The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-28
REGRET DEATH
OF J. B. COOPER
Superintendent of c. & n. Smeltsr
Succumbs to Long illness

After an illness of eight months with
an Intestinal affection James T.. Coop
er Superintendent Of the smelling de-
partment for the Calumet a Hecla
Mining company passed away at the
family residence in Linwood last even
ING AT o'clock. Despite his gradual
sinking, the late Mr.. Cooper bore his
aftlctiOu with remarkable fortitude
and even at the hour when he became
aware that his end was near, he be-
came resigned to his fate, ready to
meet his Maker.
When he became i'll. early in Juna.
1913, the deccdent consulted special
lists in Chicago and underwent a surg
zeal operation in that city. Every
( available effort was made to prolong
/ his life, but ii became known that his
malady was incurable. About a month
ago nc wen, 20 Florida in the hopes
! OF benedtting from The mild climate.
| but this too failed. Tie returned a
| few days ago in n weakened condition.
EXPRESSIONS OF regret were profound
when news Of the death was announc-
I'd and pail Of gloom was cast over
the district
James r. Cooper was a native of
Michigan. born i'm 1859 in Springwclls
which IS now a part of the city OF
Detroit He was a son of James r.
and Mary r. Genks) Cooper both Of
whom preceded him TO the grave some
years ago.
Mr.. Cooper gained his education for
the mosJ part in the public schools of
that city i'm 1877. His faith
CT had come To the copper country
some time before TO take the manage
ment of the old Detroit and Lake SUI
per!or Copper company's smelter at
Hancock. where the company did
commercial smelling for various
mines. The elder Cooper became the !
worlds great smelter and refner o.
copper and it is not cxaggerating to
say that his son succeeded him i'm
Tho possession of that honor
ON graduating at Detroit Mr.. Coop |
or came TO Hancock and took a hum
bic position i'm the smelter under his |
father, determined to acquire "A knowl- |
edge Of the business from the lowest |
starting point. Remaining at the |
work for two years he decided he |
should increase his scientific educa-
ton and he put i'm the succeeding year
at the University Of Rochester " Y,
returning then TO his duties i'm the
Hancock smelter where he was fore.
man until 1855. In that year his
standing in the smelling business was
recognized by mis- appointment as fore
man OF the old Parrot smelter at
Bridgeport Conn, a position he held
for two years returning to Houghton
county 10 take the supcrintendency of
the new Calumet Il HCcla smcltcr at
Grover, now Hubbell, where he has
since resided. Tie succeeded the late
NJ r. Patch when Mr.. Patch went To
Buffalo TO build the Calumet & Hecla
smelter there
In his position as superintendent
IF the Calumet & Hecla smelter. Mr.
Cooper had one ambition, to put Cal
umet Il Hccla copper on the market
In degree Of hneness not approached
'E any other copper. The excellence
his refining methods had much Il
iu with giving Lake copper the great
equation It bears.
I'm years before the term scientific
'iiicioncy' had come into being. Mr.
'oopcI had attained the ideal almost
lcriccuy i'm the immense { liant under
MIS- management. He attained il not
1E rulc and svstcm ro much as by
gaining and retaining the loyalty of
3 working force, now largely made uK
# mon who entered the smelter with
I'm. Tho loyalty of his men had much
% do With his success. in Lake Lin
Ion and lIubbcll ne was one of the
most highly respected citizens and in
40 other parts OF the county he was
lold in equally high regard. For many
cars inc was director ana vice pres
dent OF the Houghton National bank,
lolding that Office up To the time OF
us death.
Mr.. Copper was married i'm 1892 to
Hiss Autoinottc Scntcr. daughter
4 the late John Scntcr of East Hough-
ON. Mrs. Cooper and eight children
urviyc beside a sister. Miss Grace
1, Cooper of Detroit, = brother, Claude
l. of uubbell and sister, Mrs. Dav-
4 II I>add of Hancock
The funeral services will take place
I the residence at Hubbell SUNDAY
ftpruOou aud tho roma MS will no tal |
n to Detroit for intcrment in the
lmIly tot.
\ special Mineral Range train will
aae HoUghton at o'clock for Lake
.inden and returning, VIII leave Torch
AXE, bearing the funeral party. at
Il 80. The train will stop at the Han
ock approach TO the county bridge.