My thanks again to Greg Moore for this story and photos of his ancestor, James Neighbors Cooper. If you have information about your Caddo ancestors please contact me.
James Neighbors Cooper was born in Union County, South Carolina in 1838 to Moses and Jane Cooper. The family later moved to Dallas, Paulding County, Georgia where he taught school and assisted with the family farm. He was married to Lucy Hitchcock before enlisting in the Confederate Army on May 31, 1961 at Atlanta with his father, Moses Cooper; brother John F. Cooper; and cousin, James Monroe Cooper; in the 7th Georgia Infantry. He served as captain of his company and was involved in several battles under General Robert E. Lee, including Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.
Around 1892, he moved with his family to the Pleasant Hill Community where he farmed and served as a Church of Christ preacher. His son Daugherty Cooper, lived in Pike City, Arkansas, but the rest of his children- Minnie Ola, Arthur, Cornelius, Robert, Marcus, Eldridge, and Allen- made the move to Pleasant Hill. He conducted several weddings in the Caddo area and he was a popular choice by young couples who were getting married. In the Caddo newspapers around 1900, his name is sometimes mentioned in regard to area weddings. He also called on the newspaper editor when he was visiting in Caddo to give reports on the crop status in the Pleasant Hill Community.
He became a Mason after the war. He died suddenly on March 13, 1901. His funeral service included Masonic rites at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
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