The Monticellonian., 1902-08-08
DR. P. 0. HOOPER.
Another Distinguished CitiEsn of Arkan-
 sas Passes Away.

| AJAs V. IlOppti. Ol thS State Insane Asylum, who resigned from the position of superintendent of that institution only a few weeks | ago, died July 29, on a Choctaw train, near Sayre. o. T. Dr. Hooper. whose health had been failing for some time, was en route to San Fran cisco when the end came. The de- ceased was a native of Little Rock, and was one of the most noted alien ists in the country. more popular man never lived within the borders of Arkansas, and his death will be mourned by his thousands of friends throughout the country. He was born October Il, 1883, and resided all his life in Lit,.e Rock His father, who was one of the territorial pioneers. re- moved to Little Rock in 1927, and died when pr. Hooper was quite young. His mother, Mrs. Magdalene Hooper, died January 3, 1S77 at the age of 77 years. She was one of the noblest women the state has ever
  known. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native city. and in early manhood he clerked in a drug store. Having acquired some knowledge of drugs, he attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadel- phia. from which institution he was graduated in 1851 He then returned tO ir in I the practice of medicine with Dr. Lorenzo Gibson, which he continued until the breaking out of the civil war. He was then appointed on a board to examine applicants for the Confederate service. and to inspect camps and hospitals, and served through the war in that capacity with Dr. Wm. Lawrence, of Batesville and Dr. Scott, of New Orleans. He was in the transMississippi department. and followed the Confederate army when they evacuated Little Rock on Sep tember 10, 1863. being located after wards at Camden and other head quarters until the surrender. After the war he returned to Little Rock and resumed the active practice. for years standing at the head of the profession in the state. He had made diseases of the mind a speciality: in fact, he devoted his entire life to that line of study, and received his first recognition as an alienist when Gov. Clayton appointed him on the board of trustees of the State Lunatie Asy- lum, with Judge H. c. Caldwell Cor don peay and men of like distinction. The board sent him all over the United States to inspect other institu- tions of a like character and secure information and suggestions that would be useful in the construction of the proposed asylum in Little Rock. He was elected president of the board appointed by Gov. Churchill, the first after reconstruction, the other mem bers being Col. John c. Fletcher and Rev. T. R. Welch. of Little Rock, J. M. Hudson, of Pine Bluff. and J. W. Stayton, of Newport The present in- stitution was built in 1882 and pr. Hooper, as president of the board, had
 
 Dr. C. C. Forbes was appointed as the first superintendent. and after serv- ing two years he resigned. There was no other man in the state than Dr. Hooper qualified to take up the work and manage the institution, and at the earnest solicitation of his colleagues on the board he consented to accept the superintendency. Before this time, however. he had formed part nership in the practice of medicine with the late Dr. A. l.. Breysacher, which lasted for about fifteen years. After taking charge of the asylum, which he had practically built, he continued in that position almost con- tinuously with the exception of few years interim when pr. J. J. Robert son was superintendent until about a month ago.