St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-04-13

OF the death of Peter Cooper, whose
benefactions have given him a world
wide fame, tie Portland Advertiser
editorially says: He was born in New
York city February u, l791, and was
therefore in his ninrty-third year. His
maternal grandfather, John Campbell.
was mayor of New York aud quarter
master general during the Revolution
airy war. His father was lieutenant
in the Revolutionary army, and at its
close established hat InanufuctOry in
the city. He was Il poor man, AMI Pc
ter began in early boyhoOd to help his
father in the business. The family
was large and the business unprOtitI-
BILE. Peter attended school half o.
ca n day for single year, which was
all the schooling he had in his life.
Beyond that lie was Who'll V self
taught. At seventeen he was a?pren-
ticed to coach maker. He followed
the trade for Il time, and then took NJ
the manufacture of patent machines for
shearing cloth. IL the latter under
taking he laid the foundation of his
fortune Importation of cloth from
England was stopped by the wdr of
1872, and the demand for the sheariHg
machines was greatly increased there
by. After the war Mr.. Cooper engaged
in turn in cabinet manufacture, the
grocery business, and the manufacture
of glue and lsin- glass, carrying on the
latter more than fifty years.
In 1880 he began the manufacture of
iron, erecting works in Baltimore. New
York and Taunton. In Baltimore he
built from his own design the first To-
c0mOtive ever constructed in America,
which was successfully operated on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. He was
also the first to make successful use of
anthracite coal in the pudding of iron,
and to roll wrought iron beams for
buildings. He took great interest in
the extension of the electric telegraph,
investing much capital and serving as
president and director of several com
panies. He also took an active part in
the enterprise OF laying the first At
lantic cable.
Thus Mr.. Cooper was IL pioneer in
some of the most important industries
of the country. But it is not only as
an inventor and manufacturer that his
fellow citizens are indebted to him.
He was a practical philanthropist, and
how magnificently he carried out IA
cherished idea let his prOudest monu-
ment the Cooper institute-and its
history attest. Mr.. COoper's great OBJ
ject was the establishment of an insti-
tuition for the education of the indus
trial classes, to supply archaeological
instruction which he in yOuth often
felt the want of but could NOT obtain.
This project was early conceived and
was carried out as soon as his means
permitted. In 1854 he laid the corner
stone of a building in New York, eta
be devoted forever to the union of art
and science in their ao,licltio1 to the
useful purpOses of lift.r The buil,liun
cost over $500, 900. to which an endnw
ment of Sl5O.0lJ was adIeI. 1t is de.
voted by Il deed of ust. with all its
rents and profits, to the instruction and
elevation of the working classes in New
York. The plan included regular
courses of free instruction at night on
political and social science, free read
ing room and library, Il school of de-
sign, galleries of art and collection OF
models of inventions. Large classes,
composed mostly OF Young mechanics,
have received instruction at these
evening schools in engineering, metal
lurgy, chemistry and architecture.
There have also been dav schools OF
telegraphy, wood engraving and pho
tograp ", for women. In all, upwards
of thirty instructors have been regu-
larly employed. Whenever during all
these years the expenditures nf the
institute have exceeded the income
! Mr.. Cooper'S purse has promptly SIP