Newton County GaArchives News.....COL. JAS. P. COOLEY ENTERS RACE FOR SOLICITOR OF THE NEW COURT August 30, 1907 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 April 9, 2006, 8:56 pm The Enterprise August 30, 1907 By L. L. F. and W. F. T. The announcement of Col Jas. P. Cooley for Solicitor of the new Court will be found under the proper heading in today’s issue of the Enterprise. It was not Editor Cooley’s desire to give an account of his early struggles, the time when the splendid character we all know him to possess was molded into principles of right, justice and fairness, but, knowing full the high admiration in which he is held by his employees in the Enterprise office, and to satisfy our wishes, he turned over to us for publication a photo and short story of his life, and below we present the same, hoping that it will ___ the careful consideration of the citizens of the good old county of Newton. Mr. Cooley was born in Newberry, South Carolina, 27 years ago. The father died when James was only five years old, and the mother, with five small children, was left on the farm. The responsibilities and duties of the humble little home fell upon J. P. at the age of 7, and since that time has acted well a man’s part. He was familiarly known as “little Jimmy,” being the youngest and smallest boy who ever drove a team and plowed in Newberry County. When only 12 years of age he drove a team and wagon alone from Newberry into the mountains of North Carolina, a distance of over 100 miles, sleeping on the road and in covered bridges. The family then moved to Cherokee Springs, S. C., where James engaged in farming and hauling corn wood. He doesn’t remember when he learned to read, having been taught the alphabet by the loving mother who ever eagerly looked forward to the day when her son should fulfill the hopes of the bright future she had predicted for him. He studied at night, took all the newspapers he could pay for and read them closely, and was one of the best informed boys in the county on current events. During these spare hours he also read the Bible through three times. Young Cooley took a great interest in things political, being personally acquainted with all the leading politicians of his state. During this period he organized a debating club, in which he and others discussed everything from a bull yearling to the tariff question. When he was 17, his mother married again, and J. P. entered the broad arena to fight the unseen battles of life alone. He took a position in a cotton mill, where he worked from the picker room to the stamping room. However, realizing the need, powers, etc., of education, he communicated with Pres. L. B. Haynes, of Leesville college and secured work at five cents per hour. With fifty cents in his pocket he arrived on the scene of his new labors, worked every evening, morning and on Saturday, carrying wood and delivering groceries, and attended school during the day. At the end of his second year in school he stood the teachers examination, together with a large number of wealthy boys, and was the only one to make first grade license. The first school taught at the close of his third college year, was out in the country, and for two months he received the enormous sum of $28 per month. He kept up all studies until the course of Leesville was completed. He also matriculated at the University of North Carolina, making a fine record in this noted institution of learning. On February 28, 1901, Mr. Cooley landed in Georgia and of course, came to the best county, Newton. He was principal of Oakland High School for three years, and of Livingston High School two years. His excellent work at these institutions is vouchsafed by the entire citizenry of these enterprising communities. Mr. Cooley was happily married on December 29, 1908, to Miss Annie Woodruff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Woodruff, of Porterdale. To them one bright son was born and lived for six months, then passed away; and the wife, too, answered the call of the Master and left a dark cloud of sorrow on the horizon of the devoted husband’s life. While teaching in South Carolina and Georgia, Mr. Cooley devoted much of his time to the reading of the law. He stood the examination for admission to the bar in Judge Roan’s court, Atlanta, on June 18, 1906, and his excellent papers were highly complimented by the Judge and others. He at once opened a law office in Covington and since his admission, it is safe to say that he has had charge of more cases and received more foes than any young lawyer in the county. Col. Cooley has always taken a leading part in the Covington fraternal orders, holding office in each lodge. The Colonel’s political aspirations date back to his early life of the Palmetto State, when, at the age of 9 years, he heard the candidates for congress speak, determining then to strive to be worthy of a congressional toga when he reached manhood’s estate. He has never held any office except Justice of the Peace, having last fall been elected to that position in the Covington district by a flattering vote. He keeps well informed in all public questions; being ever watchful of the best that is in store in the way of affairs of interest to the people of the county and his untiring labors in matters of educational are unquestioned. Col. Cooley is in every way qualified to fill the office which he seeks. He is a splendid type of the man of character, brain and brawn ____ been developed our country in the present high standard of civilization, our country boys, and should the citizens of Newton place the Solicitor ship in his hands an able and impartial prosecuting officer will be theirs. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/newton/newspapers/coljaspc1307gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb