The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-19

The Late William e. Hooper. The death
of MIR. William E. Hooper, head of the great
manufacturing firm of VIM. e. Hooper & Sons,
was briefly noticed in these columns last week.
Mr.. Hooper was born in Baltimore October 9th,
1872 He had the advantages of a first class
education, and when 81 years of age he married
Miss Catharine Bell, the daughter of Richard
Bell. His first business training was in the sail
making establishment owned and operated by his
father, William Hooper. He remained in this
business until 1S49-his father having retired
many years before-when, in company with Mr..
II. N. Gambrill, he bought the cotton mills at
Woodbury.. The mills were then comparatively
small, employing only limited number off
The firm, which was known as William E. Hooper
Co., was dissolved in 1865, and Mr.. Cambria and
his sons established the Druid Mills and Mr..
Hooper took with him into partnership his sons
William J. Hooper, Theodore Hooper and JAMS
e. Hooper, the firm name being changed to VIM.
e. Hooper Sons. From 1865 until the day of
his death, Mr.. Hooper kept continually enlarg-
ing his business until the mills now constitute
one of the largest plants of the kind in the coun-
try. The firm now own and operate the Wood
berry, Park, Meadow and Clipper Mills at Wood
berry and the Washington Mill at Mount Wash
ington.
Aside from his extensive business interests, Mr..
Hooper had been for many years identified with
the public institutions and material prosperity OF
Baltimore In 1860 he was selected by Mayor
Swami to act with Hon. j. II. B. Latrobe, Robert
Leslie and Columbus O'Donnell as commissioners
for the selection and purchase of a site for Druid
Hill Park. He manifested deep interest in the
park after its establishment one of the origi-
nal commissioners and during the rest of his life
served continuously as commissioner. He was
the president of the board of trustees of the Keso
Home at the time of his death, and had been off,
caly connected with the institution since its
foundation. He was vice-president of the First
National Bank, which position he had held for
many years. He was director in the Baltimore
Warehouse Company, and also director of the
Equitable Fire Insurance Company. Prior to
the war he had large vessel interests, but after
establishing the cotton mills he gradually gave
up his vessels and concentrated his capital and
his interest in his mills. He was for many years
leading member of High Street M. E. Church,
but, although retaining his membership in that
church, he was for several years before his death
an attendant of the services at the Mount Verr
non Place M. E. Church. In his younger 9srs
he Wing, and Joined the Republican party
when the war broke out. He was conspicuous
for his strong Union sentiment during the war.
Mr.. Hooper's wife died in 1881. He had eleven
children, ten of whom are now living-six daugh-
tiers and four sons. 1t is understood that the vast
business interests will be continued by Mr.. Hoop
er's sons under the old firm name.
The funeral took place at Mount Vernon M. E.
NuuTcu Cuuudy anu was very ldISeiy dttouuOu,
many of the Oldest and most prominent business
men in the city being present. The services were
conducted by Rev. G. j. FELTON,, assisted by
Revs. A. M. Courtenay, B. f. Clarkson and
S. A. Wilson. The honorary pall-bearers were
Jacob H. Taylor, Francis A. Crook, James S.
Whedbee, N. A. Applegarth, John Sutherland,
Joseph A. Sprigg and Mr.. Gather. The active
pail bearers, who were all grandsons of the de-
ceased, were Frank B. Hooper, Theo. L. Hooper,
Eugene Hooper, II. II. Klinefelter, VIM. E. Kline
felter and F. Allen Lazenby. The interment was
made in Greenmount Cemetery.
On Saturday night large meeting of the en-
ployees of the Messrs. Hooper was held in Wood
berry M. L. Church, at which Mr.. VIM. j. John
son presided, with Mr.. James H. Hughett, secre-
tary. Several feeling addresses were made, after
which series of resolutions, expressing the sor-
felt for the great loss they all had sustained,
and in grateful remembrance of the kindness of
the deceased to his employees, was unanimously
adopted. A committee of twenty -four ap-
pointed to attend the funeral, after which the
meeting adjourned.
Mr.. Hooper's estate is valued at 50, 900 900, and
is practically divided share and share alike among
his ten surviving children. The four sons of the
testator-William j., Theodore, James E. and
Alcaeus Hooper-are made executors and trustees
for all purposes under the will, with final and alb
solute power and without bond security of any
sort. The will was admitted to probate in the
city on Wednesday.