Rebecca and Joseph Cooper had some very good neighbors at Pittsfield, Illinois. Among them were the family - Abiah and Andasire (Hill) Curless who became 'in-laws' after Wm. Edward married two of their daughters, Rachel Ann (b. 05 Feb 1848; m. 22 Feb 1866; d. 15 Feb 1892) and Julia Ann Curless (b. 11 Oct 1869; m. 02 Mar 1893; d. 02 Sep 1899). Land records show Rebecca Cooper living in Section 15 of Pittsfield, IL. Other neighbors living near Rebecca at this time were A. Curless (Section 9 & 10), and Mr. Gerton (he was mentioned as having helped Rebecca cut her 75 acres of wheat). Joseph Merrick Bush lived in the neighborhood. He was the editor of the Pike Co. Democrat at that time. William A. Grimshaw lived nearby. He was an attorney and civil leader, and was the oldest son of William Grimshaw, the noted historical author. Apparently, back when horses were the mode of transportation, neighbors assisted each other and looked after one another. Your neighbors were most likely your social connections out in the rural areas. The same holds true in some cases today.
Members of the Joseph and Rebecca Cooper family, in order of their birth, were:
* Franklin J. Cooper: b. 13 Nov 1841; m. 29 Nov 1866 to Margaret 'Lizzie' Eliza Sweringen at Pike Co., Illinois; d. 14 May 1921 at Patoka, Marion Co., Illinois. Children listed for Franklin and Margaret were Marie (Mary E.) Cooper and P.W. Cooper. I have no dates or records to verify these births. Margaret Sweringen: b. Feb 1847; d. 11 Jan 1918.
*William Edward Cooper: b. 01 Jul 1845; m. to Rachel Ann Curless on 22 Feb 1866; m. to Julie Ann Curless on 02 Mar 1893; 07 Nov 1927. Rachel Ann Curless: b. 05 Feb 1848; m. 22 Feb 1866; d. 15 Feb 1892; Julia Ann Curless: b. 11 Oct 1869; m. 02 Mar 1893; d. 02 Sep 1899. Children listed for Wm. Edward and Rachel Ann are: *John Franklin Cooper: b. 22 Nov 1866; m. to Nora Evelyn Austin 15 Sep 1891; d. 09 Mar 1955. *Charles Cooper: b. 19 Feb 1868; d. 03 Mar 1868. *William Walter Cooper: b. 07 Sep 1870; m. 29 Oct 1893 to Ada Mae Staples; d. 30 Dec 1940. *Nellie Rose Cooper: b. 03 Oct 1872; m. [date unknown] William Mayclin; d. 09 Jul 1967. *Philander 'Rollie' Roland Cooper: b. 16 Sep 1874; m. to [date unknown] Katherine E. Rowe; d. 25 Feb 1960. *Milo Merton Cooper: b. 14 Jan 1877; m. [date unknown] Lydia Elizabeth Unknown; d. 12 Jun 1963. *Ada Lena Cooper: b. 27 Dec 1878; m. 12 Apr 1896 to Arthur T. Stafford; d. 17 May 1942. *Alta Cooper: b. 05 Dec 1880; d. 05 Feb 1881. *Alma Pearl Cooper: b. 06 May 1882; m. [date unknown] to Dr. Frank Rowland Molsberry; d. 10 Sep 1939. Children listed for Wm. Edward and Julia Ann are: Cecil Clayton Cooper: b. [I do not have a birth date for Cecil]; m. 08 May 1917; d. [Cecil is recently deceased, but I do not have his record at hand at this time] and Guy Sherman Cooper: [I have no records for Guy at this time.]
* Francis Marion Cooper: b. 18 Oct 1848 in; m. to Mary M. "Polly" Metcalf; d. 07 Jul 1910 at Santa Anna, Orange Co., California, USA (this date might be the date of his burial). He also served during the Civil War as a Private in Co. H, 137th Illinois Infantry. Mary Metcalf (b. 13 Mar 1854 at Alperton, Harrow, Middlesex, England; m. [do not have this date]; d. 22 Feb 1940 at Santa Ana, Orange, California, USA) No children have been discovered for this couple. Francis was 61 years of age at his death.
* Jacob Milton Cooper: b. 05 Sep 1850; m. 04 Sep 1873 to Josie C. Underwood; d. 1915 at the age of 74. Children of Jacob Milton and Josie were: *Duncan Milton Cooper: b. 08 Aug 1875; m. to Maude Serena Epperson 11 Sep 1901; d. 12 May 1978. *Frank Duane Cooper: b. 23 Jan 1880; m. to Della Bernice Hodgson 29 Sep 1906; d. 28 Mar 1953.
* Mary E. 'Molly' Cooper: b. Dec 1852; m. 17 Nov 1870 to James M. Sewell; d. 03 Jul 1935. Children of Molly and James were: *Viola May Sewell: b. Abt. 1876; d. [no known date], *Edith Sewell: b. Abt. 1879; d. [no known date], and *Mable Florence Sewell: b. 11 Sep 1881; m. 25 Nov 1903 to George Greer Maule; d. 12 Apr 1947.
* Nellie J. Cooper: b. [no birth date known]; m. to a Mr. McIntire [no date known]; d. 16 Feb 1901 at Knob Noster, Missouri. [I have no record of children for this couple]
The photo above is the family of Wm. Edward Cooper and children from the marriage with his first wife, Rachel Curless (she died at the age of 44). In the top row, left to right, are Philander Rollie, John Franklin, Nellie Rose, and Ada Lena. Seated are, left to right, William Edward, Milo Merton, Elma Pearl, and my grandfather, William Walter. The photo was taken in Sac City, Iowa, but I am not sure of the date. Since Alma Pearl is the youngest child in the photo, and her birth was in 1882, the photo may be about 1892, possibly after the funeral of their mother, Rachel Ann, d. Feb. 15, 1892.
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