The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-04-13
DEATH OF PETER COOPER.
Sketch of His Life.


NEW YORK, April 8.
Peter Cooper died of pneumonia at $50
yesterday morning, aged 80 years. He had
been ailing sometime with slight cold, and
last Sunday was compelled to remain in bed.
The family physician was summoned, and
at once discovered the patient suffering from
a severe attack of pneumonia. Mr.. Cooper's
advanced years were great drawback to his
recovery. soA' =
About two o'clock in the morning, he
called his son, ex-Mayor Cooper, and Mrs.
Abram S. Hewitt, his daughter, and her
family, to his bedside, saying to them that
he knew he had not long to live, and they
must become reconciled to the fact. His
death occurred exactly at three a.. m. He
remained conscious up to the time of his
demise, and made several remarks in re-
gard to family affairs. @.A- 9-t'
Among the many who called to express
sorrow for Mr.. Cooper's death were Samuel
j. Tilden, Algernon. S. Sullivan, General
Alexander S. Webb and Andrew II. Green.
Information of Mr.. Coopers demise
quickly spread throughout the city, exciting
feelings of regret, and flags were displayed
at half-mast on Cooper Institute the City
Hall, the Post Office building, newspaper
offices and other public and private build
mgs. ea GHE.8 81 alaa GeaW
Forty-three members of the PENNSYLVANIA
Commandery of the military order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States, under
command of Major General Hancock, Wis
tied the New. York Commandery at Del
monico's last night. Before the banquet the
committee drafted resolutions of regret fol
the death of Peter Cooper i. ~ i4|
.af41 BIOGRAPHICAL. BIB
Peter Cooper was born in the city of New
York, February H. 1891, when its popula-
ton was only $1,000. His father was a
Lieutenant in the Continental army, and aft
er the war located in New York City, where
he engaged in the manufacture of hats. He,
naturally enough, learned the trade of his
father, and pursued it with him. The latter
afterwards sold out his business, and remov-
ing to Newburgh, N. Y, erected a brewery,
and young Cooper engaged here with his
father in the manufacture of ales, etc.
In his 18th year he entered as an APP
prentice to the coach-making business.
Here he remained until he was of age, and
had thoroughly learned the business. After
arriving at age, and working in Hampstead,
Long Island, at the manufacture of ma
chine for shearing CLOTH he saved enough
money out of his wages to buy the right of
the State of New York for the machine, and
commenced its manufacture. He subse-
quently engaged in the grocery
business. Afterwards he began the manu-
facture Of glue, oil, whiting, prepared chalk
and isinglass, which business he subsequent
ly removed to Brooklyn where the business
has been continued uutil the present time,
and is now in successful operation. In 1928
he purchased 5000 acres of land within the
now cOrpOrated limits of Baltimore, Mary
land, paying therefor $105,00 and on
portion of this property erected the COnton
Iron Works. Here he built the first loco
motive ever constructed in America. He
afterwards founded the Trenton Iron Works,
where the first iron beams, now so much
used in fire-proof buildings, were rolled. He
was one of the'earliest and most active pro-
motors of the Atlantic telegraph. About
1850 he resolved to devote considerable
portion of his ample fortune to public use.
For this purpose he erected the large build
ing in New York known as the Cooper
Union. This will be his most enduring
monument, and has been and will continue
to be a blessing to thousands of both sexes.
1t is designed for the working classes. In a
conversation short time ago Mr.. Cooper
said that the expressions of gratitude which
he was so often receiving from those who
had learned some valuable trade, or been
enabled through the education received at
the Union to support themselves and famil-
les, were more. gratifying and pleasurable
to him than all his possessions. Mr..
Cooper, in politics, was of late years a
Greenbacker. He was the nominee of that
party for the Presidency in 1876, receiving
S1,74O votes. He was eninently practical
and successful ia all pursuits of life. He
lived to see the full fruition of his philan-.
thropic plans, and his memory will long be
revered by thousands who have benefited by
his noble penaroSitv