S. J. COOPER, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Tuscumbia, was born in that city, September 4, 1845. He is the son of Lyddle B. Cooper, deceased, one of the most prominent members of the bar of northern Alabama. Samuel J. Cooper received a common school education and in 1863 enlisted in company I, W. A. Johnson’s cavalry regiment. He participated in the battle of Harrisburg, Miss., Newman, Ga., and was with Forrest at the surrender of Athens, Ala. He was also in all the battles as far as Pulaski, Tenn., and at the battle of Selma. He surrendered at Pond Spring, Ala., and after the war returned home and entered a mercantile establishment as a clerk. In 1866 in company with other parties he commenced business for himself under the firm name of Nelson, Wilson & cooper. In 1868 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Abernethy and graduated from the Memphis Medical college in 1871. He spent one year in the hospital at Memphis and then returned to Tuscumbia and practiced medicine there during the winters 1873-74. Dr. Cooper spent some time at the college of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, receiving private instruction under Drs. Wyeth and Loomis. For the past twenty years Dr. Cooper has been regularly engaged in the practice of medicine at Tuscumbia. During this time he has met with gratifying success in all the branches he has practiced, and he has earned the reputation of being one of the leading physicians and surgeons in the county. He is a member of the Colbert County Medical society and the board of censors. He is also a member of the State Medical society, is a Knight of Pythias and a Knight of Honor, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.

[SOURCE: Memorial Record of Alabama. A concise account of the state’s political, military professional and Industrial progress, together with the personal memoirs of many of its people. In Two Volumes. Illustrated. Brant & Fuller, Madison Wis., 1893. Volume I. p. 693.]

SAMUEL JOHNSTON COOPER, M. D., was born September 4, 1845, and is a son of L. B. Cooper, of Tuscumbia. He received a common school education, and in March, 1863, enlisted in Co. I, of W. A. Johnson’s Cavalry Regiment. He participated in the battles of Harrisburg, Miss., Newnan, Ga., and was with Forrest at the surrender of Athens, Ala. He was also in all the fights as far as Pulaski, Tenn., and at the battle of Selma. He surrendered at Pond Springs, Ala.

Immediately after the close of the war he returned home and entered a mercantile establishment as clerk, and in 1866, in connection with other gentlemen, entered mercantile business on his own account, the firm name being Nelson, Wilson & Cooper. In 1868 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Abernathy, and graduated from the Memphis Medical College in 1871. He remained in the hospital at Memphis for one year, then returned to Tuscumbia, where he has since been engaged in the practice, and has built up for himself the reputation of being one of the best and most skillful physicians of that city.

In the winters of 1873 and 1874, Dr. Cooper spent some time in New York at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he received private instructions under Drs. Wyeth and Loomis.

Dr. Cooper is a member of the Medical Association of Colbert County and of the Board of Censors. He is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the Orders of Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias.

[SOURCE: Northern Alabama Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. Smith and De Land, Birmingham, Ala. 1888., p. 433-4.] This biography typed for inclusion here by Linda Ledlow.