COOPER, Ama A. (Alexander)

FROM OVER THE COUNTY.

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MORGANTOWN.

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Mrs. Dan Cooper, age 72 years, died Sunday evening. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at the M. E. church by Rev. Childs, of Franklin. Interment at East Hill ceme­tery.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, December 8, 1899,
Volume XL Number 22, page 1 column 5

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OBITUARY.

Mrs. Ama A. Cooper, wife of Daniel W. Cooper, was born in Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1825; died in Hensley town­ship, Oct. 15, 1899, aged 73 years, 10 months and 12 days. Was married to Daniel W. Cooper, Sept. 12, 1844. They lived together 55 years, 1 month and 3 days. To their union were added viz: Martha Jane, wife of Rev. Thos. Wells, Aug 31, 1845; Ama A., wife of Jas. Dearman, Aug 21, 1847; a son Feb 26, 1849, deceased; Nancy Ellen, wife of Newton Watson, Feb 6, 1850; Elizabeth D., wife of Jas. Roberts, May 22, 1854; James B. Dec. 3, 1856 (died at the age of 11 months); Mary L, wife of John Yount, Sept. 4, 1858; Wilber P., April 22, 1861 and Alice May, wife of Wm. A. Rich­ardson, Oct 7, 1864. Of these married children all are living except Martha Jane.

Mrs. Cooper was the daughter of Thos. Alexander, who was so prominent in organizing the schools and churches of Hensley in primitive years and removing the heavy forests of three quarters of a century ago. Mrs. Cooper united with the Baptist church at Morgantown in 1856 and during her connection has been a pillar of influence, doing good by her zeal and love to her brothers and sisters. Like her venerable father, she has been in the front rank in her adopted township over half a century, in the building of the home; in the clearing as well as at the wheel and loom; at the bedside of the sick neighbor or watching over the cradle of her own during the hours of night—at all times an administering angel on duty and on acts of mercy and love. By toil and hardship, frugality and industry; perseverance and watchful­ness, she lived with her dear companion a long and happy life and ere the brittle threads of life were broken she had the satisfaction and pleasure of raising the dear children aright, and after manhood and womanhood to live long and wit­ness their success in life; i.e. to witness their marriages and their permanent settlement with dear and good com­panions and possessing good home­steads with around the hearthstone each enjoying the comforts and blessings of a pleasant home and a happy sur­rounding.

The storms of drifting snows and howling blasts of winter; the beautiful warmth of a summer sun, the early twittering of blue bird and robin—all have their varieties of change, but Mrs. Cooper was at all times the same gentle nature; loving, quiet, with a kind look and encouraging word, all the while placid, unchangeable. Her life was a life of a true woman a devoted wife, a loving mother, a partner who took a leading hand in helping her dear com­panion; a neighbor who yielded a great work over half a century; an example worthy to study and practice.

The companion has lost a treasure; the children a mother whose worth to them can never be replaced; the grand­children one who always took them in her embrace and held them on her knees and impressed on the tender young cheek a grandmother’s loving kiss. The great grandchildren will re­member her many gifts and caresses to them in the years of maturity.

Hensley township has lost an old valuable pioneer; the church a worthy sister; the neighbors a citizen whose place cannot be filled. She has followed two dear little waifs to the last caring home, and at the sick bed of her daughter, Martha Jane Wells, she was a constant watch until the dear daughter was called away to rest. She has left, besides Uncle Dan and children, thirty five grandchildren and two great grand­children to fondly remember her. The funeral services were held at Mor­gantown M. E. church, Oct. 17, 1899, by Rev. Childs of Franklin. Burial at Morgantown cemetery. So one by one is taken home, the faithful old fathers and mothers, who transformed the prim­itive wood into fields of great products; who made the wilderness bloom as the rose.

Amidst the tributaries of Indian creek, in the distance from Trafalgar and Morgan­town, Samaria and Morgan­town pikes and the Big Four railroad from Martinsville and Fairland…[unreadable] Uncle Dan’s [unreadable] home. There, where the Christian com­panion after over half a century of a busy and worthy life, sickened and died. Her sufferings were great, yet with fortitude and patience she waited for the summons from Him, who gives our all and demands of us the same. On her face was the gentle, loving ex­pression that the family and friends knew was “I am going home; meet me in the home of many mansions.” The rainbow is indicative as it dips to the horizon on either side of the blue can­opy, of God’s love and promise, so the placid, peaceful expression of the departing Christian wife was indicative of being happy in the closing moments of life, by the faith within and the promise of the great reward to the faithful Christian.

B.F. Kennedy.   

Link to Ama A. (Alexander) Cooper’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry