Joseph L Cooper: Spanish War Soldier

WILLIAM COOPER > AMOS COOPER > CHALKLEY JARED COOPER > JOSEPH L COOPER

Joseph

m Carrie Miles

Joseph L Cooper had a pioneering spirit like many of the Coopers. His daughter, Jessie, married a member of the Miracle Braves of 1914, Leslie Mann.  His parents, Chalkley Jared Cooper and Margaret Thompson had nine children and Joseph came along smack dab in the middle on 17 Mar 1849 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois.

The Civil War was raging and many of his family had enlisted in the Army when at 13, Joseph attempted to fake his way into the Army himself. He failed, but would make up for it later. In 1874, he went to Nebraska and went into business with his brother Capt Robert T Cooper in the milling business at Seward. Joe was a tinner by trade and engaged in this business for several years at Seward, David City, Bloomington, Kearney, and Grand Island.

He married Carrie Miles, who had been born in Marengo, Iowa, on 31 Aug 1866 in Buffalo, Nebraska on 26 Dec 1881. They had three children: Fred Harmon, who died at age 30 in 1914 in Lincoln, Nebraska; Jennie L., who was born in Jul 1889 and died prior to 1920 in Nebraska, and Jessie L, who was born 02 Mar 1894 in Norfolk, Nebraska and died in 1969 in Los Angeles County, California.

The family moved to Lincoln in 1894. A couple years later, Joseph finally got his chance to serve when he joined up with Company E, 1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1898. He was issued a pension and his wife Carrie received his pension after his death. He started out at the Lancaster County fairgrounds which had become Camp Alvin Saunders before being sent by sea to the Philippines. He was nearly 50 years old.

"Camp Alvin Saunders was the muster in camp for the 1st and 2nd Nebraska Volunteer Infantry regiments for the Spanish American War. The camp was at the state fairgrounds in Lincoln, Nebraska. The camp was named after Alvin Saunders who was governor of Nebraska Territory during the Civil War. The camp had a short-life, primarily from April 26-May 19, 1898. The 1st Nebraska left Camp Saunders on May 16, 1898 for San Francisco and the 2nd Nebraska departed on May 19, 1898 for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Georgia. William Jennings Bryan, who became the Colonel and regimental commander of the 3rd Nebraska regiment, was reported being at Camp Saunders with “[a] corporals guard of volunteers” when the 2nd Nebraska departed on May 19. No recruits had been accepted yet for the 3rd regiment as of May 19, but these men were temporarily used to maintain order and guard the state’s property at the camp. The 3rd Nebraska assembled and mustered in at Fort Omaha beginning about June 12, 1898 so the stay of the regimental “cadre” at Camp Saunders was also very short."
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/military/SpanishAmericanWar/camp.htm

I recommend reading this very informative article on the 1st Nebraska Infantry here for details on the war and the unit where Joseph L. Cooper served.

The men of Company E enjoy Christmas dinner at
Camp Santa Mesa, December 25, 1898

The camp of Company E near the pumping station. 

Joseph returned to Lincoln after the war and worked as a day laborer. In 1920, he and Carrie were empty-nesters and he was running a second hand shop. I believe Jennie died between 1910-1920. In 1910 she was working in a factory. She is not listed as surviving on the obits of either Joseph or Carrie.

Carrie was greatly involved in the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) Auxiliary and was a past president of the Lincoln Chapter. The couple lived at 1934 N 30th St in Lincoln for many years.

1934 N 30th St Lincoln

Joseph lived until 13 Dec 1930 and siblings Susie Cooper Jones, Chalkley Jared "Jay" Cooper, Jr., and Barton Gourley Cooper survived him. His wife Carried died 18 Dec 1944 in Lincoln.

See for update on Jennie L. Cooper Conklin go here.