My Genealogy Hound

Maro S. Cooley was born in Hancock County, Ill., on January 20, 1841, a son of Simeon and Nancy S. (Chapman) Cooley, both natives of Connecticut, the former born in 1800. They were married in their native State, in which they lived until 1835, when they moved to Illinois. They were the parents of four children—three sons and one daughter—the subject of this sketch being the only one now living. Maro S. Cooley had the misfortune to lose his parents while he was still a child, his mother dying in 1844, and his father in 1858, and both receiving their summons at Quincy, Ill. They were both members of the Congregational Church. Maro S. Cooley grew to maturity in Quincy, Ill., and having been unfortunate in losing his hearing at the age of six years, he attended public and private schools at Quincy, and the Deaf and Dumb School at Jacksonville, Ill., where he made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah L. Renner, who has been deaf and dumb since her third year, and in 1863, they were married, in Pike County, Ill. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., June 25, 1840, a daughter of John C. and Anna C. (Bowes) Renner, both of whom were born in Germany, the former in 1800, and the latter in 1801. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in that belief, in Illinois, Mr. Renner in 1857, and his widow in 1867. This name has the peculiarity of spelling the same both forward and back. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley are the parents of five children—two sons and three daughters—namely: Edward P., Charles C, Anna I. (widow of William Walker, and a resident of this county), Mary L. and Emma S. In 1872 Mr. Cooley moved from Illinois to Texas, where he made his home for three years, and then in 1875, came to Arkansas, and located near his present residence, a fine farm of 160 acres in Hempstead County, which he has occupied the last six years. His good two-story house adds much to the appearance of his place. He and wife are both church members, he worshiping at the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and she at the Presbyterian. In his political views, Mr. Cooley is decidedly Democratic.