Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
SAMUEL A. HOOPER. Nearly eighty-nine years have dissolved in the mists of the irrevocable past since Samuel A. Hooper, one of the oldest citizens in Greene county, a well-known and venerable farmer of Clay township, first saw the light of day. He has lived through one of the most remarkable, and in many respects the most wonderful, epochs in the world's history. There will never be another like it, for it embraced the period when the strong-armed home seekers from the Eastern states invaded the great West (he being among the number) and redeemed it from the wilds, bringing it up through various stages to the present high state of civilization. It was nearly sixty-four years ago that our subject took up his abode in this locality, which he has helped develop and where he has seen wonderful changes take place, of which he talks interestingly, for the pioneer days were altogether different from those of the present; and, we agree with him, that they were in some respect better than these advanced times. It seems at least that people were then happier; they neither wanted nor needed so much; they were more helpful, neighborly and less selfish.
Mr. Hooper was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, February 28, 1826. He is a son of Samuel and Susan (Alford) Hooper. The father was born in Virginia in 1769, and was reared and educated about eight miles from the city of Richmond, and he spent most of his life in that locality. Finally he moved to North Carolina, where our subject was born, and from there to Tennessee, in 1833. After remaining in that state until 1851, he moved to Missouri, and settled in Greene county, where our subject rented a farm on which he and his father lived until the latter's death, in 1862. The mother of our subject was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, where she was reared and educated. She spent her declining years at the home of our subject, dying at the advanced age of eighty-eight.
Samuel A. Hooper grew to manhood in Robertson county, Tennessee, and he received such educational advantages as those early times afforded. He made the overland trip from that state, with his parents, in 1851, in ox wagons, locating in Greene county, Missouri, on one hundred and twenty acres, most of which he cleared and put under cultivation, in Washington township, and there engaged successfully in general farming until fourteen years ago, when he sold out. For some time he has been living in Clay township in retirement.
Mr. Hooper was married November 18, 1852, to Martha Jane Smith. She was born in Washington township, Greene county, Missouri, August 29, 1837, and was here reared on a farm and educated in the country schools She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Her death occurred in 1877. After this event our subject went to live with one of his, children, and at this writing makes his home with one of his sons. Before coming to Missouri, he made a trip to Texas in 1847, returning to Tennessee the following year. Since coming to Greene county he has made a trip to California. He is one of five children, namely: Henry, who is far advanced in years, lives in Texas; Pleasant, Allen and Dabner are all deceased; Samuel A., our subject, is the youngest.
Thirteen children were born to Mr. Hooper and wife, namely: William lives in Greene county; Milton lives on a farm in Clay township, and our subject is living with him; Mrs. Mary Jane Kinser lives in this county; Thomas makes his home in Springfield; Mrs. Deniza McDaniel, Robert, John and David all live in Greene county; Donald is living with his father, our subject; Albert lives on the adjoining farm; Mrs. Margaret Ann Snyder lives in Kansas City; Abner Morris is deceased.
Politically Mr. Hooper is a Republican, and has always been loyal in the support of the party. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
[1932-1933]
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