James David Cooper and his family
Born on December 17, 1845[1] in Cass County, Georgia, James David Cooper was the oldest of eight children of Andrew Jackson Cooper and Mary Francis White Cooper[2], both of Henry County, Georgia (southeast of Atlanta). Information from both the 1850 and 1860 census records indicate that the A. J. Cooper family remained permanently in Henry County, Georgia, and that A.J., a farmer, and his wife Mary could both read and write[3]. Davis D. Cooper (Andrew Jackson Cooper's father) passed away in June of 1857 and left James David "2 pots"[4].
During the Civil War, James David was a fireman on a train that ran from Atlanta to Macon[5]. After the war, Andrew Jackson Cooper passed away on December 4, 1865. In January of 1867, 50 acres of land in Henry County, GA was sold as part of the A. J. Cooper Estate for $50.00[6]. Later, on February 2, 1867, the perishable property of the estate was sold. The items sold included a buggy ($5.00); a crop cut saw ($4.00); a grindstone ($3.00); a box of old irons ($2.85) and a scythe & cradle ($0.75); all totaling $15.60[7].
On December 28, 1867, James David married Martha Speed at the bride's home[8] and continued in his father's tradition of what he knew best, farming. He chose near that time to accept Jesus Christ into his life and joined the Baptist Church in Henry County[9] and between 1867 and 1870 the young Cooper family moved to Cherokee County[10], Alabama; a distance of 123 miles to the northeast. James and Martha had a daughter, Callie, born December 13, 1868. Sometime between 1877 and 1880 the Coopers moved to Birmingham, Alabama and then on to Blount County, Alabama[11] (about 60 miles from where they had lived in Cherokee County).
By that time they had four more children: Mary (1871), Charles (1873), Rufus (1875), and John (1877) (info from birth of John and 1880 census)[12]. James David was ordained a Deacon in the Baptist Church there in Blount County, Alabama in 1880 at the age of 35[13].
There is no record of the 1890 census, but by that time James (1880), Sarah (1881), Nancy (1884), Ida (1886) and Martha (1890?) were born[14]. It was on March 25, 1890, assumedly in childbirth, that Martha passed away with 10 children at home, ranging from 21 to newborn. With such a tremendous need at home, it is not surprising that on August 17, 1890
, James David married Amanda Arminda Burgett (born March 19, 1857) who was 12 years his junior[15]. 
The wedding took place at the home of John J. Burgett (Amanda's father).
Amanda was 33 at the time of her wedding. It is hard to imagine what it was like to come into a family with ten children. James and Amanda then had six children of their own: Thomas (1891), Marion (1893), Cynthia (1894), David Barto(1895), Luskie (1896), and Jessie (1899). David Barto Cooper is Janice Faye Cooper Johnson's (Honey) father[16].
(Above are pictures of James David Cooper; the original land platt map for the portion of Blount County, AL where James David's homestead was; the marriage certificate of James David Cooper and Amanda Arminda Burgett; a family picture of James David, Amanda and most of the two Cooper famalies; on a recent visit to Blount County, AL a look at the Cooper property; A look at the same property we visited with James David and family...David Barto Cooper is sitting on the syrup mill; next is a video panorama of James David's land in Blount Co., AL; a family portrait of James David Cooper's 2nd family with Amanda Burgett. Below: The house that James David Cooper built in Seymour, TX shown during a family reunion; a picture of the same home taken in 2004; finally another reunion picture.) Note that any picture may be enlarged by clicking on it!
The 1900 census shows an additional child born in 1891, (a grandson) living with the Coopers. It happened that James David's next to the oldest daughter (by his first wife) Mary Frances Cooper married Amanda Arminda Burgett's younger brother Amos J. Burgett. Mary Frances was 18 and died giving birth to their first child, and the baby (James Franklin Burgett) was raised by James David and Amanda as one of their own. He went throughout life as James Franklin Cooper. That grandson is the grandfather of our Justice of the Peace here in Burkburnett, Nancy Viavattene.
James David and Amanda moved from Blount County, Alabama, to a new life in Seymour, Baylor County, Texas, a distance of 843 miles by 1910[17]. I wonder what their feelings were on leaving the absolute beauty of Blount County, Alabama and moving to the baked plains of Baylor County, Texas. James David was between 55 and 60 at the time of the move, and Amanda was
between 45 and 50.
The 1910 census shows that all the children from his second marriage came to Texas, including James Franklin Cooper (the grandson). The census shows him living next door to James David and Amanda, married to a lady named Pearl (Whetsell). Between 1910 and 1920 James David,
Amanda ("Mandy"), and Jessie moved to Floyd County, Texas[18], which is at the base of the Panhandle. Finally, James David (age 84) and Mandy (age 73) living in Herford, Deaf Smith County, Texas, with their daughter Luskie Vienna and husband Ira and their six children[19].
James David died a few short months after that census on August 4, 1930[20]. His obituary states that he was survived by his wife and twelve children. He actually had 16 children in addition to raising James Franklin Cooper. It is uncertain which of these had passed away prior to James David's death. Amanda always referred to her husband (James David Cooper) as "Mr. Cooper" and said he was " a good Christian father"[21]. She moved back to Seymour, Texas after his death, and lived another six years until her own passing on October 5, 1936 (age 79). Amanda was referred to by her daughter-in-law Pearl Whetsell Cooper as "a dear somebody" who was "always there when there was a need" and "a good mother and grandmother"[22]. Amanda was kind to her grandchidren. Once when David Barto Cooper and family travelled to Hereford, TX to visit, Amanda invited James Ray and Janice Faye Cooper (grandchildren) to swim in the windmill tank of water. They had a ball. According to Grandaughter Janice Faye, "Amanda had the most striking light blue eyes. They looked just like my Dad's. People say my (Honey's) eyes are just like my Dad's."23
[1] 1850 Census of Henry County, Georgia.
[2] Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.
[3] 1860 Census of Henry County, Georgia.
[4] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate settlement filing Book C, p. 400 in Henry County, Georgia on July 1, 1857.
[5] Letter from Tommy A. Cooper to Clarence and Dana Cooper dated 17 July 1978.
[6] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 – 1888 p. 229 in Henry Co., Georgia in January 1867.
[7] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 – 1888 p. 264 in Henry Co., Georgia on Feb. 2, 1867.
[8] Marriage listing A. J. Cooper and Mary F. White May 22, 1844 Book 1837 – 1851, p. 255 Henry Co., Ga.
[9] James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.
[10] Inferred from children's birth places.
[11] Inferred from the 1870 and 1880 census records Cherokee Co., AL and Blount Co., AL.
[12] 1880 census Blount County, Alabama.
[13] James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper, The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.
[14] 1900 census from Blount Co., Alabama.
[15] Marriage certificate James David Cooper and Amanda Arminda Burgett, Blount Co., Alabama.
[16] Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.
[17] 1910 census of Baylor Co., Texas.
[18] 1920 census Floyd Co., Texas.
[19] 1930 census Deaf Smith Co., Texas.
[20] James David Cooper obituary Herford , TX newspaper, The Herford Brand, August 7, 1930.
[21] Personal interview of Pearl Whetsell Cooper June 3, 1977.
[22] ibid.
Born on December 17, 1845[1] in Cass County, Georgia, James David Cooper was the oldest of eight children of Andrew Jackson Cooper and Mary Francis White Cooper[2], both of Henry County, Georgia (southeast of Atlanta). Information from both the 1850 and 1860 census records indicate that the A. J. Cooper family remained permanently in Henry County, Georgia, and that A.J., a farmer, and his wife Mary could both read and write[3]. Davis D. Cooper (Andrew Jackson Cooper's father) passed away in June of 1857 and left James David "2 pots"[4].During the Civil War, James David was a fireman on a train that ran from Atlanta to Macon[5]. After the war, Andrew Jackson Cooper passed away on December 4, 1865. In January of 1867, 50 acres of land in Henry County, GA was sold as part of the A. J. Cooper Estate for $50.00[6]. Later, on February 2, 1867, the perishable property of the estate was sold. The items sold included a buggy ($5.00); a crop cut saw ($4.00); a grindstone ($3.00); a box of old irons ($2.85) and a scythe & cradle ($0.75); all totaling $15.60[7].
On December 28, 1867, James David married Martha Speed at the bride's home[8] and continued in his father's tradition of what he knew best, farming. He chose near that time to accept Jesus Christ into his life and joined the Baptist Church in Henry County[9] and between 1867 and 1870 the young Cooper family moved to Cherokee County[10], Alabama; a distance of 123 miles to the northeast. James and Martha had a daughter, Callie, born December 13, 1868. Sometime between 1877 and 1880 the Coopers moved to Birmingham, Alabama and then on to Blount County, Alabama[11] (about 60 miles from where they had lived in Cherokee County).
By that time they had four more children: Mary (1871), Charles (1873), Rufus (1875), and John (1877) (info from birth of John and 1880 census)[12]. James David was ordained a Deacon in the Baptist Church there in Blount County, Alabama in 1880 at the age of 35[13].There is no record of the 1890 census, but by that time James (1880), Sarah (1881), Nancy (1884), Ida (1886) and Martha (1890?) were born[14]. It was on March 25, 1890, assumedly in childbirth, that Martha passed away with 10 children at home, ranging from 21 to newborn. With such a tremendous need at home, it is not surprising that on August 17, 1890
, James David married Amanda Arminda Burgett (born March 19, 1857) who was 12 years his junior[15]. 
The wedding took place at the home of John J. Burgett (Amanda's father).Amanda was 33 at the time of her wedding. It is hard to imagine what it was like to come into a family with ten children. James and Amanda then had six children of their own: Thomas (1891), Marion (1893), Cynthia (1894), David Barto(1895), Luskie (1896), and Jessie (1899). David Barto Cooper is Janice Faye Cooper Johnson's (Honey) father[16].
(Above are pictures of James David Cooper; the original land platt map for the portion of Blount County, AL where James David's homestead was; the marriage certificate of James David Cooper and Amanda Arminda Burgett; a family picture of James David, Amanda and most of the two Cooper famalies; on a recent visit to Blount County, AL a look at the Cooper property; A look at the same property we visited with James David and family...David Barto Cooper is sitting on the syrup mill; next is a video panorama of James David's land in Blount Co., AL; a family portrait of James David Cooper's 2nd family with Amanda Burgett. Below: The house that James David Cooper built in Seymour, TX shown during a family reunion; a picture of the same home taken in 2004; finally another reunion picture.) Note that any picture may be enlarged by clicking on it!
The 1900 census shows an additional child born in 1891, (a grandson) living with the Coopers. It happened that James David's next to the oldest daughter (by his first wife) Mary Frances Cooper married Amanda Arminda Burgett's younger brother Amos J. Burgett. Mary Frances was 18 and died giving birth to their first child, and the baby (James Franklin Burgett) was raised by James David and Amanda as one of their own. He went throughout life as James Franklin Cooper. That grandson is the grandfather of our Justice of the Peace here in Burkburnett, Nancy Viavattene.
James David and Amanda moved from Blount County, Alabama, to a new life in Seymour, Baylor County, Texas, a distance of 843 miles by 1910[17]. I wonder what their feelings were on leaving the absolute beauty of Blount County, Alabama and moving to the baked plains of Baylor County, Texas. James David was between 55 and 60 at the time of the move, and Amanda was
between 45 and 50.The 1910 census shows that all the children from his second marriage came to Texas, including James Franklin Cooper (the grandson). The census shows him living next door to James David and Amanda, married to a lady named Pearl (Whetsell). Between 1910 and 1920 James David,
Amanda ("Mandy"), and Jessie moved to Floyd County, Texas[18], which is at the base of the Panhandle. Finally, James David (age 84) and Mandy (age 73) living in Herford, Deaf Smith County, Texas, with their daughter Luskie Vienna and husband Ira and their six children[19].James David died a few short months after that census on August 4, 1930[20]. His obituary states that he was survived by his wife and twelve children. He actually had 16 children in addition to raising James Franklin Cooper. It is uncertain which of these had passed away prior to James David's death. Amanda always referred to her husband (James David Cooper) as "Mr. Cooper" and said he was " a good Christian father"[21]. She moved back to Seymour, Texas after his death, and lived another six years until her own passing on October 5, 1936 (age 79). Amanda was referred to by her daughter-in-law Pearl Whetsell Cooper as "a dear somebody" who was "always there when there was a need" and "a good mother and grandmother"[22]. Amanda was kind to her grandchidren. Once when David Barto Cooper and family travelled to Hereford, TX to visit, Amanda invited James Ray and Janice Faye Cooper (grandchildren) to swim in the windmill tank of water. They had a ball. According to Grandaughter Janice Faye, "Amanda had the most striking light blue eyes. They looked just like my Dad's. People say my (Honey's) eyes are just like my Dad's."23
[1] 1850 Census of Henry County, Georgia.
[2] Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.
[3] 1860 Census of Henry County, Georgia.
[4] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate settlement filing Book C, p. 400 in Henry County, Georgia on July 1, 1857.
[5] Letter from Tommy A. Cooper to Clarence and Dana Cooper dated 17 July 1978.
[6] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 – 1888 p. 229 in Henry Co., Georgia in January 1867.
[7] Andrew Jackson Cooper Estate sale Book D, 1860 – 1888 p. 264 in Henry Co., Georgia on Feb. 2, 1867.
[8] Marriage listing A. J. Cooper and Mary F. White May 22, 1844 Book 1837 – 1851, p. 255 Henry Co., Ga.
[9] James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.
[10] Inferred from children's birth places.
[11] Inferred from the 1870 and 1880 census records Cherokee Co., AL and Blount Co., AL.
[12] 1880 census Blount County, Alabama.
[13] James David Cooper obituary in Herford, Texas newspaper, The Herford Brand August 7, 1930.
[14] 1900 census from Blount Co., Alabama.
[15] Marriage certificate James David Cooper and Amanda Arminda Burgett, Blount Co., Alabama.
[16] Family Bible in possession of Luskie Vienne Cooper Bartlett.
[17] 1910 census of Baylor Co., Texas.
[18] 1920 census Floyd Co., Texas.
[19] 1930 census Deaf Smith Co., Texas.
[20] James David Cooper obituary Herford , TX newspaper, The Herford Brand, August 7, 1930.
[21] Personal interview of Pearl Whetsell Cooper June 3, 1977.
[22] ibid.
[23] Personal interview with Janice Johnson August 2008.
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