Biography of Richard F. Hooper, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Hon. Richard F. Hooper was born in Pope County, Ark., December 28,
1849, and is a son of Thomas and Selina (Hatter) Hooper, natives of
North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. When a lad the father
accompanied his parents to Knox County, Tenn., where he grew to
manhood and married. In 1837 he located in Pope County, Ark., and
there reared his family of three sons, Thomas, Richard and Henry. He
died in Conway County, whither he had moved in 1868. During his life-
time he served as justice of the peace, besides filling other local
offices, and he was a soldier in the Mexican War. Our subject lived
with his father until his demise, and after arriving at years of
discretion, and realizing the necessity of a good education, he saved
money enough to enter the Emery and Henry College. As his means were
not sufficient to enable him to complete the college course, he
returned to Arkansas, and for fourteen months taught in Van Buren, at
the Quitman College. In 1876 he went to Ozark and engaged in teaching
at that place, and has since that time spent nine years engaged in the
same vocation in Franklin County, of which he has been a resident
twelve years. Mr. Hooper is one of the leading men of the county in
all educational matters, and has been chosen by the school board of
Ozark as a teacher in the Ozark College for the following year. In the
fall of 1886 he was elected representative of his county by a large
majority, and served in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly with
honorable distinction, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In
connection with teaching, Mr. Hooper is interested in farming, and he
is the owner of over 100 acres of land, the greater part of which is
cultivated. His farm is located on the south side of the Arkansas
River, and is well improved, with good buildings, etc. May 30, 1880,
Prof. Hooper was united in marriage, at Ozark, to Miss Julia Webb,
daughter of Perry F. Webb, one of the pioneer merchants of Ozark, now
deceased. Mrs. Hooper was born in this county, and educated in Ozark.
She has borne four children: Perry Thomas, Selina F. and Christopher
C., now living, and Richard C. who died in infancy. Mr. Hooper is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is a Royal Arch
Mason. His wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church.