Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-04-24

FOR MANKIND.
The death of Peter Cooper, the ven
cradle New York philanthropist, re-
suited from cold, which turned into
pneumonia. In consequence of his ad
vanced age, being in his ninety-third
year, he was unable to make success
full fight against the disease, and sue
cumbed to its attack after a short ILL
ness. Shortly before bis death Mr.
Cooper was surrounded by all the MEM
bers of his family-his son, eX-Mayor
Edward Cooper, and wife, his son. in
law, Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, and wife,
and their six children. He motioned
to his daughter, Mrs. Hewitt, to come
TO his side. and whispered a loving fare
we'll. Then he spoke to his son and
then to the children. His words were
scarcely audible except to those to
whom he spoke. There was not dry
eye among those who surrounded the
deathbed. AS soon as his death was
made known the flags on all the public
buildings in the city were put at half
mast and the various exchanges and
State legislature passed resolutions of
regret and respect to his memory.
Peter Cooper was born in New York
city February IL, 1871. His maternal
grandfather, John Campbell, a resident
of New York, was deputy quartermas
ter-general during the war of the Rev
olution, and expended g considerable
fortune in the service of his country.
His father was lieutenant in the ar
my in the struggle for Independence.
After the close of the war he established
q hat factory, in which young Peter
worked. The family was large, and
hod IN, hofn anln 70
attend school only half of each day of
one single year. In his seventeenth year
he was placed with John Woodward to
learn coachmaking, and served out his
apprenticeship so much to the satisfac-
ton of his master that the latter offered
to set him up in business, which offer
Cooper declined. He followed his trade
for awhile and then engaged in the
manufacture of patent machines for
shearing cloth, which were in great de-
mand during the war of 1872, but lost
all value on the declaration of peace.
He finally engaged in the manufacture
of cabinet ware; then engaged in the
grocery business in New York, and
finally in the manufacture of glue and
isinglass, which he carried on more
than forty years. In 1880 he erected
large iron works at Canton, near Balti-
more, but disposing of these he erected
I. rolling and wire mill in New York,
In which he first successfully applied
anthracite coal to the pudding of iron.
He removed the machinery in 1915 to
Trenton, n. j., where he erected the
largest rolling mill at that time in the
United States for the manufacture of
railroad iron. Here, subsequently,, he
was the first to roll wrought iron beams
for firenroof buii6inps
Mr.. Cooper's name was identified
with the early history of some of the
most notable inventions and improve
nents of the past hundred years. While
in Baltimore he built, after his own de.
signs, the first locomotive engineturned
out on this continent, and it was opera
ted on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
He invested a large capital in the ex-
tension of the electric telegraph. Mr..
Cooper served in both branches of the
New York common council.
the institution which will hand Pc
ter COoper's name down to a grateful
and approaching posterity is the Cooper
Institute. Early in life he had felt the
difficulties that young people meet in
seeking education in art and science.
He determined to aid those who should
come after him by placing within the
means of getting such education as
each person might most need The
building for the Cooper Union was be-
gun in 1856, on it, present site at the
junction of Third and Fourth avenues
aud Eighth street The first cost,
amounting to more than 100000, and
ell the expenses of the Union, have
been betrayed by Mr.. Cooper. The
plan of the Union is based largely upon
tho working of the Polytechnic school
of Paris. There are free schools for in
struction in the aesthetic and industrial
arts and in scientific departments be-
youd the teachings given in the public
schools. There are regular courses of
lectures on subjects of art, science, DO
Htical and social economy, and litera-
ture, and more than twenty professors
ana instructors are employed at an an
nual expense OF 500, 600. This great ex
pense is met by the endowment be-
slowed by Mr.. Cooper and by the rental
OF business stores in the building,
which Is, OF course. equally his gift.
Nowhere in the world can finer mon
ument to any mans memory be found
than this transformations building in the
midst of thickly settled city in which
thousands now living and thousands
yet to come will always bear in grateful
remembrance the name of the benefac.
Tor who helped them to educate them
selves and lay the foundation of their
success and happiness.
Mr. Cooper was an enthusiastic SUD.
porter of the paternal theory in govern
ment. He believed that the national
government ought to provide for the
comfort and prosperity of the whole
population, so that there should be no
more suffering and want. He favored
the encouragement OF emigration BY
government grants of money and land,
and he believed strongly in the wisdom
OF public improvements on large scale
at government expense. 1t was due to
his opinions on finance that he became
nominal candidate for the presidency
in 1876. He had no idea that he would
be elected, no personal wish TO assume
the Office; nor would he have wished
II, even had there been any probability
OF his election. Referring to his candi-
dacy. he wrote: II need not say that
this sacrifice of peace and rest is like
the surrender of what remnant of life I
may have"
Mr.. Cooper was saving, without be.
ing parslmonious; shreWd, without be-
ing sharp; careful, without being timid.
He had acquisitiveness strongly devel-
oped, but what he acquired was put to
good use. Honest and open in all his
dOings, just and tolerant in all his judg.
meats, courteous and considerate in his
conversation, he was man respected
by all the world. His religious views
were never thrust upon any one, and
his philanthropic works were never
confined to aiding the believers of any
particular doctrine.
Such q man and such a life belong not
alone 10 one city nor to one State-he is
a representative of civilization. It is
such men as he whose lives and whose
influence build up the strength of the
land.