Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-05
Peter Cooper


vas born in New York on February il
1891. His maternal grandfather, John
Campbeli, was all Alderman OF that city
and Deputy QuartermaSter General during
the war of the Revolution, and expended
a considerable private fortune in the ser
vice of his country. His father was Lieu.
tenant in the same war, after the close OF
which he established a hat mandatory.
He was almost invariably unsuccessful IN
his business undertakings, so that young
Peter, who was one of large family, was
reared amid pinching to the verge OF pow
erty and early in life he became accustom'
ed to anxieties and hard labor. His entire
start in education consisted in attending
school the half of each day during one
wear. and beyond the knowledge thus
gained his mental acquisitions were entire
ly his own. At the age OF seventeen
He Was Apprenticed
10 a coachmaker, and at the close Of his
"time" his master was so we'll satisfied
with the service rendered that he offered
to set him up in business-a proposition
which, however, was declined. For peri
cd he followed this trade, but about the
wear 1912 engaged in the manutac'
lure of machines for shearlng
cloth, a contrivance which was in great de.
mand during the war, but lost all value
when peace was declared and uniforms for
soldiers not needed. In the latter part OF
1914 he embarked in cabinet making, then
in the grocery business, and finally In the
manufacture of glue and islnglass, which
he conducted for an even half century.
During his successful business career as q
producer Of glue he engaged in other enter
prises, notably, in 1880, an iron works at
Canton, near Baltimore. Disposing OF this
plant, he
Erected n Rolling
and wire mill in the city OF New YORK, IN
which was first successfully applies anthra.
cite coal in the pudding ofiron. 1t was ia
lS45 that he removed this plant TO Trenton,
\. J., where he erected the largest rolling
mill OF that time in the United States for
the rolling of rails. 1t was in this mill
that was first rolled wrought iron beams
for buildings. These works have grown to
be very extensive and still in Mr.. Coopers
family, Congressman A. S. Hewitt, his SON.
in.!aw, and his son, the exMayor OF New
York, having been at the head OF the man.
agement for many years.
While in Baltimore Peter Cooper built,
after his OVID designs, the first locomotive
engine constructed on the continent, which
engine was used successfully on the b. &
.. railroad. He took abiding interest in the
electric telegraph when first mooted and
invested largely in its extension. In brief,
Mr.. Cooper seems to have been the
Progressive Spirit of Business
during his active life.
In politics he was more prominent IN
after years. He served two terms in the
New York City Councils, and was school
truStee-the only offices he held. A great
object with him was to elevate mankind,
and he was untiring, practical, and gener-
Gus in expenditure of time and money to-
ward this end. His experience as a school
trustee indicated to him that it would be
impracticable to impart technical educa-
ton in the common schools, and this led
to his establishing the Union for the Ad-
vancement of Science and Art known to
the world as the
Cooper Institute
A building was erected at the junction OF
Third and Fourth avenues, between Sew
enth and Eighth streets, covering the en-
tire block, at a cost of over $65O,6OO, to
which Mr.. Cooper has since added $3.50, 900
as au endowment fund. This building is
donated by deed of trust, with all its rents,
issues and profits, to the instruction and
elevation of the working classes of New
York. The plan includes regular instruc.
ton at night free to all who choose TO at
tend, AMI Of which over 1000 pupils, most
ly young mechanics, avail themselves. 1t
has also school of design for females at.
tended by 300 pupils, and a free reading
room and library which is reSorted to by
an average OF 1900 readers daily. In 1876
Mr.. Cooper was the candidate of the Green
back Labor party for President OF the Uni
ted States, and polled about seventy six
thousand votes. During many years he
has been devoted to works of charity and
in advancing mis- theories of the well-being
of mankind,