Husband: Benjamin Franklin COOPER (C160)
Born: 1 AUG 1844 at: Covington, , KY Married: 22 JUL 1874 at: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH Died: 1 NOV 1911 at: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH Father:Enos M. COOPER Mother:Rachel K. COOPER Other Spouses: NOTES
Wife: Susan GRINDLE (G653)
Born: JAN 1841 at: , , OH Died: 3 JUL 1904 at: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH Father: Mother: Other Spouses:
CHILDREN
Name: Cassius G. COOPER Born: 1875 at: OH Married: at: Died: at: Spouses:
Name: Frank Pitts COOPER Born: 9 NOV 1876 at: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH Married: 3 MAR 1920 at: Springfield, Clark, OH Died: 26 AUG 1966 at: Fairborn, Greene Co, OH Spouses: Anna Mae HARPHANT NOTES
Benjamin Franklin COOPER was born on 22 August 1844 in Covington, (Kenton County) Kentucky. His parents were Enos M. COOPER and Rachel K. (COOPER) COOPER. When he was about 10 or 12 years old, Benjamin and his family moved to Cincinnati (Hamilton County) Ohio.
On 23 August 1862 Benjamin COOPER, his father Enos COOPER, and a boyhood friend John A. PITTS all enlisted in Company L, 4th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. On the muster-in-roll Benjamin is described as age 18, height 5 feet 6 inches, light complexion, blue eyes and light hair. His occupation is listed as an envelope maker.
In a letter, printed on page 3 of the 'National Tribune', Washington, D.C., Thursday, 25 April 1912, Mr. PITTS recounted the following story of Benjamin COOPER during the Civil War:
We were bunkmates . . . for over two years, and participated in every engagement that the 4th Ohio Cavalry was in until the close of the war. I was detailed at headquarters, which separated us during the later part of the war, but we were together just the same nearly every day. His father also enlisted in the same regiment and company, and called us 'his boys', and looked after our interests as a father would up to the time when he was mortally wounded riding side by side with us.
I can truthfully say that a braver soldier never stepped in shoe leather than B.F. COOPER: always ready for any duty that he was called upon to do by his superiors, never on the sick list, but always ready for duty.
To give a full history of his life during the war would be too much for you to consider, and I will relate only one instance that came under my personal observation to convey to you some idea of his bravery and loyalty, and yet at the same time his always appreciation of right and justice to his fellow-man.
During the battle of Selma, Ala., almost the last engagement we were in before peace was declared, our regiment was among the cavalry forces to attack the enemy in their fortifications at Selma. When the order was given to dismount and prepare to fight on foot, Mr. COOPER was one of the cavalrymen who charged the breastworks near the entrance into Selma, when he went down into the ditch in front of the fortification after the enemy had vacated the breastworks, and with the exception of one brave Confederate, who remained in the fortification to fire the last gun, Mr. COOPER, without any more ammunition for his carbine or revolver, went up the embankment and thru the porthole, and captured the brave Johnny who fired the last shot from the gun. When one of our command, less thoughtful or just, remarked to Mr. COOPER, 'Let us do away with the Johnny,' Mr. COOPER said: "This man is my prisoner, and I propose to take care of him, and if you harm him you will do it over my dead body."
Neither Mr. COOPER's service record nor his pension record mention his being wounded in action. However, in answer to a question about permanent marks or scars, Benjamin lists: 'small scar left eye brow, also left side of mustache, also on thigh right leg, also on wrist of right arm, also on knee joint of left leg.' Mr. COOPER remained a private and was discharged on 24 June 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.
After the war, Mr. COOPER returned to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married there on 22 July 1874 to Susan GRINDLE. Miss GRINDLE was born January 1841 in Ohio and her parents were both born in Pennsylvania. Two children, both boys, were born to this couple. In later life, Mr. COOPER was a Chief Inspector for the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. On his pension papers his weight is listed as 165 lbs. His address was 757 Mt. Hope Rd, Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Susan GRINDLE COOPER died on 3 July 1904 at the age of 63 of cerebral apoplexy. Benjamin COOPER died on 1 November 1911 at the age of 67 of a cerebral hemorrhage. They are both buried in the Wesleyen Cemetery of Cincinnati.
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; 2 November 1911; Ohio (#5545).; Cincinnati Enquirer, November 1911.){kind=small}
; July, 1904; Ohio (Dist #3101, Reg #1340'04-61).){kind=small}
; Cincinnati, (Hamilton), Ohio.){kind=small}
; August 1966.){kind=small}
; National Tribune, Washington, D.C., Thursday, 25 April 1912, p. 3.){kind=small}
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; recorded in Book 1, Page 351?; 22 July 1874, Hamilton County, Ohio.; Wesleyan Cemetery of Cincinnati, 8 September 1904.){kind=small}
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. Volume XI. p. 228 (Enos M. COOPER), p. 229 (Benjamin F. COOPER), p. 768 (Enos M. COOPER).){kind=small}
; Cincinnati, (Hamilton), Ohio (4th ward, M653.971.329, p. 161, line 17, house 558, family 1262).){kind=small}
; 622 West Eighth Street, Cincinnati, (Hamilton), Ohio, (20th ward, house 196, family 340).){kind=small}
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; 757 Mt. Hope Rd., Cincinnati, (Hamilton), Ohio, (T623. ED 249, sheet 5, ward of city 29, #75-87).){kind=small}
; Cincinnati, (Hamilton), Ohio, (20th ward, T624.1193.219, house 153, family 158, lines 20-22).