Ohio Governor Gravesites: #51 Myers Y. Cooper

Myers Y. Cooper

Born: November 25, 1873
Died: December 5, 1958
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: January 14, 1929 - January 12, 1931
Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery Cincinnati, Ohio
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   Myers Y. Cooper was born in St. Louisville, Ohio in 1873. After attending 2 years of college, he left without graduating. In 1896, he moved to Cincinnati and opened up a real estate business. After a great deal of success in the real estate business, he opened up other companies in lumber and banking. Over time he would also serve as president of Ohio Fair Managers Association and president of the Ohio Council of Churches. In real estate he became known for allowing people to by houses on credit it they were unable to pay for the whole thing upfront.

   Cooper was active in Ohio Republican politics throughout the 1910's and 20's, holding mostly party positions. The first political office that he ran for was Governor of Ohio in 1926. He lost to the incumbent Governor Alvin Victor Donahey. He ran again in 1928 and was swept into office along with a Republican sweep across the country. His defeated Democratic opponent, Martin L. Davey, would go on to be Governor himself a few years down the road. Herbert Hoover was elected President that year, and the Ohio general assembly was predominantly Republican, allowing Cooper to get a lot of his plans through to law.

    Cooper had the unfortunate luck of being Governor when the Great Depression hit. The people felt that Cooper should of done more to help their troubles. And so, he lost reelection in 1930 in George White. After loosing reelection, Cooper returned home to Cincinnati to his many business ventures. His name is still associated with real estate. When I googled his name in research, I found several links connected to a real estate company before I came to any information on the man himself. He died in 1958.

       Myers Y. Cooper was the 6th and final Governor grave that we visited in Spring Grove Cemetery in February 2012. 9 Governors total are in Spring Grove. I had gotten 3 when I stopped by in September 2011. So it took me 2 trips but I finally got all 9.
      Most of the Governor graves that I have seen make no mention of them serving as Governor. Coopers grave was different. He and/ or his family must of been very proud of the fact that he served as Governor as you will see. I liked it!