Ruth Schoonover was born in Shemong county, N.Y. She was born July 17, 1840, moved with her parents to Cass county, Illinois in 1851, where she was married on March 22, 1869 to George L. Cooper, residing there until August 1870 when they came to Kansas.
She was well known to the older citizens, as she came to this country when little had been done in the way of subduing the wild conditions in which the early settlers found it, consequently, she with her husband endured all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. They located near the present town of Halstead only three white women in the neighborhood and Salina, the nearest trading point, until March 1871, when Newton was located. For more than 30 years years sharing alike the joys and sorrows of frontier life, of which so many old settlers have experienced. They lived near Halstead about 10 years, when a change of climate was advised by physicians and friends. An overland trip was taken to Colorado and New Mexico, covering eight months which seemed to give the relief she sought. About two years after their return they sold the farm near Halstead and purchased a home near Patterson, where they lived until March 1885, when her health began to fail and a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas was thought might be beneficial, but her health failed so fast that she only got as far as Kingman, where she remained for a year.
In 1896 a change pof climate was again thought to be the only hope of restoring her health, but that deadly disease diabetes had made such headway that after 4 years at Friends Woods, Texas, she returned home. Receiving no benefit from the trip, Aunt Ruth, passed away peacefully and calmly as one in a deep sleep.
She leaves a husband, one sister three brothers, father and mother to mourn her loss. Mrs. Cooper united with the M.E. Church in 1880 and remained a consistent member until her death.
Funeral services were conducted from the house by Rev. Gray of Burrton and the remains were laid to rest in the Star Cemetery, 3 miles southwest of Patterson. A large concourse of friends followed her remains to their last resting place and paid respect to one whom they had only known to love. Although Aunt Ruth is dead, she will ever live in the memory of all who knew her.
