Elbert Lawrence Cooper
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Elbert Lawrence Cooper in the early 20th Century.
(Photo courtesy of Juliet Gray)
Following his death in 1938, the Tribune-Democrat wrote this following tribute to Elbert Lawrence Cooper, “Mr. Cooper was held in high esteem by hundreds of friends throughout the state. Benton and Marshall County numbered him among the outstanding citizens of all time in this section. Mr. Cooper was considered one of the best attorneys in Western Kentucky. He was an untiring student, profound thinker, and a lawyer of many accomplishments.”
The son of Morgan and Mintie Blewett Cooper, Elbert Lawrence Cooper was born near Palma on February 21, 1882. Cooper’s mother passed away when he was only eighteen months old and his father married Elizabeth Truitt who became young Elbert Lawrence’s primary caretaker.
Cooper was raised on a small farm near Palma and attended the one-room country school at Palma. Upon completing the course of the common schools, Cooper began teaching throughout the county and in between school breaks, Cooper attended college at Southern Normal School in Bowling Green where he graduated in 1904.
Following college, Cooper became interested in studying law and he enrolled at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Most aspiring lawyers of the time “read law” or interned under a practicing lawyer, but Cooper decided to learn the ways of the law in the classroom. Cooper graduated in 1907 as president of his class and he was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in August. Cooper returned to Marshall County in late 1907 and opened up a law office in Benton.
His law office was located on Main Street in what now is Edward Jones building.
The year 1909 was an instrumental year for Cooper. He was named principal of Benton High School in February, and in August, he was elected County Attorney in the Democratic Primary over incumbent William “Coy” Reeder. On December 16, 1909, Cooper married Lillie Travis, daughter of A.H. Travis and Isabelle Goheen Travis. The couple had two sons, Elbert Lawrence Cooper, Jr. and Ben Thomas Cooper.
Cooper was easily re-elected County Attorney in 1913 over William W. English, and in 1917, Cooper was elected to an unprecedented third term when he defeated Republican Robert L. Myre. Cooper was highly active in the Democratic Party during his career, and from 1916 until 1928, he served as Chairman of the Marshall County Democratic Executive Committee. An excellent orator, Cooper was chosen on many occasions to be the speaker in Marshall and other surrounding counties for every Democratic Gubernatorial and Presidential ticket. Throughout his career, Cooper was courted by leaders in the Democratic Party to make a run for United States Congressman of Kentucky’s First District, but he declined all offers.
Following his third term as County Attorney, Cooper returned to private law practice and became involved in several high profile cases. Cooper was very active in the Benton Methodist Church and was an active in the Benton Young Men’s Progress Club which later evolved into the Rotary Club. Cooper was an active Mason serving as Master of the Benton Masonic Lodge and as High Priest of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. During World War I, Cooper served as chairman of the Liberty Loan Campaign and was legal advisor to the Marshall County Draft Board.
On November 14, 1938, the entire region was shocked to learn of the passing of Elbert Lawrence Cooper at the age of 56. Cooper had been ill for several weeks, but had returned home after a stay in a Paducah hospital. His funeral was held two days later on the Wednesday afternoon of November 16 at the Benton Methodist Church.
Several dignitaries throughout the Commonwealth were in attendance including United States Senator Alben Barkley, who was a close friend of the Cooper family. Cooper was laid to rest in the Blewitt Cemetery in Palma. His widow, Lillie Cooper, lived until 1988.