1920 Census, Waterford Twp., Washington Co., OH
Cooper, Alva, head, 35, b. WV, parents b. WV, farmer
Edna, wife, 32, b. OH, parents b. OH
Graham, son, 5, b. OH, parents b. OH

1930 Census, Windsor Twp., Morgan Co., OH
Cooper, Alva, head, 44, m. at 25, b. WV, parents b. WV, farmer
Edna, wife, 41, m. at 22, b. OH, parents b. OH, laborer, farm
Graham, son, 14, b. OH
Glenn, son, 9, b. OH


Obituaries/death notices:

The Newark Advocate (Newark, OH), Saturday, January 16, 1932, p. 2
Leaking Boat Brings Tragedy

Zanesville, Jan. 16.—Alva Cooper, 40, was drowned in Muskingum river near the village of Buckett [sic], 10 miles south of McConnelsville when his leaking boat sank. Being unable to swim he sank to his death in the water. His body was recovered about three hours afterward. He is survived by his widow and two sons.


The Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH), Saturday, January 16, 1932, p. 1
Alva Cooper Is Drowned in River At Noon Friday
Leaky Boat Sinks in Midstream—Man Unable to Swim—Recover Body

Alva Cooper, 40, was drowned at noon Friday in Muskingum river near his home village of Beckett, 10 miles south of McConnelsville, as his leaking boat sank in midstream. Being unable to swim, he soon met death beneath the water. The body was recovered at 3 p. m. and efforts made to resuscitate him. This is the first drowning accident in Muskingum river this year. The deceased was a brother of “Lefty” Cooper, former National league baseball pitcher, also Prof. Raymond Cooper of Freemont. [sic]

He had rowed across the river to purchase groceries and on his return, the boat, already leaking badly, sank in midstream. Several resident witnessed the drowning and notified authorities. The Beverly fire department and Sheriff Lewis Adrean, of McConnelsville, responded to the calls and found the body after a three-hour search.

Mr. Cooper was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cooper, of near McConnelsville. Surviving are his widow and two sons, Graham and Glen, at home, also two brothers previously mentioned.

The body rests at a funeral home in Beverly. Last rites have not yet been arranged.

The Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH), Tuesday, January 19, 1932, p. 8
Funeral Service Sunday for Youth Who Drowned
Alva Cooper Rites at Beckett—Other McConnelsville Briefs

McConnelsville, O., Jan. 18—The funeral rites of Alva Cooper, of Beckett, who met his death by drowning in the Muskingum river Friday at noon, was held Sunday at the Methodist Protestant church in charge of Rev. Firestone, and attended by a large concourse of friends and relatives. The floral tributes were many and handsome. The pallbearers were his five brothers, Raymond Cooper of Fremont, Wilbur Cooper of Pittsburgh, Pa., Reefe [sic] Cooper of Washington, D. C., Floyd and Blaine of Cleveland, and a relative, Czear [?] Graham, of Marietta.

Interment was made in the cemetery at Beverly.