Biography of ELI D. HOOPER, Logan Co, AR

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Submitted by:  Delaine Edwards <delaine@ipa.net>
        Date:  29 Jun 1999
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago and Nashville, 1891.
Logan County

	ELI D. HOOPER, merchant and farmer, Magazine, Ark. Mr. Hooper,
who is classed among the successful business men and enterprising
farmers of the county, was originally from Illinois, his birth
occurring in that State in 1837. His parents, Clayburn R. and
Mary A. (Story) Hooper, were natives of the Blue-Grass State, the
former born in 1813 and the latter in 1819. The paternal grandparents
of our subject were James and Jemima Hooper, and the maternal
grandfather was Solomon Story. Clayburn R. Hooper was the father
of eleven children, ten of whom are now living and named in the
order of their births as follows: Eli D., Sidney J. (wife of L.P.
Ellington), Mary J. (wife of John O. Hall), Peter W., Grace A.
(relict of John Rankins), Martha E. (wife of N.L. Hardin), Eliza E.
(wife of George G. Loyd), Josephine (wife of J.W. Worley), Nancy
Caroline (wife of W.S. Blanton) and Caledonia (wife of Henry Chappell.)
In 1849 Eli D. Hooper came with his parents to Arkansas, where the
father took up 200 acres of Government land. The latter enlisted in
Company B, Third Illinois Infantry, and served during the Mexican War,
participating in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. His death
occurred on December 29, 1875. Eli Hooper began for himself at the
age of seventeen, working for wages and with the proceeds attending
college. He enaged in merchandising in 1866 in Illinois, and there
he remained until the latter part of 1867, when he returned to
Arkansas and brought goods from Illinois and St. Louis. He
established himself in the same business at Long Ridge, and in
connection carried on a gin, which he had erected soon after
coming there. In 1870 he removed his stock to what is now Magazine,
at that time the first store, built a grist-mill and gin, and there
he has been continuously in business up to the present time. He
established a post-office at that point, and he also established
a store at his farm in Petit Jean Valley. In the two stores he
carries a general stock of about $5,000, and does an annual
business of about $15,000. His farm in the Petit Jean Valley is
considered one of the finest and consists of 756 acres lying the
full width of the valley, and is one and a fourth miles in length.
He has also in Reveille Township 436 acres of land, upon a part of
which the greater portion of the town of Magazine was built. Upon
his farm and in Magazine Mr. Hooper has the finest residences in
Logan County, and his other buildings are of a first-class order.
He devotes his attention to the raising of corn and cotton, his
farm in Petit Jean Valley being especially adapted to that, and
also gives considerable attention to the raising of horses, mules,
cattle and hogs. Mr. Hooper was married in 1865 to Miss Martha J.
Franklin, a native of Illinois, born in 1844, and the daughter of
William B. Franklin. Mrs. Hooper died on July 16, 1866, leaving two
children, twins, one of whom died when about sixteen years of age.
The other, William F., is now a physician in Magazine, where he is
earning for himself an enviable reputation in his profession. On
December 25, 1867, Mr. Hooper was united in marriage to Miss Margaret
E. Loyd, who was born in Alabama in 1840, and who was the daughter of
Thomas and Sarah Loyd. The fruits of this union were eight children:
Patsie (wife of S.D. Sanderfer), Sallie (wife of W.M. McIntrerf),
Mary O. (wife of J.L. Gamble), Nellie W., Thomas P., Nancy L.,
Daniel W. and Henry C. In 1872 Mr. Hooper was made a member of the
board of supervisors, and he filled the position of postmaster at
Magazine for about fourteen years. For many years he has been a
member of the Masonic fraternity. He has always been a man of great
energy and perseverance, and although he has met with many reverses,
he has always pushed forward again. He takes a prominent part in,
and is a liberal contributor to, all worthy enterprises.