Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-04-12
The End Of a Useful Life.

The venerable Peter Cooper, founder OF the
Cooper Institute, is dead. His death occurred
In New York on the 81 inst. Several DAYS ago
he contracted cold which developed into
pnt umonia.
Peter Cooper was OF revolutionary stock. his
father being lieutenant in tue war of the Rev
olution, at the close of which he established a
hat mauufactory in New York, in which the
youthful Peter aided To the extent of his abii-
". His father was unsuccessful in his under
takings, and having large family to provide
Tor, peter's educational advantages were neces-
sarily very limited, one half Of each day for n
single year being the extent Of his school DAYS
Beyond the knowledge thus acquired his ac-
QUESTIONS were all his own.
AT the age OF IL he WAS apprenticed to learn
the trade of coschman, and served his appreu-
ticeship so satisfactorily that his master offered
to set him up In business. This offer WAS how
ever, declined. He followed his trade for some
time, and then engaged In business of different
Kinds. Mr. Cooper's attention was very early
called 70 the great resources OF our own coun-
try, particularly for the manufacture of iron,
and in the year 1880 he erected extensive orks
at Canton near Baltimore. Several years after
he engaged In business in Trenton, ~ j., erect
Ing rolling mill for the manufacture OF rail
road iron, and was the first to roll wrought iron
beams for firc-proof buildings. These works
grew to be very extensive, including mines,
blast furnaces, ETC., and were carried on by a
stock company, of which Mr.. Cooper was pres
ident until few years previous to his death.
While engaged IN business In Baltimore, Mr..
Cooper built, after his owu designs, the first
locomotive engine that was turned ont on this
continent, which was successfully worked ON
the Baltimore a. Ohio Railroad, thus identify.
ing bis name with the early history Of rail-.
roads. He was actively interested In the con-
struction OF the Atlantic cable. several times
advancing his own funds to carry ON the work
Several y ears ago he published a book entitled
Ideas for sciencc Of good government, In
addresses, letters and articles on a strictly
national currency, tariff and civil service,h
these three topics being regarded nv him as of
the greatest importance, and the foundation
for-all governmental superstructurc. The one
objec: OF this mans life, however, has been ID
educate aud elevate the industrial cassa.. And
while he will be remembered the world over as
great philanthropist, yet his name and men,
DRY Will be the more wildly remembered from
It's connection with cooper Institute an in
stitution in which the working classes could
secure that instruction for which he, when
young and ambitious, had sought so eagerly.
and In vain.
In opposition TO his own wishes, and without
any expectation Of carrying a single state, In
1876 he was nominated for the Presidency, and
so frm were bis convictions on the currency
question, that with defeat certain, he expended
over $25 600 during the campaign In promul-
eating the views which he had so long held
In religion he was most jealous Unitarian.
though In his works and life he emulated the
example of Him 'who went about doing good.u