The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-07
Early Life and Habits.

joaquin Miller in the Herald,
Early Life and Habits.
Young Peters life early became one of
hardship. After he had reached his third
year his father removed to Duane street and
Broadway with his little hat store, and as
soon as the son was old enough to do any
work he was employed in the business with
the other children. His first work was pull
ing hair and cutting fur. The advantages of
school were denied him. In all his life he
only went every other day for a single year.
In his fathers store he was very useful, and
before he was fifteen years of age was able to
make hat. But the father became dlssatis
fed with his business. He was fond of a
country life, and finally sold out to his eld-
est son by former wife and removed to
Peekskill where he opened a country store
and built a little church. Later than this he
began the brewing of ale and young Peter
was employed in delivering the kegs of ale
to the places in town and country where it
was sold, The father then removed to Cats
kill, where he opened a hat store, and be-
sides this manufactured bricks. Peter was
made useful in carrying the bricks. The hat
store was afterward removed to Brooklyn,
and not long after this the family went to
Newburg, and the father opened another
brewery. Here the son remained until he
was seventeen years of age. He had accumu-
lated $40 OF his own money, and one day
coming to New York he invested it in a lot
terry and lost it all. Late in life he often al
luded to this experience as being an excellent
lacSOn worth n him than
Few persons among those who live in New
York city, at least, and who have attended
any considerable number of public meetings
will require any aid to recall the personal ap-
pearance of Mr.. Cooper. There have been
few meetings. especially such as were held to
promote industrial movements, in which his
figure did not dignity the platform, and to
the thousands who have enjoyed the benefits
yielded by his great philanthropy his every
feature was familiar for he was always in the
midst of his work. In early life, it is said
he was slight of figure and delicate of consti-
tuition. Strict living and no stint of work.
however, developed a strength and vigor of
which the traces remained up to the time OF
his last sickness in strong voice and frame
which, though stopped under the burden
OF years, was yet capable OF consld-
cradle endurance. Mr.. Cooper was a tall
man. His features were less scanned and
furrowed than those of many men twenty
years younger, and had kind and benignant
expression. His forehead was broad and
high, and the lines of the sides of his face
tapered from his temples to his chin. A
pair of old-fashioned spectacles with green
side-shades covered his eyes, and his hair,
long and silvery, hung down to his shoulders
while long fringe of white beard surround
ed the lower portion of his face. His man
ners were always cordial and simple toward
strangers, and he enjoyed talking to them
about his early life and the economic ques-
tons of the day. Instead of abating, his in
terest in the Institute grew with his years
and though he was willing to put aside the
claims of his business, he grew more and
more engrossed in his system of industrial
education. He used to visit the Institute
every day, unless the weather was violently
stormy. and nearly every one of the attacks
of sickness that came upon him of late years
was traceable directly to exposure to cold
during these visits, or overtaxation of mind
or body. To his daughter, Mrs. Hewitt, who
was the guardian of his health, these daily
visits were source of great concern. 1t was
Mr.. Cooper's custom of recent years to break
fast in his own room. He was not late
sleeper, and was ready to enter his carriage
to ride to the Cooper Union always before
noon and usually by 10 o'clock. By that
time moreover, he had informed himself of
the news and discussions of the day by
having the newspapers read to him. After
spending about two hours in the building
dividing his time between the Office and the
various departments, he would again enter
his carriage and be driven down town to his
old place of business, No. 10 Burling Slip, or
TO one or the other of the corporations in
which he was interested. Usually by 3
o'clock he was back in his home, where he
took luncheon and rested in an easy chair
till dinner time. He received many callers
being accessible to everyone at almost all
hours. His diet was of the simplest kind
milk having formed his chief nutriment for
the last ten years.
Mr.. Cooper was regular listener to the
services OF All Souls Church, of which Dr.
Bellows was the pastor for long time. He
and William Cullen Bryant were always
seen at the morning services and before Mr.
Cooper passed his ninetieth year he was
invariably in his pew on Sunday at both
morning and evening service. Since the
Rev. Robert Collyer came to the city Mr.
Cooper has been a frequent attendant at his
church. Some of the thoughts of the ven
cradle philanthropist in regard to a future
state were limited at not long ago, when he
said: II sometimes think that if one has too
good time here below, there is less reason
for him to go to heaven. | have had a very
good time, but know poor creatures whose
lives have been spent in constant struggle
for existence. They should have some re-
ward hereafter. They have worked here
they should be rewarded after death. The
only doubts that l have about the future
are whether or not have. not had too good
a time"
Founding Cooper Union.
The inspiration of the Cooper Union dates
back to 1928. Mr.. Cooper was then an assist
ant alderman of the city, and represented