The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-01-07
Terrible Chicago Holocaust Removed
From Active Life Men Who Had
Reen Notable in the City's
Industrial Growth.
VAN lNGEN LOSS A TERRIBLE BLOW
Willis and Charles f. Cooper Had Been
instrumental in Building up one of
the City's Greatest Industries.

the people of Kenosha, and the heavy
hand of the grim harvester of souls
gathered in its net men and children
who are perhaps better known than
any other people in the city. All the
city stands aghast at the cutting down
of Charles and Willis Cooper. The
two men we're men who had helped to
make Kenosha great industrial cent
er. They we're men who stood out
head and shoulders among their fell
lows and were always at the wheel
ready to work for the advancement of
the city and its varied interests. Their
death in so tragic manner has been
a terrible blow to the business inter.
ests of the city. The life of the two
men is so we'll known to Kenosha peo-
pie that it is mere mockery to seek to
extoll their virtues. Both of them
were born in st. Joseph, Mich, and
we're the sons of well known clergy
man of the Methodist church. With
this start in life they have ever been
pillars of Methodism and no man
among the laymen of the church held
a higher place than Willis Cooper.
The two boys were educated at De-
Paw University and took up manu-
featuring soon after leaving college.
They built up an industry at st. JOS
eph, Mich, but shortly after the Chi
cago-Kenosha Hosiery works was
opened here they came to Kenosha
Nnd 70 that 1ao
of the plant has been largely due.
Mr.. Willis Cooper was known through
out the west as one of the leading
business men of the section.
AS factory manager Of the big Ho-
siery plant Charles Cooper had made
a place for himself and his efforts had
made the plant model one. Friends
of the laboring classes, the men were
popular with all their help, and tears
will fall in many homes when the
news of their death is circulated.
While the death of w. w. Cooper is
great loss to Kenoshagand to the bus
mess world at large, his death comes
as even a harder blow to the great re-
1igious movements now going on under
the auspices of the Methodist church.
Mr.. Cooper was the natural leader of
the laymen of the church. Broad in
his views, yet charitable to his oppo-
nents, he has for years been the lead
ing defender of what has been termed
1.-The Broader Policy of Methodism. !"
In his zeal for the advancement of his
ssn1sOrs hn = fSpn1ncc T..
err, and gave up his time and money
without stint. He was promoter of
all that was best in the religious world.
His charity to the church of his choice
often amounted to thousands of dollars
a year. He was the leader of the ia
NOUS Twentieth Century Movement,
and to his work was largely due the
success of the enterprise.
Mr.. Cooper was one of the leading
members of the Y. M. C. A. and took
an active interest in its work. He was
a leader of the Prohibition party in
the State, and was at one time cam
didate of his party for Lieutenant
Governor.
Mr.. Cooper is survived by a widow
and one daughter Mrs. Charles Beach
Ell of Chicago.
The mother of the Cooper boys and
a sister, Miss Anna Cooper, reside
here.
Leader In Hospital Work.
Charles F. Cooper occupied unique
place ia Kenosha. He was the leader
of the younger manufacturing men.
He was the president of the Manufac-
lures association, of the Kenosha Hos
pital association and of the recently
organized Kenosha Masonic Temple
association. He was possessed of a
beautiful voice and took leading part
in musical circles in the city.
Mr.. Cooper was thirty.six years of
age. He is survived by two children
Ralph and Charlotte Cooper.
Society Shocked by Death.
All society in Kenosha stands in
little groups today discussing the ter
rib1e accident on account of the fact
that the FIVE children of Mr.. and Mrs.
H. s. VanIngen were among the dead.
The family has been one of the lead
ing families of the city for many years.
The children of the family, who are
now cold in death, have been leaders
among the younger set in the city and
they were very popular with all their
friends.
Miss Grace VanIngen, the oldest
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. VanIngen,
was graduate of Kemper hall and a
young woman greatly beloved.
John and Ned VanIngen were just
budding out into young manhood.
They we're graduates of the Kenosha
High school and had just entered the
state university at Madison. They
had made splendid records as students
aud were regarded as leaders in their
class at the university. The boys
were both members of the Psi Upsilum
college fraternity. The two boys were
known throughout the state as expert
golfers and they were members of the
Kenosha golf team for several years.
Jack at one time won the Northwest