Transcribed by Debbie Woolard
Taken from "The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties"
Published in 1893 by Chicago Biographical Publishing Co.
J. C. Cooley, veterinary surgeon and proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stable on Sixth Street, Metropolis, is a son of Edmund C. Cooley, who came to this county in 1869 from Tennessee, of which State he was a native. He was a slave of his native State, and while in slavery married Maria Bearfield, who was also a slave. She is still living, and makes her home with the subject of this sketch. Of the family there are but two children now living, Hasker and J. C., the latter of whom was born October 11, 1853, in Tennessee. He had an opportunity of attending school to the extent of about ten weeks, all told, and did not therefore aquire much knowledge in school. He, however, afterward built upon the little that he did thus aquire by observation and actual experience in life. His father was a very generous and liberal man, and was always helping some one by lending money and in other ways, and for this reason he did not accumulate much property.
J. C. Cooley was always a determined kind of boy. He lived with his father until he was twenty three year old, at which time his father died. He always had a liking for horses and for trading and studied various works on diseases of the horse, in this way becoming well informed on the subject. Thus equipped, but without money, he started in business with an old knock-kneed, sprained and hide-bound mare, put her in condition and traded her off for a good horse, and from this beginning he has built up a good trade. In the meantime he built a house, and continued to follow his profession as a veterinary surgeon, and accumulated considerable money, until he was able to open his present business. Here he has his full share of trade, and keeps a good stock of horses and buggies, transfer wagons, omnibuses, carriages, etc. He began where he is now located in 1881, and at the present time he is in a good financial condition.
In 1880, Mr. Cooley was married to Love Turnbo, a native of Tennessee, whose parents removed
from that State to Illinois. Her father is still living, but her mother is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have one child,
John L., who was born in 1881. Mrs. Cooley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cooley has attained
to his present position of prosperity wholly by his own efforts and deserves great credit for his success.
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