The Portland daily press., 1883-04-05

seo'thks OF regret Wherever known. Eiaga
were were placed at half mast on Cooper Institute
City Hall, the post Office building, the news
paper offices and other pablic and private
buildings.
The funeral will take place from Ali Saints
church, Fourth avenue and Goth street, on
Saturday morning. Rev. DIR. Collyer assisted
by Rev Howard Crosby will conduct the SER
vices
Mr. Cooper was a native OF New York and
came from family distinguished Tor devotion
to the cause Of American independence. His
maternal grandfather, John Campbell, sacri-
feed large fortune in the cause OF his
country's freedom, and his father was a Lieu
tenant in the American army. Born Feb. II,
1901, Mr.. Cooper began his busy career while
very young, beginning to learn the hatter's
trade with his father while mere child. He
learned the trade thoroughly, and then his
father went into the business Of brick making
also, which business the son learned some
thing Of In addition TO what he knew OF the
hatters trade. The elder Cooper having given
up both these lines of business to go into that
OF brewing In Newburg. N. ", the son con-
tinued with him and learned the trade. Then
at the age of seventeen years he became ap-
prentice to coach builder. working four
years at S25 year, and learning the business
thoroughly. He spent his evenings doing ex-
ira work, whereby he added to his income,
and during his apprenticeship made for his
employer machine for mortising the hubs OF
carriage wheels. The close OF his apprentice
ship brought him to his majority, and he then
went TO work in Hampstead, l.. l., making
machines for shearing cloth. Buying the
right to these machines for the State OF New
York he accumulated the sum OF $500, which
he almost Immediately devoted TO the relief of
his father, whom he found to be heavily in
debt. lie also became surety for su sh OF his
fathers debts as he was not able at once to
pay, and started into business again. Through
his efforts his father was saved from failing in
business, and ii was his beast that In all his
own long business career he himself never
failed. lie improved the cloih-shearing
machine and was very prosperous with it, but
the war Of 1872 broke up his business. He
went into the grocery trade, in which he con-
tinued three years. Subsequently he pur-
chased glue factory which he operated
number of years. In his various enterprises
he was invariably successful and accumulated
shrewd, but nevertheless liberal in his expen-
ditures, he obtained almost unlimited credit,
and was fast becoming recognized as one OF
the most extensive business men in the coun-
try. In 1898, with cash and credit so obtained,
he bought 30c0 acres Of land within the limits
of the city OF Baltimore, paying for ii Sl05, 900.
He was induced 70 embai In this venture by
two plausible gentlemen, who represented that
they had large means, but, after paying his
share Of the purchase money, he found that
they had misrepresented their capital and
resources, and that the whole purchase would
have to be paid for by himself. In this trang-
action he secured the whole of the shore line
Of Baltimore, from Fells Point Dock for
distance Of three miles When he made the
purchase the people OF the Monument City
were in the midst OF great excitement aroused
by the promise OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, which some time before had been
originated By a subscription Of 50 per share
During the nrst year OF its operations, how
ever, the expenditures had been greater than
the amount of money subscribed, and il was
found that, because OF the many sharp curves
and heavy grades to be overcome on the road
bed, a much larger sum Of money would be
necessary than was at first estimated. On this
discovery the principal stockholders became so
discouraged that they declared they would
rather lose what funds they had already sub
scribed than throw more good money after bad
Mr.. Cooper, who was greatly interested in the
enterprise, and who hoped by the success of
property, demonstrated with them, but to no
purpose They were assured that IL won Id
never be practicable and profitable
to run steam-engines around the many
abrupt turns which were necessary and
unavoidable on the road. Seeing that nothing
else would satisfy them Mr.. Cooper made up
his mind to construct an engine which would
demonstrate the feasibility OF running trains
around the objectionable curves. He set TO
work with all the energy OF which he was ca
IL 4..n ult hn1 sf.z -.
engine which he believed would Iserve his pur-
poses. With much difficulty he next brought
the stockholders together, and embarked
thirty-six OF them In small box car. Six
others we're given accommodations on the loco
motive, which carried its own fuel and water
Having 70 overcome grade OF eighteen feet
TO the mile, and turn all the short curves about
the Point OF Rocks, the engine succeeded Ia
making a distance OF thirteen miles In one
hour and twelve minutes, and made the return
run from Ellicott's Mills TO Baltimore in fifty
seven minutes. The Baltimore & Ohio rail-
road was thus saved from bankruptcy and
abandonment, and from that day became one
OF the great corporations OF the country. Mr..
Cooper became interested in various other busi-
ness enterprises, and was largely interested In
the extension OF the electric telegraph and IN
the establishment OF oceanic telegraphy. His
extensive manufacture Of and trade In iron
was an important factor in the making of his
great fortune. He first. built the Canton Iron
WORKS IN BALTIMORE, which proved loss 10
him. He afterwards built works In New York,
which he continued only two or three years.
when he established works in Trenton, n. j.,
which he operated successfully for years. Mr..
Cooper was worker, an inventor and a man
of rare business ability. His wealth grew to
great proportions and he was proud TO say that
u was all made in mechanical business and not
in speculation. Mr.. Cooper began early in his
career to devote 10 charity portion of his
gains. His gifts were transformations. The
noblest OF them is the famous Cooper Institute
in New York, which is really Peoples Uni
versity, whore the income of more than a mill
lion dollars goes every year to the training of
talents FOR practical uses. In political life Mr..
Cooper was, at times, very prominent, espe-
cially in the latter portion of his life, when, in
1876, he was the candidate of the National In
dependent or Greenback party for the office OF
President OF the United States. He was, in
his earlier years, member OF the New York
city government, and served number of years
as school trustee, and on the board of eduoa-
ton. Mr.. Cooper married, when young
man, his wife being Miss Sarah Bedel OF
Hampstead, l.. /. The marriage took place
in December, 1918. Six children were born Of
the union, four OF them dying in infancy.
Mrs. Cooper died on the Both anniversary Of
her wedding day, in December, 1869, In the
nth year of her age. Tho surviving children
are Hon Edward Cooper, ex-Mayor OF New
York, and Mrs. Sarah Amelia Hewitt, wife OF
Hon. A. s. Hewitt, member OF Congress from
New York.