The Van Buren press., 1902-08-02
DR.. P. O. HOOPER.
Another Distinguished Citizen Of Arkan'
saa Passes Away.


saa Passes Away.
DR.. p. o. Hooper, father OF the
State Insane Asylum, who resigned
from the position OF superintendent
of that institution only few weeks
ago, died July 20. on Choctaw train,
near Sayre, 0. T. DR.. Hooper, whose
health had been failing for some time,
was en- route to San Francisco when
the end came The deceased was
native of Little Rock and was one OF
the most noted alienists In the coun-
try. A more popular man never lived
within the borders OF Arkansas, and
his death will be mourned by ms
thousands OF friends throughout the
country. He was born October II,
1888, and resided all his life In Little
Rock. His father. who was one OF the
territorial pioneers, removed to Little
Rock in 1927, and died when DIT.
Hooper was quite young. His mother,
Mrs. Magdalene Hooper, died jan
uary 8. 1877, at the age Of II 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
Philadelphia, from which institution
he graduated In 1857. He then re-
turned to his home In Little ROCK ana
began the practice OF medicine with
DR.. Lorenzo Gibson, which he contin-
ued until the breaking out Of the civil
war He was then appointed ON
board to examine applicants for the
Confederate service, ana TO inspect
camps and hospitals, and served
through the war In that capacity with
DR.. VIM. Lawrence, OF Ba,esville, and
DR.. Scott, of New Orleans He was
In the Mississippi department
and followed the Confederate army
when they evacuated Little Rock on
September 10, 1868, being located at.
forwards at Camden and other head
quarters until che surrender. After
the war he returned to Little Rock
and resumed the active practice, for
years standing at the head OF the pro-
fession in the state He had made dis
eases Of the mind a speciality; In fact,
he devoted his entire l.le to that line
of study, and received his first recog.
milton as an alienist when Governor
Clayton appointed MIN on the board
of trustees of the State Lunatic Asy'
lum, with Judge H. G. Caldwell Cor.
don Peay and men Of like distinction.
The board sent him all over the United
States to inspect other institutions OK
a like character and secure informa.
ton and suggestions that would DO
useful in the construction of the pro
posed asylum in Little Rock, He was
elected president of the board appoint.
ed by Governor Churchill, the first
after reconstruction, the other mem.
bers being Col. John G. Fletcher and
Rev. r. r. Welch, Of Little Rock, j.
M. Hudson, of Pine Bluff, and ], w.
Stayton. Of Newport. The present in.
stitution was built In 1882 and DR..
Hooper, as president Of the board, had
as much to do with 1t as any one man.
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..
Hopper qualified to take up the work
and manage the institution, and at
the earnest solicitation Of his col
leagues on the board he consented 10
accept the superintendency. Before
this time, however, he had formed
partnership in the practice OF medi.
cine with the late Dr., A. l.. Breysach.
err. which lasted for about fifteen
years. After taking charge Of the asy.
lum, which he had practically built
he continued In that position almost
continuously with the exception OF a
few years interim when DR., J, j, Rob.
ertson was superintendent until about
q month ago.