My Genealogy Hound

Benjamin Hooper. Among the many men who have attained prominence in agricultural pursuits in Laclede County, Mo., may be mentioned Mr. Hooper, who was born in Caswell County, N. C., January 20, 1811, and is one of three surviving members of a family of ten children born to the marriage of Woodley Hooper and Priscilla Henderson. The father was born in Virginia, and came to North Carolina, in company with his mother, when a young man, his father having died in Virginia. Woodley was a farmer throughout life, and died in Caswell County in 1852, when about eighty years of age, his wife dying in 1840. The Henderson family became residents of North Carolina about the same time as the Hooper family, and Grandfather Henderson was a very extensive land and slave owner, and spent much of his time in hunting on his extensive farms. He was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of fourteen children, and by his last, five. Benjamin Hooper, whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood in his native State, and when twenty-one years of age hired out on a farm, receiving for his services $40 per year, but soon after gave up this work and began learning the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for about one year. About this time he and his brother-in-law engaged in the grocery and saloon business, but Mr. Hooper discontinued this at the end of one year, and has since been interested in husbandry. In 1842 he immigrated to Missouri by wagon, with the Turner families, and the first two years resided in Greene County, but since the fall of 1845 has been a resident of Laclede County, and since 1850 has resided on his present farm. During the late war he served one month in the Home Guards, while Price was making his raid through Missouri, but he and family were not molested during the entire war. In 1848 he was married to Miss Alvira P. Gunter, who was born in Alabama in 1826, a daughter of James and Mary R. (King) Gunter, who were born and married in Tennessee, and afterward moved to Alabama. They came to Missouri in 1835, but died in Moniteau County, Mo., in 1872 and 1855, respectively. Three of their ten children are now living: Thomas, Louisa (Dowell) and Alvira (Mrs. Hooper). The latter has been a resident of Missouri since she was nine years old, and to her marriage with Mr. Hooper ten children have been born, only two of whom are living: Sarah J., wife of F. M. McChane, and Benjamin C., who resides on the home farm with his parents. Two other children lived to be grown: Mary P., the wife of G. G. Bloomfield, and Fannie, wife of Benjamin Ballenger. The others died in infancy and childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have been members of the Christian Church since 1844, and he is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and in politics is a Democrat. His son, Benjamin C., was born on the home farm in Laclede County in February, 1858, and March 16, 1884, was married to Miss Martha Wallace, who was born in Dade County, Mo., November 30, 1866, and by her became the father of two children: Carl V., and Henry, who is deceased. They are also members of the Christian Church, and he belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. He has a good farm under cultivation, and is well fixed financially.