National Republican., 1883-04-05

Peter Cooper was born in New York city
Feb. 12, 1901, and was consequently in his
ninoth-third year when he died. His father
was lieutenant in the American army of
the revolution His grandfather was the
celebrated John Campbell, deputy quarter
master general of the army during that war
His fathers means being small, the son
attended school only one-halfa year in all.
He learned the trade of halter and brewer,
and at II he was apprenticed to tho coach
making trade. Subsequently he became n
manufacturer of machines for shearing cloth,
then cabinetmaker, n grocer, and finally a
manufacturer of glue and isinglass, n business
he carried on for half century and made q
large fortune. In 1880 he erected large works
near Baltimore and built the first locomotive
engine ever constructed in America. He then
erected "a rolling and wire mill in New York.
Was the first man to successfully use anuhra-
cite coal in the pudding of iron, and the first
to roll wrought iron beams for fire proof
buildings. He was also ono of the earliest
and most active promoters of the Atlantic
telegraph. Always philanthropist, no
erected, in 1850 n large building popularity
called Cooper institute, to be used for educa-
tional purposes, whore instruction is free.
This is one of the noblest monuments ever
erected by mankind, and ho mover ceased to
take the deepest and fondcst interest in IL.
During his long life. he filed many posi-
tions of profit and honor in his native city,
but never was an Office seeker. He was am
bilious only to hCneit his fellows.
Mr.. Cooper married Miss Sarah Bedel, of
Hampstead, l.. l., in December, 1913, being
then % years old and his wife in her 2lst
year. They had six children, four of whom
died in childhood The two surviving chill
drcn are Edward Cooper of tho firm of
Cooper & Hewitt, merchants in New York
AT,ag wifi of
the Hon. A. S. Hewitt, member of congress-
Mrs. Cooper died in the 77th year of her age
and on the 56th anniversary Of her wedding
day, December, 1869. Mr.. Cooper never
spoke of his wife without emotion. He at
tributed all his highest happiness, and most
of his success in life, to the sterling qualities
Of character in his wife.
The practical and unselfsh conduct ho al
ways exhibited toward the workingman led
to his being nominated in 1872 for the presi-
denCy by tho workngmen's association, and
he received over 100000 votes He was an
earnest advocate of what is called the "green-
back theory" of finance, and his efforts in its
advocacy for many years were unceasing. He
displayed much ability in this direction, and
attracted much attention not only from tho
force of his arguments, but the honesty of his
convictions and the purity Of his motives. He
took an active interest in the institute and
these financial theories up to the hour of his
death. He had been for many years mem
Der of All Souls Unitarian church, on the
corner of Twentieth street and Fourth ave-
nue., New York city, of which the Rev. DIR.
Bellows was recently the pastor The church
is now without pastor. Mr.. Cooper was
also for many years member of the Union
League club, and was lately elected II member
of an important committee, but declined to
serve on account Of tho increasing infrmi-
ties of age.
Mr.. Cooper's character and life are plainly
comprehondod in the first paragraph of an
open letter written by him to the members of
the bankers convention at Saratoga August
IL, 1882, 1t reads: "a long life has COM
PEELED mo TO believe that Christianity as
Christ taught it presents to the world the
true science for the guidance of all national
governments and of all individual lives.
There Is no comment more clear, plain, and
self evident than the one which declares that
all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do unto you do ye even so unto them
This comment applies to every act and every
condition of life. All men are made to feel
how they would like Others to do unto them,
and that feeling should form the true meas
ure Of duty we owe to those around u.s."
In accordance with this idea he lived. In
his death he is followed by the sincere re-
grets and deep grief of thousands whom he
has relieved and assisted. His death Is re-
gardeS in New York as great loss, and ap-
propriate action respecting it shows, the
hold he had upon his fellow citizens.