taylor was, at death, seventy-nine years of age, and up to the time of his first stroke of paralysis, two years ago, he enjoyed the best of health, and was robust physique. He was a veteran of the Confederate War, was a devout member of the Methodist church, was a good man and exemplary citizen.

 He is survived by seven children, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Messrs. William and Thomas Taylor of this city, J. R. Taylor of Derma, Mesdames S. E. Reaves of Carthage, Ark., and L. C. Cooper of Walthall, and Mr. Robert Taylor and Miss Letha Taylor, the latter two residing with him.

Quite a number of friends here and elsewhere unite with the writer in extending sincerest sympathies for the bereaved ones.

{* The Webster Progress was created by the consolidation in 1908 of the Walthall Warden (established in 1881) and the Eupora Progress (established in 1889). During it’s first few years, the Webster Progress may have been called The Progress-Warden.

William Campbell Taylor was the father of nine children by two wives. Mrs. Susie E. Taylor Reeves (spelled Reaves in the article, the wife of William T. Reeves), Mrs. Mary Ella “Mollie” Taylor Cooper (the wife of Lewis Columbus Cooper), William Green Taylor, James R. Taylor, Thomas Francis Taylor, and Sarah Alice Taylor (who died at the age of thirteen months in 1876), were the children of his first wife, Mrs. Millie Jane Neal Taylor (1833-1880).

Mrs. Bertha Taylor Morgan (who died in 1908, the wife of Edgar F. Morgan), Mrs. Letha Ann Taylor Brister (unmarried at the time of her father’s death), and Robert Dottery Taylor were the children of his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Jane Howard Taylor (1851-1941), who survived him.}