Elbert Lawrence Cooper
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Elbert Lawrence Cooper in 1913
(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. His father eventually married for a second time to Elizabeth Truitt who became his primary caretaker.
Cooper was raised on a small farm near Palma and attended the one-room country school. Upon completing the course of the common schools, Cooper began teaching throughout the county. In between school breaks, Cooper attended college at Southern Normal School in Bowling Green where he graduated in 1904. Cooper enrolled at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and studied law. Cooper graduated in 1907 as president of his class and he was admitted to the 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 above the Bank of Marshall County building (now the Lewis building that houses Larry Krouse State Farm Insurance).
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 together, 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 the 1910s and 1920s, Cooper was courted by leaders in the Democratic Party to make a run for United States Congressman of Kentucky’s First District, but Cooper declined all offers.
Following his third term as County Attorney, Cooper returned to private law practice. 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 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, Elbert Lawrence Cooper passed away at the age of 56. Cooper had been ill for several weeks, but had returned home after a stay in a Paducah hospital. His death was a shock to the entire county. His funeral was held two days later at the Benton Methodist Church and 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.