Coopership (Old) Cemetery, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by: Jane McManus

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COOPERSHIP (OLD) CEMETERY

From Leesville, travel South on US Hwy. 171. Turn left (East) onto Jean Chapel Rd. 
near the Flea Market (a small, blue building). Just across the railroad tracks, the 
road turns sharply left. Follow this road about .1 mile, and turn right onto Boyd 
Rd. (an unimproved dirt road). Go approximately .3 miles to the Ferguson property 
on the left (# 251). This cemetery was abandoned many years ago, and all that remains 
are four broken tombstones, some in pieces in the field under a group of trees. It is 
doubtful that the tombstones are even in the area where the burials are. This burial 
site was located by Elton Jackson Jr. of Leesville who was my guide on this day. 
Genealogical information in brackets provided by Paul & Betty Jordan of Leesville, 
descendants of Jane Cooper. Additional census information is also provided. Tombstone 
inscriptions are recorded as approached by Jane P. McManus on 26 March 1996. 


Cooper, Martha J. - 20 Jun 1844/14 May 1896 
Cooper, Jane, wife of J. J. Cooper - 19 Jun 1856/14 May 1896 
[d/o Lewis A. & Mary Ann Perkins] 
[Jane Cooper and Martha J. Cooper died on the same day, could have been an accident 
or illness. I could find no record which would indicate that they were related. JPM] 

Cooper, John J. - Oct 1851/ca 1925-1935 [s/o Joseph Cooper & Nancy Nichols] 
[no marker was found for John, but descendants believe he was buried here with his wife] 

Atwood, Ellen - 18 Feb 1872/20 Jul 1900 
Atwood, Infant - 12 Jul 1900/15 Jul 1900 

Note: Children of John J. Cooper & Jane Perkins are listed in 1880 Vernon Parish Census & 
1900 Vernon Parish Census, and additional dates taken off tombstones: 

Thomas Cooper - 1877 (believed to be the 1st burial in Craft Cemetery); 
Laura Cooper - 12 Feb 1877, married John W. Bartlett (buried Cooper Cemetery); 
Lula Cooper - 30 Apr 1878, married James A. Skinner (buried Cooper Cemetery); 
Jane Cooper - Sep 1881; 
Thomas Cooper - Aug 1883; 
Lee Cooper - 19 Mar 1885 (buried Cooper Cemetery); 
Annie Cooper - Jul 1887; and 
Lorena Mae Cooper - 22 Mar 1891, married Jesse L. Jordan (buried Cooper Cemetery).