My Genealogy Hound

Eli D. Hooper, merchant and farmer, Magazine, Ark. Mr. Hooper, who is classed among the successful business men and enterprising farmers of the county, was originally from Illinois, his birth occurring in that State in 1837. His parents, Clayburn R. and Mary A. (Story) Hooper, were natives of the Blue-Grass State, the former born in 1813 and the latter in 1819. The paternal grandparents of our subject were James and Jemima Hooper, and the maternal grandfather was Solomon Story. Clayburn R. Hooper was the father of eleven children, ten of whom are now living and named in the order of their births as follows: Eli D., Sidney J. (wife of L. P. Ellington), Mary J. (wife of John O. Hall), Peter W., Grace A. (relict of John Rankins), Martha E. (wife of N. L. Hardin), Eliza E. (wife of George G. Loyd), Josephine (wife of J. W. Worley), Nancy Caroline (wife of W. S. Blanton) and Caledonia (wife of Henry Chappell). In 1849 Eli D. Hooper came with his parents to Arkansas, where the father took up 200 acres of Government land. The latter enlisted in Company B, Third Illinois Infantry, and served during the Mexican War, participating in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. His death occurred on December 29, 1875. Eli Hooper began for himself at the age of seventeen, working for wages and with the proceeds attending college. He engaged in merchandising in 1866 in Illinois, and there he remained until the latter part of 1867, when he returned to Arkansas and brought goods from Illinois and St. Louis. He established himself in the same business at Long Ridge, and in connection carried on a gin, which he had erected soon after coming there. In 1870 he removed his stock to what is now Magazine, at that time the first store, built a grist-mill and gin, and there he has been continuously in business up to the present time. He established a post-office at that point, and he also established a store at his farm in Petit Jean Valley. In the two stores he carries a general stock of about $5,000, and does an annual business of about $15,000. His farm in the Petit Jean Valley is considered one of the finest and consists of 756 acres lying the full width of the valley, and is one and a fourth miles in length. He has also in Reveille Township 436 acres of land, upon apart of which the greater portion of the town of Magazine was built. Upon his farm and in Magazine Mr. Hooper has the finest residences in Logan County, and his other buildings are of a first-class order. He devotes his attention to the raising of corn and cotton, his farm in Petit Jean Valley being especially adapted to that, and also gives considerable attention to the raising of horses, mules, cattle and hogs. Mr. Hooper was married in 1865 to Miss Martha J. Franklin, a native of Illinois, born in 1844, and the daughter of William B. Franklin. Mrs. Hooper died on July 16, 1866, leaving two children, twins, one of whom died when about sixteen years of age. The other, William F., is now a physician in Magazine, where he is earning for himself an enviable reputation in his profession. On December 25, 1867, Mr. Hooper was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Loyd, who was born in Alabama in 1840, and who was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Loyd. The fruits of this union were eight children: Patsie (wife of S. D. Sanderfer), Sallie (wife of W. M. Mclntrerf), Mary O. (wife of J. L. Gamble), Nellie W., Thomas P., Nancy L., Daniel W. and Henry C. In 1872 Mr. Hooper was made a member of the board of supervisors, and he filled the position of postmaster at Magazine for about fourteen years. For many years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has always been a man of great energy and perseverance, and although he has met with many reverses, he has always pushed forward again. He takes a prominent part in, and is a liberal contributor to, all worthy enterprises.