Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-24
COL. Co0PER's DEATH
Prominent Former Grinnell Man
Passes Away in Campbell, CAL, and
Body is on Its Way Back to Iowa
for Burial.

Tor Burial.
Special to Times Republican.
Grinnell, Feb. 24.-Colonel Samuel
F. Cooper was born at Stockbridge,
Mass, in December 1926, and died at
his home in Campbell, Cal, Feb. 81,
19OS The family moved to the Wes-
tern Reserve in Ohio, and he graduated
from Oberlin college in 1851, being a
classmate and intimate friend of Prof
L. F. Parker of this city. From the
time of his graduation until 1855, he
was engaged in teaching school. He
came to Grinnell in 1855, and after a
brief period of teaching, opened law
and real estate office. 1t was thru his
influence about this time that Profess
sor Parker was induced to come and to
stay in Grinnell. In 1853 he was made
a member of the general board of edu-
cation, having in charge the education
al matters for the entire state, this
district including several counties. He
was editor of the Montezuna Repub-
lican in 1860, and during the campaign
that elected Lincoln to the presidency.
In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa
cavalry as a private, but was later
transferred and given the lieutenant
colonelcy of the Fortieth Iowa infantry
where he was in command of the reg
iment much of the time, as Colonel
Garret was on detached duty His
army service greatly impaired his
health, having fastened on him stom-
ach and intestinal troubles that re-
manned with him to the end of his life.
After the close Of the war he was for
some time, in the reconstruction per-
iod, district judge in Arkansas. Later
he was four four years consul to Glas-
gov, Scotland.
On his return to GrinneH he was for
time in the private banking business
in company with c. W. III. Boyer, Of
solved when Mr. Cooper organized the
Merchants National bank, of which
he was president until failing health
compelled him to give up business
here and go to a milder climate. He
was the first mayor Of Grinnell, from
1855 to 1867. He was a trustee Of
Iowa college as he had been of Grin
nell University" which was lost in
identity when 1t was merged into Iowa
college He was also a trustee Of
Oberlin college. The most recently
built of the grade school buildings in
this city, and the most beautiful one
in location and general appearance,
was named in honor of Colonel Cooper
His gifts to Iowa college have been
numerous and some of them very large.
In addition to those in actual money.
are others in rich works of art, and his
personal interest and service We're con-
slant and very helpful One of the
largest and most beautiful of the
stained glass windows of the new
chapel was his gift as memorial to
his departed wife and Mrs. Candace
Parker These two We're classmates
and intimate friends in Oberlin. and
continued so thru the life of each. 1t
was on the occasion of the dedication
of the chapel last year that Colonel
the city he loved so well. His friends
noted then with keenest regret the
weakness that compelled him to have
an attendant in his travels and dreaded
the news which they knew must soon
come and which was received on Fri
day last
The body is expected here next Fri
day and the public funeral will take
place on that day or Saturday