Senator F. M. Cooper was one of Punta Gorda’s most prominent citizens who owned several businesses, organized a major bank, and became a
Florida State Senator. Senator Cooper was one of the leaders who drove the division of DeSoto County to create Charlotte County. Unfortunately, he died in 1921 shortly before Charlotte County officially came into existence and never saw his vision become a reality.
Also known locally as Captain Cooper, Frank Marion Cooper was born in
Fernandina, Florida on March 19, 1853 to James Gignilliat Cooper and Pharaba
Jane Vaughn Cooper. As a young man he operated a freight-carrying business,
running schooners between points on the gulf coast from Cedar Key to Key
West. An imposing six feet, four and a half inches
tall, Frank Cooper was widely known for his self-confidence, courage, nerve and
marksmanship. As a leader of a citizens’
posse in 1883, Cooper effected the capture of the chief of the murder clique
known as the Sarasota Vigilantes.
In 1898, he came to Punta Gorda, purchased 60 acres of land for a farm two
miles south of the then town, and became a farmer and businessman. His businesses included a hardware store on
Marion Avenue depicted in many of the old street scene photographs of the
time.
He became tax accessor for DeSoto County, a position he held
for a decade, and then in 1915 he was elected to the Florida State Senate and
served for two terms. He was the first
to suggest the construction of a coastal road from Tampa to Miami, making him
the father of the idea for the Tamiami Trail.
Always a proponent of dividing DeSoto County to form a new county with
Punta Gorda at its core, he was later re-elected to the state senate and became
instrumental in the movement which created Charlotte County.
The Punta Gorda History Center will induct Senator Cooper into the Punta Gorda History Hall of Honor this December 7 at the annual Southern Supper.
