Cooper Turner

Narrative:

     Cooper Turner was born on 5 Jan 1871 in LaGrange, Fayette Co., Tennessee.^4,5,6
     Cooper moved to Memphis by 1888, when he was living at 425 Vance, the residence of William L. Cooper, who was also from Fayette Co. How they were related, if they were, is unknown. Cooper was working as a clerk for G. W. Jones & Co., a wholesale drug company.¹³

Beginning a Varied Career --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was working as a porter for Oliver-Finnie Grocer Co. the next year.¹⁴ By 1891 he was a clerk there, and living at 257 Front. By 1892 he had returned to the William Cooper residence.¹⁵ By 1894 he was a collector at Oliver-Finnie, and was boarding at 431 Shelby.¹⁶ By 1895 he was a bookkeeper for the firm, and was living at 66 Madison.¹⁷
     He was working for the U.S. Marshal by 1898, and lving at 274 Union.¹⁸
     The following year he returned to private business, and was working as a clerk for C. F. Farnsworth & Co., cotton buyers, and boarding at 195 Wellington.¹⁹
     Cooper married Elizabeth Tuck Bacon, daughter of Matthew Lyddall Bacon and Martha Washington Tuck, on 5 Oct 1899 in Shelby Co., Tennessee, with R. D. Surratt officiating.^7,8
     He was a bookkeeper for Hart Manufacturing Co., manufacturers and dealers in saddles and harnesses. By 1903 he was cashier for that firm in 1900.^20,21
     Cooper and Elizabeth appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, in the household of Martha Washington Tuck, her mother.²²

Entering the Drug Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was treasurer of Lillybeck Drug Co., a wholesale drug company, by 1904.^23,24
     Cooper and Elizabeth appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 1233 Madison Ave., enumerated 25 Apr 1910, reporting that the family owned its home, free of mortgage. Their children Martha, Cooper and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was her mother, Martha Washington Tuck, and Mollie Worton, age 45, acting as a nurse.²⁵
     Cooper was secretary and treasurer of Ellis-Jones Drug Co., "wholesale druggists, importers, and manufacturing chemists," by 1916. He continued there until about 1919 in 1916.²⁶ He became assistant credit manager at Fly & Hobson Co., wholesale grocers, about 1920. By the next year he was office manager for East End Motor Service Co.^27,28
     Cooper and Elizabeth appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 1637 Eastmoreland, enumerated 10 Jan 1920, reporting that the family owned its home, which was mortgaged. Their children Martha, Cooper and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was her mother, Anne T. Hunt, a niece, age 25 and a school teacher, and Kittie Flint, age 70, the family's cook.²⁹
     He was a clerk for Van Vleet-Mansfield Drug Co. by 1926. That firm advertised that it was in the business of "wholesale drugs, biologicals, sundries, holiday goods, toys, soda fountains, store fixtures, hospital equipment, physicians' supplies, paints, oils and varnishes, insecticides, and mfrs of proprietary medicines and toilet specialties." He was a credit adjuster for a firm by 1930.^30,31
     Cooper and Elizabeth appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 1637 Linden, enumerated 3 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home valued at $10,000, and owned a radio. Their children Martha, Cooper and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was Martha L. Jones, a public school teacher, who was listed as a cousin.³²

New Lines of Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     About 1932 he became president and general manager of Cash & Carry Laundry, Inc., with offices at 464 N. Watkins and branches at twelve locations in the city.³³
     Cooper and Elizabeth appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 1639 Eastmoreland, enumerated 10 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $6,500. Their children Martha and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was cousin Martha L. Jones, now a legal secretary. All reported having lived in the same house in 1935.³⁴
     He was credit manager for Plough Inc., manufacturers of cosmetics and proprietaries, the next year. He was a claims adjuster for that firm by 1940, when he reported he had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $2,400. The company merged with Schering Corp. in 1971 to form Schering-Plough Corp.^35,34,36
     Cooper died on 2 Oct 1961 in 1637 Eastmoreland, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at age 90, from a fall down the stairs at his home.^9,10 He was buried on 3 Oct 1961 in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, in his wife's parents' lot in the Miller Circle section.^11,12