Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-13
PETER COOPER.

Old Times RecaUed-Tbe Burial of wash
angton-EmRet'S Appeal tn Court-Un-
der all the Presidents.
Peter Cooper was the most afable of
men. He was easily approached. and de-
lighted to chat with friends. If all the in
terviews had with him by newspaper re-
porters were printed they would fill large
volume. His words were always well
chosen. His eyes sparkled as he looked
back into the past, and it was one of his
most Joyous times when some man of the
new New York would ask him to talk
about politics. 81 have lived under the
administration of all the presidents of the
republic" he would exclaim gieefully. ST
have met most of the prominent men of
the country, the famous statesmen; have
seen all the great actors and actresses and
heard all the great singers. None of the
playmates of my boyhood are living" he
said, recently. REV. DR.. Bellows was my
pastor. ] used to attend his church down
IN Murray street. Before that 1 attended
Mr.. Dewey's church on Broadway,
the same which Mr.. Stewart turned
into theater. When I was born there
were only $4,000 people in this city. My
mother was born on the spot where now
stands st. Paul's church, Broadway, Vesey
and Fulton streets, and she remembered
the old stockade built to keep out the Indi-
ans. l remember the post and rail fence
around the negro burial ground where
Stewards wholesale store was-Broadway
and Chambers street. I heard Thos. Ad-
dis Emmett, whose monument is in St.
Paufs churchyard, speak in Federal
hail, at what is now Nau-
sau and Wall streets, for three
hours il case IN which man brought
suit as claimant for this land, and, in fact.
for several acres, extending to Duane and
Chatham streets. Emmet was so eloquent
that he carried the jury by storm. The
judge-Judgs Spencer, think it was-had
an idea Of the equity of the case, and on
account OF the overpo8ering force of En-
NETS eloQuence, the first words of his
charge 70 the jury we're: Gentlemen of the
jury, you must remember that lawyers are
paid for talking Emmett won his case. He
was no doubt honest in his belief i'll his
clients claims, but within a fortnight
afterward il was found that the man who
had obtained tide TO the land had s9cur-
ed ii BY forged papers, and he was sent to
prison. l remember I was about nine
years old at the time when Washington
was buried. That is, he was buried at
Mount Vernon; but we had a funeral
service IN old st. Paul's. I stood in front
of the church, and recall the event we'll,
on account Of his old white horse and its
trappings.
Il owe any success which may have
been mine" continued Mr.. Cooper, large
ly to my attitude in regard to the banks. 1
would not put myself in their power by
running in debt. I had learned three
trades by the time I was twenty years
Old-one of them on what is now the cor
ner of Broa 1way and Chambers streets. I
could make every part of hat, and for
several years worked in an ale brewery
with my father. In my seventeenth year
[ entered as apprentice to the coach-mak-
ing business, i'll which l remained four
years till 1 became of age.' Imade for
my employer a machine for norris
ing the hubs of carriages, which proved
very profitable to HIM, and was, perhaps,
the first OF its kind used in this country.
When was tWentyone years old my en-
ployer offered to build me a shop and set
me up in business, but as I had always a
horror Of being burdened with debt, and
having no capital of my own, I declined
MS kind offer. He himself became a
bankrupt. 1 have made it a rule to pay
every thing as I go. If, IL the course of
business, anything is due from me to any.
one, and the money is not called for, [
make it my business on the last Saturday
before Christmas to take it to his business
place"
MI. CooPEG'S RELIGIOUS VIEWS.
Rev. DR.. Robert Collyer said to MaiJ
and Express reporter this morning that he
had known Mr.. Cooper number of years
intimately, and although his death was
great shock, it was no surprise to him.
"Aboat Mr.. Cooper's life 1 have little to
say added DIR. Collyer; che lived SO much
IN the broad light of philanthropy st and
vas known so we'll 10 all classes of people
that were I TO talk about his history could
tell you little that is new. He was a won
derfuI man and a very good com
panion. His stock of stories and
his recollections of old New York
we're very interesting, and to
his friends he was willing
to talk hour after hour of his early life.
Last February 1 attended birthday din
ner given by Mr.. Cooper's family in his
honor. CThen he was as cheerful and az
full of life as had ever known him. There
was no Indication that year had passed
since I had dined at a previous birthday
dinner. He seemed in remarkable health,
and was the very life of the gathering.
Be never, in the numberless conversations
we have had together, complained
of feeling i'll or anxious about his
health. MIR. Cooper was regular
listener to the services of
All Souls church, OF which DR.. Bellows
was the pastor for a long time. He and
William Cullen Bryant were always seen
at the morning services, and before Mr..
Cooper passed his ninetleth year he was
always to be seen in his pew On Sunday.
whether it were the morning or evening
service. And he was the best listener ]
ever knew. He seemed SO interested in
what the preacher said that it was a very
great pleasure to see him before me
with his brow knit and his
head bent forward with thought.
Some little time ago called on him at lis
house, and il the course of our converse
ton the subject Of age was discussed
Said he: 4 would be glad to have foul
more years Of life given me. for cir
anxious to make some Improvements il
CoODer union and then part of my life