(2) Richard Thomas Cooper (my great-grandfather) was born 6 Jun 1880 in Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia. He was born to (5) Fannie E. Cooper and his father is not known. He was a barber.
(3) Pearl Estelle Ham Cooper (my great-grandmother) was born 26 Sep 1882 in Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia. Her parents were (6) John Earl Ham and (7) Cinderilla Genevieve “Jennie” Hanson.
Richard Cooper was born right after the 1880 census, the 1890 census was destroyed, and he was not listed in the 1900 census. So, we do not have any record of Richard until 1905.
According to his obituary, he was reared in Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia. The first time we actually see Richard in any documentation is a newspaper article from 11 May 1905. Richard is mentioned in “The Macon News” in a disturbing story about a friend of his that committed suicide by shooting himself in a Macon Gun store. The man, Frank Gordon, left a telegram and a note in his pocket that read, “Send following telegram to R. T. Cooper, Forsyth, Ga. ‘Gordon shot himself. Come quickly.’” The article says, “Cooper is a barber with whom Gordon was intimately associated in Forsyth, and he arrived in Macon this morning. He knew little, however, about the dead man, although he had known him for several years.”
On 8 Aug 1905, Richard T. Cooper and Pearl E Ham marry in Forsyth, Monroe County, GA, and within a year they move to Vidalia, GA in Toombs County.
On 12 May 1906, R. T. Cooper posts an ad looking for a good “white” barber in Vidalia, GA.
On 31 Mar 1907, a newspaper entry mentions that Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Cooper of Vidalia are visiting relatives in Forsyth.
In the 1910 census, Richard (29) and Pearl (26) are living in Vidalia, GA on Morris Street. They own their own house, free and clear with no mortgage, and Richard is a barber. They have two boys, Richard H. (4) and John E. (2). Also living with them is Richard’s grandmother, Martha Dent (70).
In 1915, Richard T. Cooper is listed in the Macon City Directory. He and Pearl are living at 721 Pine and he is listed as a barber.
In 1917, his WWI draft card lists him as living in Macon, GA at 817 Walnut Street. He is described as tall and slender, with black hair and blue eyes. The draft was mandatory and there are no records of him actually serving.
In September of 1918, he was looking for barbers for his barbershop:
In the 1920 census, Richard (39) and Pearl (37) are living in Macon, GA on Walnut Street. They are renting their home and Richard is still a barber. They have 3 sons, Richard H (13), Earl J (11), and (1) Virgil E (8) (my grandfather).
On 12 Jan 1921, Richard was adjudicated bankrupt in Bibb County. In 1921, he is selling his barbershop in the Macon neighborhood of Crump's Park.
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| 4 Nov 1921 |
Pictures from around 1925 to 1927:
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| Pearl Ham Cooper |
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| Virgil Edward Cooper |
In the 1930 census, Richard (48) and Pearl (47) are living in Macon, GA at 2333 Second Street. They are renting their home and have no radio. Richard is still a barber. Their 3 sons are still living with them, Richard H (23), John E (22), and Virgil E (18).
Richard Thomas Cooper died on 23 Feb 1931 of pneumonia at 50 years old. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Macon, GA.
The family story, of his death, is that he was walking home drunk in the cold and fell asleep and caught pneumonia. Unfortunately this fits with the numerous newspaper articles that I have found of him being arrested and prosecuted for public drunkenness, drunk driving, car accidents, and even physical altercations in public. These date from 1919 to 1927.
Here is a newspaper article from “The Macon News” from July 1927:
Later that year, in March, he was brought back into court for drunkenness and actually caught smallpox while being held and had to be kept in isolation instead of the stockade.
I think that this shows that our ancestors were just human and struggled with many of the adversities that still plague us today.
In September of 1937, Pearl's sister, Mattie (Ham) Pharr, dies in her home after suffering a long illness.
In the 1940 census, Pearl is still living at 2333 Second Street. She is listed as the head of the household and has many family members living with her including: her son Virgil E Cooper (28), her daughter-in-law Pauline (24), her granddaughter Shirley Ann Cooper (5), her father J E Ham (81), and her mother Genevieve Ham (79).
In the 1950 census, Pearl (67) is living in Macon, GA with her aunt Annie H Burner (82).
Pearl would live another 28 years, before dying at age 95, on 28 Jul 1978.
Richard Thomas Cooper and Pearl Estelle Ham:
- Richard Hanson Cooper, Sr. m. Gladys H Copley
- Richard Hanson, Jr. Cooper
- Franklin Eugene “Gene" Cooper
- Malcolm “Mac” Edward Cooper
- Hope J. Cooper
- Daniel Cooper
- Phylis R Cooper
- John Earl Cooper m. Essie Irene Cooper
- Betty Louis Cooper (died young)
- Earlene Cooper Burkman
- Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. m. Pauline McClanahan
- Shirley Ann Cooper Byrd
- Peggy Louise Cooper Cox
- Virgil Edward Cooper, Jr.
- Sharon Kay Cooper Rauscher
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| Pearl and Horace |
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| Pearl, Katie, Anne |
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| Virgil Cooper |
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| Pearl and her grandson (me), Clint Rauscher, 1971 |
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| Pearl and her brother's Felix and Roy (and their wives) |
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| Pearl and her son Virgil's Family |
Source Documents:
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| 1919 |
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| 1919 |
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| 1919 |
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| 1920 |
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| 1920 |
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| 1920 |
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| 1921 |
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| 1922 |
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| 1927 |
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| 1937 |
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| Richard T. Cooper's Death Certificate |
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