J. B. COOPER, ESQ., was born January 25, 1831, in Bedford County, son of George and Sallie (Rutlege) COOPER. The father was born about 1796, and the mother about 1798. They both died when our subject was an infant and he was reared by his aunt, Matilda RUTLEGE, whom he assisted on the farm until her death, which occurred about 1871. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. In 1870 he was elected to the office of magistrate and filled that position in an able and efficient manner. He then began the study of law, and about 1876 the county court granted him license to practice law before the county court and before magistrate courts.
He has been quite successful and has made quite a reputation as a lawyer. May 15, 1856, he wedded, Rebecca F. LANDERS of this county, and this union resulted in the birth of thirteen children: Cicero W., Alice A. (deceased), Lula S., Ella L., Callie T. (deceased), Maggie M., Eddie A. (deceased), Rebecca J., Algie B., America L., Johnnie E., Lattie B. and William E. Mr. COOPER received a common district school education in his early days, but having cultivated a taste for good reading while young, he acquired the major part of his education from the perusal of good books after having grown to maturity. In politics Mr. COOPER is a Democrat.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.