The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-06-01

there was q small hat store and factory.
kept by man called Captain Cooper, a
soldier of the Revolutionary war. He
had large family and made but poor
progress in this worlds goods. His wife
was the daughter of another Revolution
ary soldier. was raised among the Penn
sylvanian Moravians, and was valuable
aid to the head of the family in caring
| for the same. Seven sons and two daugh-
ters comprised their children. The
fifth was named Peter,-to-day. and for
wears past, of all the inhabitants Of the
great city of New York, the man most
honored and beloved.
Peter Cooper was born in 1891. His
father found use for him as early as he
was capable of light work, SO his earliest
| recollections are of pulling and picking
| wool used in The manufacturing Of hats.
All his boyhood days ke assisted bis faith
er, except during one year he went to
school half OF each day. learning read
ing, writing and some arithmetic. His
father finally left the hat business and
set up brewery in Peekskill Peter
did not like the business. and being from
child of an inventive turn of mind.
anxious tor handling tools and machin-
cry, at the age of seventeen, witn his
fathers consent, he went to New York
to learn q business more cOngenial. At
ter several days wandering without sue
cess, he engaged himself as an appren-
tice to carriage firm, near the corner
Of Chambers stree. and Broadway. tor
four years service, board and twenty
five dollars year. In these DAYS such
u salary would be spurned with con.emp,
.by the average young American, but he
thought it fair, aud it WAS, for those
times. BY working extra time, he made
q little money Tor a special pnrpose Be
ing sc xious for more OF 70 education
than was possible to ootaia By ons
years schooling. he bought some books
read them attentiveiy. but tels the nees
, OF teacher He looked about 70.
night school. but found none. As IN al
the CITY at that time. none existed. "A
!. far as he WAS able he hired teacher i
|. assist him in his studies. and 80 mad
: considerable progress He then resolve
. that If ever he had the power. ne woul
2 found an institution such as he so muc
!, needed. where apprentices and yonn
: mechanics could get schooling an
, knowledge in the evening. This reso!v
. was made before he was OF age. Al
kept constantly in view tor forty yeas
q before he could accomplish it.
A few months after his time was on
: the war OF 1912 broke out. which VA
the beginning OF his fortunes. The su|
!. ply of foreign goods being cut of. it b
= came necessary to replace them vii
: home manufactures OF do without tn
J. created great demand for cloths, an
L factories sprung up everywhere n
Cooper. possessing > genius for invsl
ion. invented . machine for shearir
the nap from the surface OF the cluel
: His machine sold readily. He soon b
y . shop and . number Of employees. ~
the demand was greater than the suppl
I'll In 1914 he was married. and his vi
> WAS all that any woman could be to bfin
# the fullest enjoyment Of domestic blfla
d such man II is said thai during d
married lite. Of more than halfa cent
o not word y As spoken or an act 0&I
3 BY either that gave the other pain. 41
IS the ordinary course OF matrimonial III
,f it bee necessary to have > crSAI
Mr.. Cooper was equal 70 the emerreuc
n and invented self-Tocking one, Viii {.
.s attachment. which he patented and 80
N for small consideration
+ The war over, no more cloth could |
as manufactured at profit in Amsrica.
Is his machine WAS not in demand. I
a. tried cabinet making for.a time. th,
tried grocery, on tue site now occupi
3 by the Cooper Instituse. aud even th
.. thought that suitAblep!ace ter his ey,
= ning stkool estahli6hment which
1hoQod - eocou lsoue day, vae1