By James E. Kerns

Luther Cooley with his wife, Susannah, and four children, came to Clarke County, Iowa in a covered wagon in 1856 from Indiana.  He was a farmer.  He died at the age of 39 of pneumonia after getting too hot sowing flax and taking cold.  Evidently it was muddy in the field, and his tracks could be seen for weeks after.  In those days sowing was done by hand broadcasting, and on foot, of course.  He left Susannah with seven living children.  An eighth child had died at the age of 5 months.  Two years after Luther's death Susannah married her hired man, William Decker, and had two more daughters.