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


York on what is known As Water street,
there was 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
AIRY soldier. was raised among the Penn
sylvanian Morayians, and was valuable
aid to the head of the family in caring
for the same Seven sons and two daug Oh
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 bora il 1871 His
father found use for him rs 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 boVhood days lie 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 nat business and
set up a brewery IN Peekskll. Peter
did not like the business. and being from
a child Of an inventive turn OF mind
anxious Tor handling tools and machin-
cry, at the age of seventeen. with his
! fathers consent. he went TO New York
70 learn \ business more congenai. All
ter several days wandering without sue
cess he engaged himself as an appren-
,ice to a carriage firm. near the corner
Of Chambers stree. aud Broadway. tor
four years service, board and twenty
five dollars year. Ia these DAYS SUCH
"a salary would be spurned with contempt
10y the average young American, but he
thought II fair, aud It WAS, f0r those
times. BIZ work ing extra G,ue ne made
. little money Tor q special purpose Be-
us anxious for more OF N education
than was possible to obtain b. one
year schooling. he bought some books.
read them attentiveY but felt the need
OF a teacher He looked abou. for a
night school, but ioGad none. as IN a..
the city. 1t nat time, none existed As
!. far As he was aole ne hired 3 teacher "a
assist him N MS studies. and so made
considerable progress He then resolved
} that /, ever lie had The power. lie would
found a. institution such az he 20 much
, needed, where apprentices aad youag
!; mechanics could get schooling aGc
, knowledge in the evening This resosys
was made before ne was OF age. aat
kept constantly IN view tor forty year.
before ne could accomplish it.
: 4 few months alter bis time was cut
the WAT OF 1912 broke out, which was
the beginning OF MS fortunes. The sup
. pig oi foreign goods being cut of. i be
came necessary 10 replace. them wit
home manufactures or do without. TAI.
created = great demand TOR Cloths. ans
t factories sprung up everywhere Mr
Cooper. possessing genius for inrsn
ton. invented a machine for shearins
the nap from the surface OF the cloth
: His machine sold readily He soon haf
shop and . number of employees. ant
the demand was greater than the supply
In 1914 he was married. and his wifi
was al that any woman could be to brin,
the fullest enloymento of domestic bliss 1,
such $ man Il IS said that during :hei
married lite. Of more than halfa cen sxRy
} not , word y as spoken or an act IAN,
= bY es taer that gave tie other pain. u
; the ordinary course OF matrimonial lie
I it became necessary 10 have a cradle
Mr.. Cooper was equal 20 the e.nergesry
j aud invented selt-rockiDg one. viii e.,
; attachments. which De patented ana sob
4 for small consideration.
: The war over. 70 more e.oea conld h
5 manufactured at 3 profit in America. :,
: his machine was not 10 demand. II
: tried cabinet making tors time. the
tried 8 grocery on tue size now occupie,
: by the Cooper Institute. and even The,
! thought that suitablep.ace .or his eve
g ming school establishment which 5
hoped to accomplish some day. vacsn