Cooper, William Gill , Jr.

Four Generations
Front: Eugene Franklin Van Wagn, William Gill Cooper, Jr.
Standing: Alice Gertrude (Ford) Van Wagn, Laura (Cooper) Ford

William G. Cooper was born in Hinds County, Mississippi where he lived with his family in the Spring Ridge Community. He was the son of William G. Cooper, Sr. and Dempsy Donaho.

His wife, Helen, died from typhoid fever in 1880 and left William with five children. He then married Henrietta Helm, the widow of N. Cates.

W. G. Cooper wrote a letter April 19, 1909, to his cousin, Colonel Duncan Brown
Cooper. "Dear Cousin, I was truly glad to hear from you. I will give you a short sketch of my life as a soldier. In June 1856 I enlisted in Co. G, First Mississippi Regiment, Col. Jefferson Davis commanding. Was in the storm of Monterrey and was wounded in my leg; and then in the Battle of Buena Vista. My oldest brother Lewis was killed in that fight. We lost ten men of our Co. I got through that battle without a scratch. I think it was about the hardest days work I ever did.

Now, as to the Civil War, our first fight was the Battle of Corinth. Before that we were kept pretty busy keeping back said Yanks from Memphis. After the fight at Corinth, we were ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana where we fought Yankees and Negroes for more than two months. After the surrender, all the privates were paroled and sent home.

Not so with the officers. We were sent to prison. First to New Orleans then to Governors Island, New York and from there to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Stayed there two winters - cold and starvation was our rations. I was released and sent home in June after the surrender of General Lee.
We have an annual reunion of old Mexican war veterans. This year it will be in San Antonio.

My regards to Robin.

Yours truly, Wm. G. Cooper

He wrote another letter where he mentioned to Old Soldier's Convention. The convention has being held in Dallas that year and he mentioned that there were only a few old soldiers remaining from the Mexican War. He did mention that you could get any kind of room you wanted there. Rooms ranged from six bits to $2.75 per day. He went on to mention that they had buffalo meat, plenty of it, good and fat.

William G. Cooper spent the later years of his life in the Rowlett area with his children, nieces and nephew. He died in the Rowlett home of his daughter, Mrs. George Kirby, on February, 29, 1912. The funeral was conducted by Rev. J. M. Hunt and burial was at Cottonwood Cemetery. Mr. Cooper had been feeble for several months, but was improving in health when he was stricken with erysipelas which caused his death in a few days. Captain Cooper was a veteran of the Mexican War, Civil War and Indian Wars.
The later years of his lefe were spent in the Rowlett area with his children, nieces and nephews. He died at the home of his duaghter, Mrs. George Kirby. He had been feeble for several months, but was improving in health when he was stricken with erysipelas which caused his death in a few days.

He is survived by four children; Mrs. L. A. Ford, Mrs. J. C. Powers, both of Dallas; Mrs. L. A. Russell of Meridian, Mississippi, and M. M. Cooper of Drew, Mississippi. The three daughters were at Rowlett for the funeral.