Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/643

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 010 January 1, 1911. His election to the state legislature from Pemiscot county occurred in November, 1910. He took an active part in the session, being chairman of the commit- tee on constitutional amendments and per- manent seat of government ; served as house chairman of the committee to investigate the fish and game department; as a member of the committee on elections; and the commit- tee on wills and probate law. Jlr. McCarty is a i^opular and prominent lodge man, being a thirty-second degree Ma- son and a member of the Eastern Star, and a member of the JModern Woodmen of Amer- ica, of the Elks and the Redmen. He has not yet become a recruit to the Benedicts and maintains his residence in Carutheri5ville. William Arthur Cooper. One of the ris- ing young attorneys of Washington county is William Arthur Cooper, whose brilliant gifts and definite achievements thus early in life presage a career of more than usual usefulness and honor. He has for several years held the office of prosecuting attorney and is one of the leaders of local Republican- ism, being one of the most loyal and un- swerving of the adherents of the "Grand Old Party." IIr. Cooper was born May 26. 1882, on a farm in the western part of Washing- ton county. His father, William Cooper, was an Ohioan and was the son of Eugeneous W. Cooper, who was a fisherman and collier by trade, a Republican in politics and a member of tlie Baptist church. At about the time William reached his majority he left the parental roof-tree and came to ilissouri, where he purchased a farm and took his place among the state's agriculturists. He was married April 16, 1881, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Crump, of Washington county, daughter of Pendall F. Crump and Margeline (nee San- ders) Cramp, and their two sons are Wil- liam Arthur and Claude Pendall. He has continued engaged in farming throughout his life and also acted as postmaster at Brazil for a number of years, meeting the duties of the office with all faithfulness. He is Re- publican in politics and in his religious views he is of the Baptist persuasion. " Although he is interested in public affairs and gives heart and hand to all measures likely to re- sult in general welfare, he is by no means an office seeker. He and his vAte reside on the old homestead farm in the vicinity of Brazil. William A. Cooper, prosecuting attorney of Washington county received his early education in the common schools and sub- seqiiently attended the Steelville Normal School. He taught school for about four years. Jleanwhile, however, he came to the decision to make the law his life work and studied for the profession under the tutor- ship of Judge E. M. Bearing, of Potosi, and Hon. A. L. Reeves, of Steelville. He was admitted to the bar in 1904 and shortly there- after hung up his professional shingle at Potosi and there entered upon his practice, in a short time winning the confidence and clientage of his fellow townsmen. He was recognized as of the proper material for of- fice and served one term as justice of the peace ; he was also alderman and city clerk of Potosi and his services in those capacities made appropriate his appointment })y Gov- ernor Hadley (October 1, 1909) to the office of prosecuting attorney to fill the unexpired term of S. G. Nipper, resigned. In the fol- lowing year he was elected to the same of- fice on the Repiiblican ticket. In this office he has won remarkable distinction as an able lawyer and an efficient officer. On October 23, 1904, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Ii-ene Blount, of Palmer, the lady of his choice. They have one daughter, Helen Mary. Mr. Cooper is not a member of any church, although a strong supporter of the cause of Christianity. His wife and child are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. South. Professor Frederick Arthur Culmer. One of the valued members of the faculty of Marvin College is Professor Frederick Ar- thur Culmer, Ph. B., LL. B., A. M., who holds the chair of English and History in that institution of learning. He is looked upon as one of the most talented and en- lightened of the educators of this section of the state and he is also a clergyman of the Methodist Bpiscoj^al church. South. He first assumed his professorship in Marvin College in 1907, continued through that year; was again appointed in 1910, and has been but recently appointed for continued service. Professor Culmer was born in the county of Kent, England. December 2, 1883, the son of Geoi'ge Culmer, gentleman, now retired