John Carrick Cooper (1886-1969) Part 5

The Depression and World War II

29 Oct 1929. The date in U. S. history that affected our country and later the world for over a decade. The Great Depression. 

John C. Cooper or Jack also felt this hardship. He had a Remington typewriter that he worked on constantly. It was his “holy grail.” A cousin tells me a story of playing with it and Pop would get mad at her for touching it; but, then he would just walk away. After his death in 1969, his daughter remembers going through “his office” at home. She found piles of letters that he typed applying for work during this time along with business responses.

He needed to support his growing family with 

3 children: Bud, 10; Stan, 5; Eileen, 2 months. 

He was a bookkeeper or accountant. He belonged with such social groups as the Masons and the Elks whom he offered his service to find customers. 

In the 1930 census, he had a job with the local newspaper, The New York Evening Graphic, as an accountant. This paper was one of the first papers that started tabloid journalism. Ed Sullivan (writer with The Graphic 1930) was Jack’s co-worker. Sullivan and Walter Winchell were the famed feuding columnists during this time. By 1932, Jack was looking for another job when the Graphic closed its business. He pounded harder on his Remington.

I have copies of letter after letter of responses for Jack’s effortless search for work. All copies state “I am filing your letter for future reference and appreciate your offer of assistance.” These include the Preliminary Committee for the 1939 World’s Fair, Council for Moderation Inc. and The New  York Times. 

Jack even contacted his former employer, E. W. Bliss Co. on Dec. 17, 1934. 

By the 1940 census, Jack is an accountant for a local beverage company in New York.

During WWII, with his deafness in left ear, Jack worked at home serving with the Department of Defense. A limousine would daily pick him up to take him to local businesses to convert them to government work.

Both of his sons served: Bud in Germany and Stan in the Pacific. Jack and Honey proudly displayed both sons' Honor Rolls in their windows.

Bud, Jack & Stan 1945

After the war, his son Stan made a lifetime commitment and rejoined the U. S. Navy by attending Annapolis
U. S. Naval Academy.