COOPER, Mary Ruth Ellis - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Mary, the aged wife of David Cooper living near Waynetown met with death under horrible circumstances on Wednesday of last week, being butted to death by a ram. Some neighbors, passing happened to notice the animal butting something. On investigation it was found that Mrs. Cooper was already dead. She was born in Mason County, KY in 1842.

AUNT MARY COOPER KILLED BY VICIOUS RAM--UNFORTUNATE WOMAN ALONE WHEN ATTACKED BY ANIMAL

(Died 21 Nov. 1923) Tragedy Discovered by Cooper Gray Who Beat The Animal Off and Cared For Its Victim Aunt Mary Cooper, the aged wife of Uncle Dave Frazee Cooper, living in the Christian Union church neighborhood, south east of Waynetown, met a tragic death Wednesday shortly after noon when she was attacked by a vicious ram in the barn lot and was butted to death by the enraged animal. It appears that Aunt Mary had gone to the mail box to deposit a letter, and was returning to the house when she was attacked by the ram. She was alone at the home at the time, and the discovery of the tragedy was made by Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Gray, who chanced to be passing the home, and discovered the enraged ram butting at some object on the ground. Mr. Gray investigated and was horrified to find that it was Aunt Mary, and that death had already completed the tragedy. He drove the ram off with a club, and the crushed and broken body of Aunt Mary was carried into the home. The report of the tragedy was a great shock to everyone in the entire community. Aunt Mary, as she was endearingly known by everyone, was the daughter of Robert and Lucinda Ellis, and was born in Mason county, Kentucky, May 6, 1842, and was 81 years, 6 months and 14 days at the time of her death. She was married February 25, 1869 to David Cooper, who survives her. She spent much of her life in this immediate vicinity and was considered one of the pioneer residents. She was a very ardent church worker and was a member of the Methodist church. Beside her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Cora Price of Sumner Ill, and Mrs. Clara Bell, of Wenatchee, Wash.; two sons, Sherman Cooper of Columbus, Ohio and Albert Cooper of Bridgeport, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Laura Work, of Lafayette; two brothers, Robert T. Ellis and John R. Ellis, both of Hillsboro. Up to the time we write this, the funeral arrangements had not been completed, as word was awaiting from the distant relatives as to what time they would arrive; but it is more than likely that funeral services will be conducted some time Sunday. Mary Ruth Ellis was the daughter of Lucinda A. (Cotty) and Robert Ellis of Mason Co., KY.

The family came to Montgomery Co., between 1851 and 1853. Her father, Robert Ellis, died September 1855 leaving the mother to raise five children: James William, Mary Ruth, Robert Thomas, Frances Ann, Laura Rebecca all born in Mason Co., and John Richard born in Fountain Co., IN. (Judie Clark - judiepc@charter.net) ======== Mary Ruth Ellis was the daughter of Lucinda A. (Cotty) and Robert Ellis of Mason Co., KY. The family came to Montgomery Co., between 1851 and 1853. Her father, Robert Ellis, died September 1855 leaving the mother to raise five children: James William, Mary Ruth, Robert Thomas, Frances Ann, Laura Rebecca all born in Mason Co., and John Richard born in Fountain Co., IN. (Judie Clark - judiepc@charter.net)

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Thu Nov 22, 1923 p 1