My Genealogy Hound

M. H. Cooper, assessor of Hickory County, Mo., and native of the same, was born in 1845, being one of thirteen children who grew to maturity (twelve of whom are still living) born to John P. and Mary (Bond) Cooper, who were Kentuckians, the father’s birth occurring in 1815. He grew to manhood in his native State, was there married, and in 1839 came to Missouri, and became one of the pioneers of Hickory County. Previous to the Rebellion he was a Democrat in politics, and afterward was a stanch Republican. He died in April, 1880. M. H. Cooper was the fourth of their children, and at the early age of sixteen years enlisted in the Federal Army, Enrolled Militia, but about a year afterward was chosen into the State Rangers, and finally entered the Regular Army on the 16th day of June, 1864, and was mustered out of service June 31, 1865. After the war he attended school for a year or two, and then taught school two terms, and up to the present time has been engaged in farming, being now the owner of eighty acres of land. He is a member of the G. A. R., is a Republican in politics, and in 1886 was elected by that party to the office of county assessor, and was re-elected in 1888. He was deputy sheriff under William A. Pitts. December 12, 1869, he was married to Miss Laura F. Pitts, who was born in Tennessee in 1845. They have three children: Mollie, Rosa and Bonnie.