The Portland daily press., 1885-04-30
Tbonn. woodbridge (EIooper.)

~ Ute 6ustOT " tHe EFCSS:
The PRESS Of yesterday contains brief
notice of the death at Standish of the eccen-
trio gentleman whose name stands above. His
father was Major Thomas Hooper OF New
buryport, where the son was born in 1895. Fer
several years Mr.. Hooper had dropped his
family name, signing his name only, from
what cause his relatives did not know. Ger
tainly it was an honored name as was also his
middle name. For many years Mr.. Wood
bridge, as he chose to call himself, has lived in
Standish, where his grandfather fed from the
smouldering ruins Of the town in 1775. He
used his patrimony freely; he was always
happy and sought to make others so around
him. His great grandfather was Robert
Hooper of Marblehesd, an extensive ship
owner aud merchant, bern in that ancient
town in 1903. Farmers Genealogical Register
says: "Hooper, John and Robert, were Of
Marblehead in 1874, where the name continues
to the present day, having furnished many
enterpriging men," Eleven of the name had
graduated at Harvard College previous to 1928.
Robert Hooper dined with Gen. Washington
at Marblehead in October, 17S9 When WASH
ington crossed the Delaware to attack the
British army on Christmas night, 1776, he
stood in his boat ard called out, "Who will
lead us?'' when the Marblehead men an
swered "Marblehesd," and boldly pushed
their boats out into the drifting ice; and from
that perilous night they held the Generals
friendship and the post of honor when it coald
consistently be given them. The Salem Ga
zetts OF May 25th, 1890, (only six months after
Washington's visif thus announces Mr..
Hooper's death: "Died at Msrblehead, Hon.
Robert Hooper, Esq, formerly an eminent
merchant" From his wealth, influsnce and
social position he was called "King Hooper,"
and the streets were swept on the day of his
burial. His second son, Stephen. was the
grandfather, and Maj. Thomas Hooper the
father Of Mr.. Hooper, whose death prompts
this notice. His mother was Harriet, daughter
of Hon. Thsophilus Bradbury, who was de-
scendaDt of Thomas Brsdbary, who went to
Salisbury, Mass, in 1888. Theophilus gradu-
ated at Harvard College, in 1857; came from
Newbury, (where he was borD) to old Fal-
mouth in about 1862, and first taught school.
He married Sarah, daughter of Ephraim
Jones. He was the first practicing lawyer in
Falmouth, and lived in house on the east
corner OF Middle and Willow streets, which
escaped Mowstt's burning, but went down In
that of 1866 In the desolation of 1915, he
moved to Standieh, and was appointed State
Attorney in 1777.
In 1878 Mr.. Bradbury moved to Newbury-
port, was elected Representative to Congress
from Essex county in 1856, and Judge of the
Supreme Court of Massachusetts, in 1897. He
died in 1902, aged 64. Major Thomas Hooper
married his daughter Harriet in 1872. A ship
in which he took passage to the West Indies
never was heard from after her sailing. His
wife, the mother Of Mr. Hooper, died while
very young, when the orphan child was taken
into the family of his uncle, George Bradbury,
who came to Portland and commenced the
practice of law in about 1900 That year he
married Mary, daughter OF John Kent, who
built and occupied the we'll remembered house
| on the northwest side Of Middle, above Pearl
street, afterwards successfully owned by M. 2.
Sawyer, George Turner, and last by Hon.
| John M. Wood. After the death of Mr.. Kent
| this house became the residence of George
| Bradbury, where be died in 1923. He was a
Representative to Congress from 1918 to 1877,
1 and afterwards clerk OF the courts
In this noted house, on which a vast amount
| OF money was expended, first and last, Mr..
| Hooper lived nearly quarter Of century in
the family OF his kind uncle. He was edu-
| Gated i'll the best schools of his time, and was
remarkable for affability, dignity and fne
| appearance.
With his nephew, Thomas Hooper, Mr..
| Bradbury also received his sister, Sarah
| Hooper, two years younger than Thomas. She
| there grew to womanhood. She was always a
| welcome guest in the best families of the town
| and in her younger days no social gathering OF
| her friends was considered complete without
her presence. She died in Portland, unmar-
| ried, IN December, 1878, aged 81.
In 1917 young Mr.. Hooper with twenty
| three others OF similar tastes associated to.
/ gether as a literary club. Most OF them were
less than q years old, and were sons in the
| most respectable families. Their meetings
were held in room in Hsymarket Row, and
were private except on special occasions. The
| name OF the society was not made publc--only
| its initials. The only living member Of the
club, now So years old, and living in distant
| State, gave me detailed history of the club
| several years ago--its members and its doingI
which in due time will be printed. He say
| regular meetings were held monthly, but some
| members we're at the rooms every evening
where fate music, drsughte, chess, songs and
stories were INDUCED in. "At their regular
meetings original compositions in prose and
| poetry were given; articles to be printed In
| newspapers were resd-serious, comic, mysti
| cal and obscure. No liquors, tobacco, card.
or gambling were admitted" The society be-
came power in the town, and led society. In
| fact it became kind of "Almacks" holding
assemblies and dancing parties. They took nc
| new members, and ia 1923 the laws Of secrecy
| were repealed. OF the list Of members five
have been presidents or cashiers of banks; two
| judges of probate; three, officers in marine in
| surance companies; one, member OF Congress
| one, shipmaster, and several have been sac
cessful merchants In 1928 social meeting
| with invited guests, was held at Union Hal
| with an address from a member and poem
from another; their papers we're sealed up, aud
after supper came a final adjournment
After period of forty years, in 1868, clever
| survivors met at the house Of member OF
| High street,
The papers were unsealed, overhauled, anC
| closed mp again. In 1882 there we're five mem
bers alive. And now, think, the deceaae Of
Mr.. Woodbridge leaves only one survivor,
most-polished gentleman, from whom / re
ceived full and valuable history of this first
literary society OF the town; to which he is in
debted, he thinks, for his early culture.
| Anril 90 w n