By Katherine Kerns Harken

Early Days

Luther Cooley, Albert's father, came from poor, but honest, Scotch stock, who migrated to America on cattle boats.  They settled in Ohio, near where the Dunbars lived.

The ancestors of Susannah Dunbar, Albert's mother, came in the early part of the 1800's to America.  They were settled in Ohio, and it was in this state Luther and Susannah met.  They married and had four boys (Albert being the first) and four daughters.  One of the boys, Luther Jr., died in infancy.

The Luther Cooley family moved to Iowa, I believe, near Osceola, where they operated a farm.  I think it was here that Luther was killed, leaving Susannah to raise seven children and run the farm.  Her boys, especially Albert, were very helpful.

Susannah, after being a widow several years, remarried, marrying William Decker.  There were two daughters born to this union.

Albert Cooley, born January 1st, 1849, learned much about farming and livestock from actual experience.  He was very good with animals, and this continued throughout his lifetime.  He was always a helpful son to his mother and loyal to his brothers and sisters.

Calista Jane Danner, born Oct. 17, 1845, was the 4th child of Samuel Danner and Elizabeth Fanote Pierce Danner.

Calista's father, Samuel, of Dutch descent, was one of  the few cholera epidemic survivors on a boat to the United States in early 1800.  Samuel Danner grew up in an orphanage, and was bound out as a servant at the age of 10.  He ran away at the age of 15, and later became a self-taught minister and doctor, ministering to his flock, traveling by horseback.  The family lived on a farm.

Samuel Danner married Elizabeth Fanote Pierce, who was of English descent.  Elizabeth, who was related to Franklin Pierce, was brought up in the backwoods of New York, and was illiterate.  One of her daughters later taught her to read.  Elizabeth became blind in old age, after her husband, Samuel, had died, and came to Osceola, Iowa, to live with her daughter, Calista.  She often sat in her little rocker near the stove, and was always most grateful for attention, and having Lora Cooley, her granddaughter, read to her.

Rev. Samuel Danner was a remarkable man, of strong character, bringing up his family to be good Christians.  Prayer meetings were held in the family morning and evening.

Married Life in Iowa

Albert Cooley became acquainted and fell in love with his teacher, Calista Danner Miler, a young widow with a small baby named Frank, whose father had died in the Civil War.

Albert Cooley and Calista Danner Miler were married on Feb. 2, 1868, and became the parents of six children, namely:  Lillie, their first-born child, who died while still a baby; William (Bill); Bert; Lora (Sis); Marvin (Marve); and Cora (Tode).  Their home was a happy Christian home, and the children were always loyal and devoted to parents and to each other, including the half brother, Frank.

The farm where the Albert Cooleys lived was located near Murray, Iowa.  Later they moved to Osceola, Iowa where Albert became Clerk of Court.  His daughter, Lora, who had graduated from a college in Adrian, Mich. with a business degree, was his assistant.

The family was always provided with a nice home.  Calista spent much time growing flowers, and usually had her own greenhouse.  She was always a good churchwoman and helped with Sunday School.  The children grew up to be fine honorable citizens.

After their family was grown and had moved away to make their own mark in the world, Grandma Calista and Grandpa Albert moved to Macon, Missouri.  I have often wondered if it was the "Mule Business" that took them there.

Albert and Calista Cooley's home in Macon, Missouri

Albert and Calista Cooley's house in Macon had 10 or 12 rooms, and was located on hillside acreage at the edge of town.  It was a wonderful place for grandchildren to visit—with the big elm, oak and walnut trees, and fruit trees loaded with peaches, pears, plums and apples.  The house stood on a slope.  In the back yard was a smaller two room house originally built for servants.

As there was very little indoor plumbing in those days, a lovely arbor pathway led to the outdoor "privy" which was a fun place to go to see all the interesting clippings and pictures grandma had pasted on the walls.

John and Josephine (Jo) Kerns could attest to the charm of this home as they went there to stay with their grandma, about 1908, to attend school.  Later in 1910 Katherine (Kate) joined them.  It was a delightful old house with a fancy Victorian parlor, complete with formal fireplace, plush furniture, and a lovely old organ (Lorna Kortum inherited it).

While Grandma Calista was busy with her grandchildren and flowers, Grandpa Albert was usually out in Wyoming or Montana with the Jim Kerns family, and later, in Montana with Bill Cooley, as they had a joint business venture with mules.

In December of that year (1910), the whole Kerns family, including Jim, Lora and smaller children:  Albert (Bert), Fred (Jack), Thomas (Tom) and Margaret (Peg)—came to stay with Grandma also.  Tom and Peg were still infants at this time, and Tom had a bad case of eczema.  Dad always swore we cured him by letting him eat all the bean soup he wanted, as every other remedy had failed to work.  I wonder if Tom still likes beans.

We did not return to stay with Grandma after that year, as we had our own school, by then, in Wyoming.

Last Years

Grandpa Albert Cooley and Grandma Calista Cooley continued to live in Missouri, though Grandma was left alone much of the time, as Grandpa was involved in the mule and horse shipping business.

In later years, after James Kerns' death, Lora moved to Castle Rock, near Colstrip, Montana, to live with her brother, Bill Cooley.  Not long after this, Grandpa and Grandma Cooley moved in with them, after disposing of their Missouri property.  It was a cozy arrangement, with Bill's cabin home becoming like old times:  "Pap," "Ma," Sis and Bill, only now, the two latter were "taking care" of father and mother.

This arrangement continued several years.  The old folks, Albert and Calista, became very competitive—each trying to outdo the other.  Though both now past eighty, they hoed gardens, chopped brush and grew flowers.  They cleared a patch of brush away near the cabins making a lovely little park, a delightful picnic area for adults and great grandchildren, including Lorna and Margie Lovelace who lived on a nearby ranch.  These two little girls loved to go to the Bill Cooley ranch to visit Grandma Lora Kerns, Uncle Bill, Grandpa Cooley and especially Grandma Cooley.  How fortunate they were to have the chance to know these wonderful Senior Citizens.  They adored great Grandma Cooley, who always seemed to have time for games or story telling.  They were a bit afraid of their great grandfather Cooley as he had no patience with children, and was feisty and cantankerous at times.  He was always fond of his great grandchildren, but it was difficult to show them.

Their Last years and Deaths

Grandpa Albert Cooley, died in 1936, at about the age of 89.  He died at Bill's homestead near Castle Rock, Montana.  In the last months of his life he suffered from "stomach trouble."  He practically lived on oyster stew that Lora made for him every day.  She and Bill were sweet, kind, wonderful nurses and tried to ease his last days on earth.  He had to spend these days suspended in a hammock—which seemed to ease his pain.  Bless him, he became a different person, so grateful for his son's and daughter's care.  He became mellow and sweet, no longer feisty and cantankerous.  He died in his hammock.  He was buried in the Forsyth, Montana Cemetery.  Since his death I have often wondered about his suffering with "stomach trouble" and migraine headaches and what may have been the cause thereof.

In later years Calista moved with Bill and Lora to their farm near Hardin, Montana.  She died at the age of 96.  In her last years, her mind and memory were excellent.  She even voted at the last election.  She, too, was buried near Grandpa in the Forsyth, Montana Cemetery.  Later, son Bill (who died peacefully in his nap) was also buried there, near his parents and sister Cora, who had preceded him in death.

And so I come to the end of a brief biography of our maternal grandparents.  May they rest in peace.