Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1909 — OLIVER M. COOPER TAKES HIS OWN LIFE [ARTICLE]

OLIVER M. COOPER TAKES HIS OWN LIFE

Well Known Bachelor Farmer, Living Near Lanra, Writes Note Saying He is Tired of Life. ; Oliver M. Cooper, at well-to-do bachelor farmer, 44 years of age, shot himself in the right temple with a 32 caliber revolver Tuesday evening at about 6 o’clock, and death is supposed to have resulted instantanously. The deed was committed on the farm, about 11 miles northeast of Rensselaer. Cooper owned a farm of 80 acres there, but for the past year he has not been living on it, having been living at Fair Oaks, and his father, John Cooper, lived on the farm. His mother kept house for him at Fair Oaks. About a year ago Cooper was kicked by a horse and sustained a broken leg. For some weeks he was in Rensselaer, where he was receiving surgical treatment, and he will be remembered by many people here. He was a member of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and received benefits from them for a long time after his leg was broken. On Tuesday he was engaged In moving the household goods from Fair Oaks to the farm, and bis father prepared the evening meal while Ollie took care of the horses. Just before supper was ready Joseph Raska came over and the elder Cooper prepared a place for him to eat Ollie ate but a little and finally left the table with the statement that he was not hungry and believed he would go into the front room and get some tobacco. His father’s loaded revolver was on the organ and Ollie soon left the house. After he had been out of the house some 20 or 25 minutes his father became alarmed at his absence, especiUy te awe he had been acting depiesred f r some days, and he lighted a lantern and be and Mr. Raska went to the barn and by the side of it they found the dead body. The revolver was In his right hand and apparently he had set down and leaned against the barn when he pulled the trigger. The muzzle of the pistol had been placed at his right temple, and the bullet had passed through the brain and had broken the skull on the left side of the head but bad not pa s.d out. A note book was found in his pocket, and a note penciled some time that day stated that he was tired of life. He listed several small accounts due to him, and wrote at the top, “These ■are-to-be'settled. This may be taken as a guide.” After listing the accounts, he wrote “I am tired of life, Yours truly, O. M. Cooper. Jan. 26th.” He then wrote as a postscript “Divide what I leave between father and mother. Sell the place’ for what you can.” In his pockets was found 166, and he is said to have bad about S4OO in cash, partly deposited in the bank. A note, of more than S3OO due him, and which he had left dt the State Bank for collection, and which he listed among the other property, had been paid in before he died. No apparent reason exists for the suicide. His affairs were in a very prosperous state, and he had usually been a very cheerful man, and was highly esteemed wherever known. It is said that his brother Marlon, who moved to Dakota last year, recently wrote to him for assistance, and this worried him considerably. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 11 o’clock, and will be in charge of the Rensselaer Lodge I. O. O. F, Burial will be made at ML Tabor cemetery, in Barkley township.