The Van Buren press., 1873-09-16
A ROMANCE OF MURRAY HILL.
A Graduate of RVtgers Female College,
the Belle Of 1858, Dying as
Vagrant-An Indian Doc
tress' Chequered Life.
lrr.n the Vow York SUM-


tFrsn the tew York sun,
In the neatly furnished parler OF Mrs
/ Townsend, of Seventy eighth street and
svsuue A, hangs in aa elegant black val
nut frame a diploma Of Rutgers Female
Institute Of Fifth avonue, certifying that
on the 10th of June, 1862, rhiathea
/ Cooper won the highest prizes for Ian
guases, music. painting, aAd general ID
pertinent Three weeks ago, according
to She assertions Of several members OF
DR. Halls church, in east Seventy sixth
street, poor, broken hearted woman
dragged herself TO an outbuilding ad
Joining the foundry at Eighty second
street aud Second avenue, where, attend
ed only by Al Indian woman, she died of
exhaustion and starvation, as testified TO
by DR.. Studlsy, Of Seventy. street
and Third avenue Where she was bur.
led Is mystery.
| In 1890, Philctus Cooper, a wealthy
New York Quaker, adopted a full blood
od Indian named Oseeola aud his sister.
The extraordinary beauty Of the latter,
who lived in Mr. Coopsrs elegant man
sien at Bowling Green, won for hor the
name OF the lsdian princess. Oscsola
married Miss Cooper, who is said ~
have been related to Philetus. He took
the name OF his benefsctor, called his
daughter Philathea Cooper and his son
Osceola, both of whom were educated at
the millienairs's expense.
Ia the winter OF 1853. Philathsa Coop
or was . rsigning belle Of Murray hill Sc
cisty, supposed to be possessed Of vast
wealth. Her father and her protector
dying almsst at the same time, left her
affairs in the hsnds Of then promising &
young lawyer, who disappeared, lesving
Philsthea and Oscesla penniless. For
some time previous to this event, Phila
thea had been engaged to u Mr.. Marshall,
Of Virginia, . wealthy southsrnor, who,
Judging from his photograph in posses
sion OF Mrs Townsend, was remarkably
handsome man. They wore married, had
three children, and Mr.. Marshall dissp.
psared. leaving his ysung wife and chill
drsn Psnniless and unprotected
The former (" Indian princess lad
meanwhile married aud been divorced
from . Mr.. Powers She 10 now knovn
~ Mrs. Cooper, the Indian doctress In
1884 she lived in elegant style, in com
Portable circumstances, 10 Eighty second
street, When Mis. Marshall died. Mrs
Cooper took Mrs Marshall. her broths,
OSceols, and her three children under
her rsof, and protected thcm 70 the best
OF her ability.
Oscsols, unkspLily, had the lndiaa' .
love for ram, and soon squsndsred no,
only his own money, but brought his
bsnefactrsss to ruin. ~ she, rather than
have him lseksd up, paid his fines.
Homeless, psnsiless, deserted, Mrs.
Cooper, accompanied BY her niece and
children, wandered in the streets, taking
shelter wherever they could, while Mrs.
Cooper, in her Indian costume, Travelled
from house to house, offering TO cure sv-
cry kind OF sickness with charms and
herbs, whose wonderful healing powers
she said she possessed.
At length Mrs. Marshall, heart broken
and crushed, WAS seized With quick con-
sumption, dying, ~ the nsigAbon said,
Of starvation and neglect 10 the Clubhouse
sfths iron foundry.
Having no home. possessed Of ne
strong maternal instincts, MU Cooper
wandered frem house to house aceompa.
MED by the three fair beautiful
children, whom since their mothers desth
she has been accustomed to leave at dit.
fersnt houses with persons charitable 10.
ciaed. One Of these Mrs. Breksbski, OF
1878 Third avepus, tells the fellowiss 2
story:
1.-TWO wesks age, while lying, ~ it
was supposed on my death bed, ! recsiv-
ed call from Mrs. Cooper, whs had
three Of The levslicst children have sv-
or seen with her. The poor little things
we're In terrible condition, covered With
vermin ahd emaeiatsd. Mrs. Cesper
told ne the story Of her life. which 10 %
extraordinary orc. She 10 extremely Ia
dylike and commanding. ! offered 10
shelter one Of the little girls, who has
been with me until to-day, when Mrs.
Cooper called and took her away, saying
that Mrs Traphagsn OF Jersey City, the
wife OF . wealthy banker, had promised
TO adopt her Detective Lsrins OF the
Thirty ninth street police station says
that Mrs. Cooper is entitled to respect
for her noble devotion 70 the children
that for twenty years he knew her. dss,
~ the Indian princess now os the iadi.
an doetrsss; and that 10 bis opiaien the
letters addressed 60 the Sun askisg who
she 10 we're written by persons inimical
TO her. +"