The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-05

All the money ever made was IN mechan-
ical business and not in speculation"
To celebrate his birthday and as a me-
mento to his friends Mr.. Cooper issued
volume entitled Ideas for a Science of Good
Government" which contains his speeches
and ideas on the tariff, finance the civil SER
vice and other subjects, and in the prepare
tion of which he has been engaged for some
months past. 1t is dedicated to his children,
grandchildren and the pupils of Cooper In
stitute. He presented copy to each of his
visitors yesterday and sent copies also to all
his intimate friends. He was preparing an
other volume for publication which was to
contain sketch of his life, his "reminiscences
of the great men whom he has known and
the great events he has taken part in during
his lifetime.
Among Mr.. Cooper's visitors on the occa-
sion of his last birthday were his two great
grandchildren, children of Mrs Bryce, who
is daughter of Mr., Edward Cooper. In ac
cordance with an old custom, Mr.. Cooper
entertained a number of old friends at din
ner. Most of his old associates are dead, and
OF the twenty-five guests at his birthday din
ner two years ago, but eleven now survive.
An interesting feature of the occasion was
the serving OF some Madeira of the vintage of
| 1871, Mr.. Coopers natal year, on salvers of
Britannia metal which were part of Washing
toms camp service, and of which Mr.. Hewitt
has lately acquired possession. When WASH
lngton retreated through New Jersey during
the revolution, he spent some time near NAH
wah, i'll the farm house of Mr.. Andrew
| Hopper who rendered distinguished services
| during the same war. Washington, in return
| for the kindness shown him, presented the
| service on his departure to the wife and
| daughter OF his host, from whose descendants
Mr.. Hewitt lately acquired it. There were
| forty-two pieces in all originally, but one was
lost recently. Many of the plates have the
| private marks of British officers upon them,
and some few General Braddock's coat-of-
arms and initials, showing, Mr.. Hewitt says,
| that Washington was evidently of a frugal
disposition, and at the time of Braddock' s
defeat took care to secure some of his eff
! fects."
Three very striking and remarkable mar
BILE busts of Alexander Hamilton, Washing
ton and Franklin were placed on the side
| board in the drawing-room. They were Sc
cured by Mr. Hewitt at a private sale in
| Washington, whence he traced them from a
sale of Dewitt Clintons effects in 1880. The
| first two are thought to be replcas OF the
original busts by Ceracchi and Houdon, and
the last by an unknown hand.
! Mr.. Cooper was originally Democrat, but
| abandoned that party at the beginning of the
war. He was opposed to the financial policy
OF the Republican party, after the era of re-
| construction, and was nominated for presi-
dent by the Greenback party, in 1876, at its
convention in that city, making the race
with General S. F. Cary, of Ohio. In religion
he was Unitarian, being member CT "All
Souls" Church, Rev. Henry w. Bellows,
pastor. His wife, who was Miss Sarah Be-
dell, of Hampstead, L. l., and whom he mar
ried in 1918, died in 1852 and but two of his
children, ex-Mayor Edward Cooper and Mrs
Abram s. Hewitt, are living. His other
child, daughter, married Daniel E. Teman,
/ formerly mayor of New York and well known
| as an opulent manufacturer of Colors
Mr.. Cooper lived in plain and rather old
fashioned style, Notwithstanding his great
wealth. A love of show never affected him.
and he was always ready to receive with
hearty hospitality all friends of humanity
| One evening some unexpected visitors called
on him. 1t happened when. as the old gen.
tleman said, all the servants were out. How
ever" said he, my wife got tea and 1 set the
table while the folks were in the parlor, and
| upon the whole it was one of the happiest
times we ever had The evening of his life
was made beautiful by his genial nature,
which never permitted him to worry He
loved mankind, and knew, in return, that he
| was loved of many!
| To the last Mr.. Cooper maintained par
! TALLY active control over the varied indus
| tries built up under his name. His glue
| works at Williamsburg, l.. l., were for many
| years under the management of two broth
ers, named Stuart who relieved him of all
| but the details. So in his iron-works, Mr.
Hewitt his son-in-law and partner. has the
management, assisted by his SON. Edward
who was recently mayor of New York. His
| New York office, in Burlingsip is one of the
| landmarks. In addition to these operations
Mr. Cooper was largely interested in the tele-
| graphic business and has been president of
| three companies at one time.