Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-06
GODEY's DEATH.
A Brief Sketch of the Career Of the
Founder of the WideIy-knOwR
f." GOdey's Lady's Book"
Philadelphia Timos,l

Philadelphia Times,l
Louis A. Cooley, the founder of
Godey's Lady's Book, and for nearly
fifty years its publisher, died suddenly
last evening at his residence, No.
1917 Chestnut street, in the seventy
fifth year of his age, Mr.. Cooley had
been an invalid for several years.
Last spring he had a severe sickness,
which confined him to his bed for
! several weeks. He recovered from
this attack, and enjoyed comparative
ly good health up to about three
weeks ago, when he was taken sick
again. He was considered dangerous
" i'll for afew days, but rallied so as
to be able to be up a part Of every day,
He was sitting in his chair reading,
when suddenly his paper fell from his
hand and he fell back dead at half
past eight O'Clock last evening. His
daughter Marion was with him at the
time, and one Of his sons had been
conversing with him only a few min
utes before. His disease was govt,
complicated with other complaints.
/, Louis A.. Cooley was born in New
York. June 9th. 1904. In early life
he removed to Washington, but hi
stay there was short, and he soon after
, came to Philadelphia, where he soOr
. started a publishing house, in which
: enterprise he associated with himself
t the present venerable editor Of tn,
. North American, Morton McMichael
The new house brought out the frs
: American edition Of Captain Maryatt'
e novels. Young Cooley got a practlca
4 knowledge of printing from Charlie
Z Alexander, the most celebrated printe
Philadelphia ever had. 1t was Alex
ander who printed the well-know
h production of w. i. Burton, tn
d comedian, The Gentleman's Mage
p zine. and in the editorial rooms Of thi
I'd monthly Louis A. Cooley first had h
II future laid ont to him. On July Is
le 1880. he Joined hands with Charl'
70 Alexander in the publication Of ii
er afterWardfamouslittl magazine know
as Godey's Ladys Book. Several yea
no Of this experiment suficed Mr. Ale.
oy andeF and he withdrew from the fri
Louis A. Cooley then managed
ey magazine alone until in 1887 he call
Il to his side Mrs. Sarah Josepha Ha
zee who, although now more than nine
nd years old, has OutliYed her coedit
asst Mrs. Hale it is who gave her name
m the famous cook book, and who ]
or written more than a score Of vOlun
ept upon almost as many different subjeC
Be Some years back George w. Jon
asst who died three years ago, was called
res, a copartnefship and 70 the busin
ter management OF the Ladys Book, J
ven Cooley continued at the head Of
rify magazine until December, 1877, vi
der he sold its rights and itle to the Go
old Publishing Company the head
and which was ex%-coroner and at one Z
,ent business manager Of Forney's Pr
~ J. 6. i. Brown, who is now dead.
we're Godey's Ladys Book was first :
4 Of lished on Chestnut street, just al
and Third. and in 1855 its Office was INC
per nearer 10 Fourth street. In |
oted when IL was at the hight Of it, =
that perity. it removed its headquarter
tain the northeast corner Of Sixth
.fter Chestnut streets. At this time
de- circulation was as high as l4(
ST to copies a month. The Lady's Book
hich what its name betokened. Al
each founder wrote, ghep be retired
did its managementin 1877, and as Co
lere. Forney quotes in one Of his Pro
IN no Biographies. Not an inn
Edge thought or pTQfgRe word can be I
nded in his magazine during the whol.
geeks hundred and scventy-one mont
e TO its publication" 1t won success
q the the beginning, and this by Q
them niece OF enterprise, though II was
He sidered gigantic enough in those
had Mr.. Cooley had sent him reg
al he from Paris highly-colored plat
Mel the reigning fashions. These g
in the the wom0p's eyes and they mad
risen magazine.
esior, Louisa. Cooley survived many
# the pent contemporaries Of his. Jol
devils lists, actors and statesmen sougi
ort Of company. He could speak iptlI
front OF such celebrities as Wasblngt
wing Charles Dickens, the elder
ded oil Gordon Bennett, William Blak'
4 into Thackaray, w. y. Burton Edwll
sgOre rest. W. q, Macready, Robert i