Representative Elmer Elijah Cooper View All Years

Memorial to the Honorable Elmer E. Cooper of Adams County

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Elmer E. Cooper, begs leave to submit the following resolution:

Elmer E. Cooper, son of LeRoy and Minerva Cooper, was born on a farm in Douglas township, Adams county, Iowa, September 15, 1883. Soon after his birth his parents moved to the farm which since has been his home, and from which he departed this life August 9, 1948, at the age of 64 years, 10 months and 24 days.

He graduated from Iowa State College in 1910 and since has been an active farmer. He took into consideration all new and progressive farm ideas.

On June 28, 1911, he was united in marriage to Florence Wilmarth. To this union were born four children, all living. He is survived by his wife, by the children, Wanda Sours and her husband, Calvin, of Nora Springs; Wayne L. and his wife, Elsie, of Los Angeles; Willis F. and his wife, Opal, of Corning; Estella Swartz and her husband, Eugene, of Lenox; and by five grandchildren, Carol and Roy Sours, Edward and Florence Swartz, and LeRoy Cooper, besides other relatives and many friends.

The deceased joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age. His relations with the church throughout his life were many. He served on many boards and filled many offices. Nothing pleased him more than to teach a Sunday School class of young men. He was a great student of the Bible and believed in its teachings. To him there was a God, a Heavenly Father.

Mr. Cooper, all through his life, was active in affairs to make better the country and world in which he lived but above all was his interest in his home. He was a true believer that there would be peace in the world only when throughout the world there would be “freedom of expression by the masses without violence.” He served the people of Adams county in the capacity of State Representative through the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fiftieth Extra and Fifty-first regular sessions of the Iowa General Assembly. He was always very humble to the people of Adams county for this great honor.

One has gone from among us who was honest and fearless. He was most appreciative of attentions given, yet he did his best to avoid being a burden to anyone. Nothing roused his temper quicker than what, to him at least, seemed wrong against his fellow man. Goodness, as he was permitted to see it, was his guide.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-third General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Elmer E. Cooper, the people of Adams county and of the entire state of Iowa have sustained a great loss and the House expresses its appreciation of his character and public service and tenders, by this resolution, its sincere and heartfelt sympathy to his beloved family in their great sorrow and loss.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

LEO B. HANNA,

ELMER A. BASS,

ELMER PIEPER,

Committee.