Elder Interview-Harry Cooper
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Harry CooperEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.051Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Cooper, Harry W. Born 3/14/1919 Father: Baptist Cooper Mother: Cynthia (Swamp) Cooper He had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He doesn’t remember his grand parent’s on his father or his mother side. His father was a laborer for farmer. They had vegetable garden. He doesn’t remember his mother to much; she died when he was 5 years old. His sister Rose raised him after his mother died. When she got married they moved away then his father toke care of them. He started school at Red Spring’s in Gresham for about 3 years. His dad spoke Oneida language and he learned it from his dad. His dad and a young sister did the house work. They had no electricity and no running water. They had to use a pump to get water. They had kerosene lamps. When they went shopping we went to Anne Hawk store. They would walk there and back. He had to saw wood and chop wood for heat and to cook. We use to clean up died wood that was lying around the fields. We use to get about 2 or 3 wagons full. We didn’t have any Christmas tree or Christmas. But we always celebrated 4th July. We all went to Methodist Church. When I was 15 year old I got a job with the farmer in the summertime filling their silo, hay time and husk corn by hand. Then I went to C.C. Camp up in Crystal Lake, We went in the woods cut all the died wood out and brushes. And we cleaned up along the highway me and some other Oneidas went there. I use to get $5.00 a month. I was there for about a year. I couldn’t find any work so I got drafted in the service in 1941 to 1945. I went to Camp Grant Illinois. Then I went to Spokane Washington. Then I went overseas to India, I was in a Medical unit, after that I came home. Then I got a job on the docks in Green Bay. My brother told me to come to Milwaukee I could get a job there. So I got a job for the city of Milwaukee in 1950. I worked there 23 years and retired in 1991. I had 2 boys; I tried to teach his boys the Oneida language. When I was young I liked the play ball. One of my boys worked for the I.R.S., and the other one worked in a Machine Shop. I helped out at the V.F.W. Hall. My wife use to sing at wakes. I have 3 grandsons Advice to the young is to go to Church and stay in School get a good educationRecording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media, Military