The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1901-02-23
A REMARKABLE AMERICAN,
A nu.y rhiiadsiphia Doctor "h'
Raised MiIlioHA fer Publie
Works.

The late DR., William Pepper, OF
adelphis, Is the subject Of 4 oiograPhle-
Al sketch contributed 10 Century BY
Francis Newton Thorpe, which reveals
a character aud career too little known
throughout America.
"In Philadelphia a bronze statue was
unveiled. December 30, 1899, to the
memory Of William Pepper, IL stanos
amid the creations Of his genius and
marks the elimination OF his liie-work,
Thirty years ago the ate waSa plowea
held, part Of the Blookley farm to-day
It overlooks the buildings, some % IN
number, Of the University OF Pennsyl-
vapia. the academic home OF about
$500 students annually. Adjoining is
tho University hospital. the Free mu-
scum Of science aud art, and the per
manent buildings Of the P~hilacelphia
Commercial museums.
DIR. Pepper wis the son OF a Physi-
elan, the celebrated elder Pepper as
he il called, 10 distinguish father ane
o The father pursued advanced med
zeal studies together with Oliver Wen
dell Holmes in Paris, when American
students rarely went abroad, on his
return to Philadelphia he became pro-
lessor OF the theory and practice OF
medicine in the university, acquired an
extensive practice. and died in 1864 al
the early age OF Sc. A few months be-
fore the fathers death the son grad
ua,ed In medicine at the University OF
Pennsylvania.
Great physicians are rare, and rarer
Is the mar who also is at the same time
equally great az man OF affairs, as edu-
Gator, and as public b~enefactor. Such
a mar the son became. In 1870, at the
age Of ~, he projected the University
hospital. and boldly set cut to raise an
endowment fund OF s75O.OOe. In less
than four years be had secured more
than 5000 including two a%ppropria-
lions Of 500. 900 each from the legiSla-
ture. Thehospitalwa formally opened
in 1874. It's creation was ueeessitated
by the removal of the university from
It's old site, where the post office now
stands. No such task had ever before
been done BY a citizen Of Philadelphia,
and its performances gave DR.. Pepper
rank among the first men Of the city.
I After some &c years Of action his public
account stood something like this:
institutions founded: The Univer-
sity hospital, the Commercial museum
and the Philadelphia free library. In
stItutlons r~eorgsnized and r~ecreated:
The University OF Pennsylvania. Pub
lie reforms; The improvement Of the
city's water supply. and an entire
change Ia the attitude Of the public
mind toward education and the ideals
OF life. To carry out these plans. DR..
Pepper raised above SIC, geo, 900 and Sc
cured about 100 acres Of land from the
municipality, lying nsa the heart OF
Philadelphia, To the execution OF this
task he gave the service of one Of the
most acute and At the same time most
practical minds ever youehsafed TO
man. To this service Of his genius he
added the personal gift OF nearly $780,
OOO, which he earned In the practice Of
an exacting profession. 1t may be
doubted whether any other American
has run a like career.
"His sudden death otangina pectoriS,
at Pleasanton. California, August 20,
1898, occurred just as he had completed
the hrst week Of his seth year. He
had sought rest and health too late.
His physicians said OF him that at his
death he had the heart Of msn OF SC.
He had literally worked himself out.
A brave man. endowed with genius; a
unique man, delicately aggressive In,
capable OF ~wronging his fellows, In
Kpired with lofty ideals for the health
welfare .and at his fsilaH
men, and treating little minds as loy.
ing parents treat mischievous chill
dren-thls man had gone and left be
hind him, as Disraeli said OF the greai
duke, the contemplation of his charae
farfV