Family Group Sheet
NameGeorge W. Cooper
Birthabt 1822, Fleming Co., Kentucky
DeathDec 1908, Rowan Co., Kentucky
FatherJohn Cooper (~1782-1841)
MotherNancy Purvis (~1786-~1848)
Other spousesMary J. Lykes
Marriage9 Sep 1891, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseAmanda [Burk] Plank
Birth22 Jul 1855, Fleming Co., Kentucky
Birth Memofrom annual birth report
Birth12 Jan 1854, Fleming Co., Kentucky
Birth Memofrom her death certificate
Death21 Apr 1932, Grange City, Fleming Co., Kentucky
FatherJames or John Plank
MotherNancy Ann Burk (~1834-)
Other spousesFranklin “Frank” Cooper
Children
Birth2 Oct 1892, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseGladys Jordan
Birth20 May 1893, Hilda, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death5 Dec 1969, Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana
SpouseMary Ellen Jackson
Birth12 May 1902, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death24 Jun 1974, Valhalla, St. Louis Co., Missouri
SpouseLucille Evelyn Floyd
Notes for Amanda [Burk] Plank
The Fleming Co., Ky, annual births report to the state auditor for 1855 records the birth on 22 July 1855 of Amanda Burke, father field blank, mother’s maiden name Nancy Ann Burke.
Her death certificate records Amanda Cooper, age 78 years 3 months 9 days, born 12 Jan 1854 in Fleming Co., Ky, died 21 April 1932 in Grange City, Fleming Co., Ky, widowed, father James Plank, mother’s maiden name Nancy Ann Plank, both born in Fleming Co., Ky, cause of death carcinoma of uterus, informant Herbert Cooper, Morehead, Ky, burial in Fairview Cemetery.
From the birth and census records, her mother was actually Nancy Ann Burk/Birk, who either married James or John Plank sometime after 1860, well after Amanda’s birth, or perhaps was never married to him at all, and just took his name unofficially. But all of Nancy’s children were known as Plank as adults, even though they were listed as Birk in the 1860 and 1880 censuses (and as Plank in 1870.)
Although the birthdate given in the death certificate varies from the one in the birth record in all particulars (day, month and year), the date in the birth report is not necessarily the correct one. The birth report is compiled the following year from all the reports turned in by midwives and doctors, and quite often the clerk misreads the handwriting of the person reporting it. It would not be hard to misread Jany 12 as July 22, for example.
Her death certificate records Amanda Cooper, age 78 years 3 months 9 days, born 12 Jan 1854 in Fleming Co., Ky, died 21 April 1932 in Grange City, Fleming Co., Ky, widowed, father James Plank, mother’s maiden name Nancy Ann Plank, both born in Fleming Co., Ky, cause of death carcinoma of uterus, informant Herbert Cooper, Morehead, Ky, burial in Fairview Cemetery.
From the birth and census records, her mother was actually Nancy Ann Burk/Birk, who either married James or John Plank sometime after 1860, well after Amanda’s birth, or perhaps was never married to him at all, and just took his name unofficially. But all of Nancy’s children were known as Plank as adults, even though they were listed as Birk in the 1860 and 1880 censuses (and as Plank in 1870.)
Although the birthdate given in the death certificate varies from the one in the birth record in all particulars (day, month and year), the date in the birth report is not necessarily the correct one. The birth report is compiled the following year from all the reports turned in by midwives and doctors, and quite often the clerk misreads the handwriting of the person reporting it. It would not be hard to misread Jany 12 as July 22, for example.
Census
1860 census of Fleming Co., Ky, district 2, Flemingsburg P.O., enumerated 9 July, lists on p. 31 as family #203/255:
Abraham Birk, 83, gentleman; Mary, 54; Nancy A., 26; George W., 18; Amanda, 5; Mary F., 3. All born in Kentucky.
Amanda and Mary F. are daughters of Nancy. George’s death certificate records his parents as Abraham Burk and Mary Alinder.
1870 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Hillsboro precinct, enumerated 4 Aug, lists on p. 18 as family #118/115:
Berk, Mary, 65, farmer; Jamima, 10; Plank, Nancy, 36; Amanda, 14; Jas Wm, 8; John, 6; Julia, 3. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Hillsboro precinct, enumerated 17 June, lists on p. 26 as family #224/226:
Plank, Nancy, 45; Birk, Amanda, 23 (relationship blank); Birk, James W., 17, son; Birk, John, 15, son; Louesia, 4, dau; Lurania, 4, dau; Ida, 6, granddaughter; Abigale, 3, granddaughter; baby no name, male, 1/12, b. Apr, granddaughter.
Ida, Abigail and the infant are children of Amanda. The infant is listed as male in the gender column, but as a granddaughter in the relationship column.
Note that the surname of Nancy’s children Amanda, James and John has gone from being Plank in 1870 to Birk (Nancy’s maiden name) in 1880, even though Nancy has kept the surname Plank. It is unclear what the surname of the younger children is meant to be. They have the dash that means ditto rather than an explicit surname, but it is ambiguous as to whether they are meant to inherit from the head of household (Nancy Plank), or from the last line that has a surname (John Birk).
Abraham Birk, 83, gentleman; Mary, 54; Nancy A., 26; George W., 18; Amanda, 5; Mary F., 3. All born in Kentucky.
Amanda and Mary F. are daughters of Nancy. George’s death certificate records his parents as Abraham Burk and Mary Alinder.
1870 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Hillsboro precinct, enumerated 4 Aug, lists on p. 18 as family #118/115:
Berk, Mary, 65, farmer; Jamima, 10; Plank, Nancy, 36; Amanda, 14; Jas Wm, 8; John, 6; Julia, 3. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Hillsboro precinct, enumerated 17 June, lists on p. 26 as family #224/226:
Plank, Nancy, 45; Birk, Amanda, 23 (relationship blank); Birk, James W., 17, son; Birk, John, 15, son; Louesia, 4, dau; Lurania, 4, dau; Ida, 6, granddaughter; Abigale, 3, granddaughter; baby no name, male, 1/12, b. Apr, granddaughter.
Ida, Abigail and the infant are children of Amanda. The infant is listed as male in the gender column, but as a granddaughter in the relationship column.
Note that the surname of Nancy’s children Amanda, James and John has gone from being Plank in 1870 to Birk (Nancy’s maiden name) in 1880, even though Nancy has kept the surname Plank. It is unclear what the surname of the younger children is meant to be. They have the dash that means ditto rather than an explicit surname, but it is ambiguous as to whether they are meant to inherit from the head of household (Nancy Plank), or from the last line that has a surname (John Birk).
Notes for George W. & Amanda (Family)
Rowan Co., Ky, marriage register A, p. 39, records the marriage on 9 Sep 1891 of George W. Cooper Sr. and Amanda Plank.
Census
1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy Fork precinct, enumerated 19 June, lists on p. 16B as family #284:
Cooper, Geo. W., 70, b. Jan 1830, farmer; Mandy, wife, 35, b. May 1865, marrried 9 years, mother of ? children, 5 living; Herbert, son, 8, b. June 1892; George, son, 6, b. Apr 1894. All born Ky Ky Ky.
If this is the same George W. Cooper who was previously married to Mary Lykes, then his birthdate should be in 1822 or 1823, judging by earlier censuses. And I can find no other George W. Cooper whom it could be. (There was a George W. Cooper born in Feb 1839, son of William Cooper and Ann Proctor, but he was listed separately in Fleming Co. in 1900.) Amanda was also really born in July 1855.
1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove (Brushy) precinct, enumerated 23 April, listson p. 6A as family #97/99:
Cooper, Herbert, 18, farmer; Manda, mother, 52, widowed, mother of 5 children, 5 living; Willie M., brother, 9. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy Fork precinct, enumerated 9 Jan, lists on p. 4B as family #53:
Cooper, William M., 18, farming; Manda, mother, 65, widowed. Both born Ky Ky Ky.
Cooper, Geo. W., 70, b. Jan 1830, farmer; Mandy, wife, 35, b. May 1865, marrried 9 years, mother of ? children, 5 living; Herbert, son, 8, b. June 1892; George, son, 6, b. Apr 1894. All born Ky Ky Ky.
If this is the same George W. Cooper who was previously married to Mary Lykes, then his birthdate should be in 1822 or 1823, judging by earlier censuses. And I can find no other George W. Cooper whom it could be. (There was a George W. Cooper born in Feb 1839, son of William Cooper and Ann Proctor, but he was listed separately in Fleming Co. in 1900.) Amanda was also really born in July 1855.
1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove (Brushy) precinct, enumerated 23 April, listson p. 6A as family #97/99:
Cooper, Herbert, 18, farmer; Manda, mother, 52, widowed, mother of 5 children, 5 living; Willie M., brother, 9. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy Fork precinct, enumerated 9 Jan, lists on p. 4B as family #53:
Cooper, William M., 18, farming; Manda, mother, 65, widowed. Both born Ky Ky Ky.
