Cooper - James Family
JAMES COOPER - family
FAMILY REUNION: A handwritten copy of an article regarding a reunion of the descendants of James and Lucinda Allen Cooper passed down to me through Mary Ruth Cooper Dunham from Mary K. Simmons Strong of Crawfordsville. The date at the top says "Hillsboro" Fall of 1955. I have added notes in parenthesis to show relationships with the family.
Honoring Miss Mary Mae Cooper (daughter of Miles and Lilly Nicholson Cooper) who is home on a year's furlough from her missionary work in Africa, where she has been located for the past 25 years, a family reunion of the Cooper family was held Saturday. A picnic dinner was spread at the Hillsboro Rest Park for about 80 guests who were descendants of the late James and Lucinda Allen Cooper.
Following the picnic dinner they adjourned to the auditorium of the Hillsboro High School building where a program was presented. Myron Walker (Mile's g.son, son of Millie and Earl Cooper Walker) of Danville, IL was the master of ceremonies. He announced the program and made introductions of the families represented.
Harry Preston Cooper Jr. and Earl Long Cooper (Mile's son Harry Preston Cooper Sr.'s sons), all of Indianapolis, conduction the memorial service for the grandparents, Miles and Lily Nicholson Cooper, and the following members of their family. Mrs. Cooper died in 1923; Miss Dorothy Cooper in 1939; Mrs. Miranda (Cooper) Speak in 1942; Miles Cooper and Harry P. Cooper both in 1947; Mrs. Mittie Walker in 1948; Sollie (James Solomon) Cooper in 1954 and Mrs. Ida Cooper Clements in 1955. Of their family (Miles and Lilly) of 11 children, those living are: Shirley Cooper and Henry Cooper Of Indianapolis; Mrs. Katy Stuart of Muncie; Miss Mary Cooper of Africa and her twin brother Marion R. Cooper of Hillsboro. Mrs. Stuart and Shirley Cooper were unable to attend. During the memorial service a recording was played on songs sung by the late Miles Cooper.
In the family of 16 children of James and Lucinda Cooper, either were represented by some descendant. Those Represented were descendants of Cary, Miles, Joel, David F., Austin M., Lemuel, Elizabeth (Peters) and Rosetta (Donaldson) Cooper.
Special recognition was give the descendants having been married the longest. Mr. and Mrs. Marion H. Cooper and Mrs. and Mrs. Henry F. Cooper, both couples having celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1955; the oldest person present, Charles Marion Cooper of Mellot, (son of Cary 1869-1971, He lived to be 102). The Youngest, 1, son of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Walker, Danville, IL.; coming the greatest distance was Kenneth Tinsley (g.son of Austin) of Denver, Colo. with a close second by Miles Speak of St. Paul., Minn. Having the most members present was the family of Sollie (James Solomon) Cooper.
Musical selections were a vocal solo by Brian Hall, grandson of Sollie Cooper accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Pearl Hall; an accordion solo by Jack Speak of St. Paul., Minn, grandson of the late Miranda Speak and a vocal duet by Annie and Bill Cooper, grandchildren (children of Marion R. Cooper) of the late Miles Cooper.
Films were shown by the memorial committed of the family reunions of the Miles Cooper family held in 1940 and 1942. Miss Mary Cooper also showed pictures of her work in Portuguese East Africa...she left the reunion Saturday on a speaking tour in northwest Indiana district of the Nazarene Church, to speak every night until Dec. 11, when she expects to return to Hillsboro.
Myron Walker of Danville served as chairman of the reunion and Mrs. Maxine Bever (daughter of Sollie) as secretary. In closing the group sang "Blest Be the Tie" and "God be with you till We Meet Again."