The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-05
DEATH OF PETER COOPER
At New York-Tme Aged Philanthropisi
Passes Pcaeefnlly Away.

New YORK, March 4.-Peter Cooper died
OF pneumonia at half past three this morn
ing. Mr.. Cooper celebrated the ninety
second anniversary Of his birth on Feb
ruary u. He had been ailing some time
with q slight cold aud Sunday was compell-
cd to remain in bed. The family physician
was summoned and at once discovered the
patient suffering from pneumonia. Mr..
Cooper's advanced yeas were a
great drawback to his recovery. At 2 o'clock
this morning he called his son ex.Msyor
Cooper and Mrs. Abram S. Hewitt, his
daughter, and her family to his bedside,
saving to them that he knew he had not
long to live, and they must become recon.
ciled to the fact. His death occurred ex:
actly at $3.50 A. NJ, and he remained con.
scious up to the time Of his demise, and
made several remarks in regard TO family
affairs Many friends Of the family and
prominent citizens called at the house this
morning and expressed sympathy with the
yereayed family. Mr.. Cooper was born in
this city February 10, 1901. He lived
life full OF honor from early boyhood.
Among many who called TO express their
sorrow for Cooper were Samuel J. Tilden,
lAlgernon Sullivan, General Alexander S.
Webb and Andrew III. Green. During his
last hours Mr.. Cooper manifested his great
interest in the Cooper Institute and spoke
to Mr.. Hewitt and to his son, ex-Mayor
Cooper, about the manner in which the
work should be carried on alter his death.
The information oil Coopers demise quickly
spread throughout the city exciting feelings
Of regret Flags were at half.mast on the
Cooper Institute, city hall, post office build
ing, newspaper offices, and other public
and private buildings.
The funeral OF Peter Cooper will take
place iron All Souls Church, Saturday.
Rev. DR.. Collyer, assisted by Rev. Howard
Crosby, will conduct the services.
The following are the pail bearer:
Hamilton Fish, Wilson 6. Hunt,
Chief ustice DAILY, John T. Agnew, Gen.
Alexis Webb, POSTMASTER Pierson, Jackson
S. Schultze, w. II. Appleton, A. A. Low,
Cyrus W. Field, John E. Parsons and II.
NJ. Thiett'in. The funeral will be as pri-
vate as possible.
Peter Cooper was born in New York,
February l2, l79l, He attended school
only half Of each day for a single year, and
beyond the knowledge thus gained his
acquisitions were entirely his own. At the
age Of seventeen he was apprenticed to the
trade OF coachmaking, and served out his
time so much TO the satisfaction Of bis
master, that the latter offered to set him
up In business, which he declined. He
iof sometime followed his trade; next en-.
gagged In the manufacture Of machines for
shearing cloth, which were In great demand
during the war OF 1872, but lost all value
on the declaration OF peace; then the mau.
uiacture of cabinet ware; then in
the grocery business in the city OF
New York; and finally In the manu-
facture OF glue and isinglass, which he car
ried on for fifty years. His attention was
early called 10 the great resources OF this
country for the manufacture Of iron, and
in 1850 he erected extensive works at
Canton, near baltimore. Disposing OF
these, he subsequently erected q rolling
and wire mill in the city OF New York, In |
which he first successfully applied anthra.
cite 10 the pudding Of iron, In lS46 he
removed the machinery to Trenton, \. j.,
where he erected tho largest rolling mill at
that time In the United States for the
manufacture Of railroad iron, and at which
subs quently he was the first TO roll
iyrougnt.iron for beams fire. proof buildings.
Wilhelm Baltimore he built after his own
designs the htst locomotive engine con.
stfueted on thia continent, and II was used
successfully on the baltimore 4 Ohio Rail
road. He took great interest in the or.
tension Of the electric telegraph, in which
he invested O large capital. He served in
both branches Of the New York Common
Council, and was prominent advocate Of
the construction Of the Croton aqueduct
His great object was TO educate and elevate
the industrial classes OF the community.
In iurtherance OF this object the "union
for the Advancement Of Science and Art"
commonly called the Cooper Institute"
was erected In New York at the junction
OF Third and Fourth avenues, between
Seventh and Eighth streets, covering the
entire block, at q cost OF over $3.50, 900, 70
which Mr.. Cooper has since added an en-
dowment OF $4,000 In cash. This build.
Ing lis devoted by deed ot trust
with all It's rents, issues and profits, to
the instruction and elevation Of. the
working classes Of the city Of New York.
The plan includes regular courses oi In
structIon at night, free TO all who choose TO
attend, on social and political science, on
the application Of science 10 the useful