The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-08-23
B. W. Hooper. Republican and
Independent Candidate.
Was Reared in Orphans &c

Newport, Tenn. Aug. 23.-Cocke
county is sim congratulating itself
over the nomination of a favorlte,
Capt b. w. Hooper. for governor,
by the Republican convention.
From street waif to the gov
ernor's chair (for Captain Hooper,
election seems assured) before he is
40 years old, is a conspicuous ex-
ample of what grit, perseverance
and sterling manhood can accom-
plish. In years TO come the children
of Tennessee will be told the story
of the waif, picked up on the streets
of a great city, who, by dint OF in
dustry and the proper use OF the
powers which God gave him, reached
the gubernatorial chair OF Tennes-
see.
The nominee was born in New
port. Tenn. October 10, 1870. He
drifted to Knoxville, where he was
picked up on the streets when about
or years old, and was placed IN
st. Johns Orphanage. At the age
of Q years he was taken from that
institution and adopted by DR.. Il.
w. Hooper, of Newport. His educa-
ton was begun in the public school
of his native town. In his sixteenth
year he entered Carson a. Newman
college, where he graduated with
first honors. He began the study OF
law in the Office OF II. n. Cate. OF
Newport. and, before being admitted
TO the bar he decided that he want
ed to go TO the legislature, and
when he made hts race he was not
OF age. but his fighting qualities
were here shown, and his first vie
tory over a political machine wa'
recorded. and for two terms he
served his district in the lower
house. although the youngest mar
in that body, he was the recognized
leader OF his party.
After two terms. he returned to
the active practice Of law, but the
call to arms in the Spanish-Ameri'
can war found a ready Response
from him, and he was commissioned
captain in the Sixth Volunteer In
fantry, seeing service in Porto Rico
His Wealth.
Although favored with a good
practice. these interruptions pre-
vented Captain Hooper from accu
mulating much OF this worlds
goods. shortly after his return from
the war he made a trip west. liz
saw the possibilities of Oklahoma
City, and a piece of property attract
ed him. He had not the $4,000 e
make the purchase, so he returned
home and borrowed a fourth OF th'
sum, and, with some friends. hi
first investment was made. Thil
property was retained eight years
and was sold for ten times its cost
Profting by his keen business judg
ment, he accumulated a comfortable
fortune. owning real estate PROPOSE
tons at Birmingham, Ala, ant
Houston. Tex. which promises q
further increase his fortune. II Il
commonly remarked by his friends
that his first investment was nerve
| The nominee recently resigned al
assistant United States district at
torney. with headquarters at Knox
VILE. He has been a prominen
figure in east Tennessee for years
but has kept in the background him
self, always pushing his friends e
the front. His name has frequently
been mentioned as eongressiona
timber.
Married I'm 1901.
The people OF his native town arr
proud of him. He was married, II
I19O1, to Miss Anna b. Jones.
member of one of east TENNESSEE
most prominent families, and thre'
bright-eyed little children hay'
blessed this union. He has beer
the life of the municipality In whicl
he lives. His support has Away
been given to plans of civic develop
ment, and when municipal problem
became peIr'exing his is the advice
sought by the bewildered citizens