Name/Title
Cooper family: Edwin and Bernice (Evenson) Cooper of Belmont Township, Traill County, North DakotaEntry/Object ID
2026.162.1Description
This family history folder contains photographs and documents on the lives of Edwin and Bernice (Evenson) Cooper, who farmed in Belmont Township on land homesteaded by his father, Robert George Cooper (see Catalogit Family History entry 2026.161.1).
Edwin Cooper was born on 13 September 1892 at home in Belmont Township. In the 1900 US Census, Edwin was listed as age 8 and with his parents and siblings. In the 1910 US Census, Edwin was recorded as age 17 and as a "laborer at home", as he was in the 1915 ND Census for Traill County. In the 1920 US Census, Edwin, age 27, was still farming with his father in Belmont Township, along with his brothers George, Roy, and Robert Cooper.
After his father passed away in 1928 (see Catalogit Family History entry 2026.161.1), Edwin farmed the 490-acre Cooper family farm. As shown in a Traill County Plat map for a portion of Belmont Township (see 1952 map), these 490 acres included the SE Qtr. of Sect. 8, the W-half of the NW Qtr. of Sect. 16, the E-half of the NW Qtr. of Sect. 17, and the NE Qtr. of Sect. 17.
On 5 March 1934, Edwin married Bernice Evenson on 5 March 1934 in Moorhead, Clay County, MN [obituary info]. Bernice was born on 30 December 1910 in Climax, MN [obituary info].
Edwin and Bernice Cooper raised four children on their farm, including Roger D. Cooper (1935-2023), Joan (Cooper) Aker (1936-2025), Rodney A. Cooper (1938-2012), and Marshal (Tim) Cooper (1942-2025) [US FaG info].
In 1944, Edwin was a founder of the Old Settlers Memorial Association, Inc., which was organized on 2 March 1944 (see information on back of membership card).
In the 1940s, besides farming, Edwin became involved in politics and in 1946 was a candidate to represent North Dakota in the US Congress [obituary info].
By 1946, Edwin had built a harvester that picked, graded, sorted and sacked potatoes (see photo).
Bernice (Evenson) Cooper passed away, age 40, on 7 February 1951 at a Hospital in Crookston, MN [obituary info]. Funeral services were held on 10 February at Ringsaker Lutheran Church, rural Buxton, ND, and Bernice as was interred in the Ringsaker Cemetery.
Edwin Cooper lived to the grand age of 95, passing away on 8 April 1988 at the Hillsboro Nursing Home, where he had been a resident since 1986 (see obituary). After funeral services held at Ringsaker Lutheran Church, rural Buxton, ND, Edwin was interred next to Bernice in the Ringsaker Cemetery.Acquisition
Accession
2026.162Source or Donor
David and Lenora Bjorge, TCHS (Traill County Historical Society)Location
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
