Davidson-Cocke-Knox County TN Archives Biographies.....Hooper, Ben W. 1870 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com October 26, 2005, 2:33 pm

Author: Will T. Hale

   BEN W. HOOPER was born in Newport, Tennessee, October 13, 1870. When about

six years of age he was taken from the streets of Knoxville and consigned to St.

John's Orphanage. He remained there until removed a few years later by Dr. L. W.

Hooper, of Newport, who reared and educated him.



   He graduated at Carson & Newman College, in 1890, and soon afterward began

the study of law.



   When between twenty-one and twenty-two years of age, he was nominated by the

Republicans of Cocke county for representative, and was elected to serve in the

general assembly of 1893. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1895. In the

legislature he manifested those qualities of leadership which have since given

him success. He was the leader of the anti-saloon forces in the legislature, as

he was, fifteen years later, in the wider field of state politics.



   After he left the legislature, he forsook politics, and confined his

attention to the practice of the law.



   In 1898 he commanded Company C, Sixth United States Volunteer Infantry, in

the Spanish-American war in Porto Rico.



   From 1906 to 1910 he served as assistant United States attorney for the

eastern district of Tennessee.



   On August 16, 1910, after a candidacy of only a few days, he was nominated by

the Republican State Convention for governor. On September 14th, his candidacy

was endorsed by the State Convention of the Independent Democrats.



   He waged a vigorous campaign, and was elected over his Democratic opponent,

Senator Robert L. Taylor.



   Governor Hooper's first administration was distinguished by his strong stand

in favor of the enforcement of the laws, his reformation of the penal

institution of the state, the increased activity and efficiency of the

Agricultural Department, the awakened interest in good roads, and the conduct of

the state government according to business methods.



   To carry out his ideas, Governor Hooper called to his aid men of all parties

and elements. He took great pride in the fact that his administration had been

something more than a partisan one.



   The beginning of his administration was marked by a struggle between the

governor and a hostile majority in the legislature.



   In 1912 he was re-nominated by the Republicans without opposition, and was

again endorsed by the Independent Democrats. He defeated, at the polls, the

Democratic nominee, Hon. Benton McMillin, although the Republican party was

divided nationally between Taft and Roosevelt.



   Governor Hooper was united in marriage, on September 25, 1901, to Miss Anna

B. Jones, of Newport, Tennessee. She is a woman of character and culture, and

has been a comrade as well as a companion to her husband in all his struggles.

Both are members of the Baptist church. They have five children.



Additional Comments:
From:



A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in

commerce, industry and modern activities

by Will T. Hale

Chicago:  Lewis Pub. Co.,  1913



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