Garland-Dallas County ArArchives Biographies.....Cooper, Lewis D. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 23, 2009, 8:44 am

Source: Citation Appears Below
Author: S. J. Clarke

LEWIS D. COOPER.
    Lewis D. Cooper, a dynamic force in the business circles of Arkansas, the
potency of bis labors and the soundness of his judgment being manifest in the
splendid results which he has achieved, is now engaged in the wholesale grocery
trade in Hot Springs, is vice president of the Security Bank and also the
president of the Cooper Dickerson Grocery Company of Little Rock. What he
attempts he accomplishes and in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. He
early recognized the fact that energy and persistency of purpose will overcome
obstacles and difficulties and by reason of his determination he has advanced
steadily until he is a dominant figure in commercial and financial circles in
the state. He was born in Tulip, Dallas county, Arkansas, October 4. 1862, and
is a son of Dr. L. D. and Catherine (Yawber) Cooper, both of whom were natives
of North Carolina, where they were reared and married. Immediately afterward
they removed to Arkansas, settling at Tulip, where the father continued in
active practice up to within five or six years of his death. Following the death
of his wife he removed to Malvern, where he afterward lived retired. He had
three brothers who served throughout the Civil war in the Confederate army and
who remained residents of Arkansas to the close of hostilities.

    Lewis D. Cooper had but limited educational opportunities. The entire period
of his attendance at school covered only about six months. His education has
been almost self acquired through reading and study and in the school of
experience he has also learned many valuable lessons. On attaining his majority
in 1883 he came to Hot Springs and here purchased a small book store, which he
owned for six or eight years. He had been in the store for only six months,
however, when he secured a position with the Texas Produce Company, which was
operating trading cars through the south on the Iron Mountain Railroad. Mr.
Cooper became representative of the company at Hot Springs and subsequently
purchased the business at this place. The Texas Produce Company had the agency
for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company and while associated with the company Mr.
Cooper became acquainted with Adolphus Busch, an acquaintance that ripened into
a strong personal friendship. One day Mr. Cooper received a telegram from Mr.
Busch asking him to come to St. Louis. He responded to the telegram and in the
conference which ensued Mr. Busch handed him twenty-five thousand dollars in
order to establish himself in business and to take charge of the brewery product
at Hot Springs. From that time Mr. Cooper's business career was assured.
Throughout the lifetime of Mr. Busch the closest personal friendship existed
between the two men and he continued the representative of the latter for a long
period. This important event in Mr. Cooper's life occurred in 1895 and with his
return to Hot Springs he established a wholesale grocery business in connection
with maintaining the agency of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. Since then he
has constantly broadened the scope of his activities.

    In 1891 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Etta Buffington of Hot
Springs and they became parents of two children: Lewis D.. Jr., who is a
graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan of the class of
1916 and is also a graduate of Blee's Military Academy at Macon, Missouri. He is
now employed in connection with his father's business. He served during the
World war as a first lieutenant of the Seventeenth United States Cavalry. The
daughter, Nellie, is deceased, and the wife and mother died in 1899. In August,
1916, Mr. Cooper was married to Estelle Kirkland of Hot Springs. He is well
known through his fraternal associations, belonging to Hot Springs Lodge, No.
380, B. P. O. E.; Hot Springs Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and also to the Rotary
Club and to the Hot Springs Country and Golf Club. He is a man of social genial
nature and of' unfeigned cordiality. In his business career he has worked his
way steadily upward. While he was denied practically all advantages in youth he
has nevertheless carved out his opportunities for the attainment of success and
is today one of the strong factors in the business circles of the state.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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