Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-11-12

Captain Thomas Hooper. a real
pioneer of the Copper Country and
one of it's veteran mining men, died
Thursday at Victoria. Capt. Hooper,
who was Is years Of age, spent the
greater part of an active lifetime In
the Copper Country and his life was
intimately connected with the devel-
opment of the districts basic indus
try.
The remains were taken to his old
home in Cresco, Ia, Friday, and tho
funeral was held there Sunday under
the auspices of the Masonic order to
which he belonged.
Capt. Thomas Hooper was born at
Chasewater, Cornwall, England, on
the first day Of March, 1912. He came
to the United States in 1859, and
commenced his career as a. mining
man at the Quincy mine, Houghton
county, Michigan, working as min
er.
He then went to Ontonagon county
and worked in the Rockland group OF
mines. It was at the National mine
that he took his first contract sink
ing a shaft when he was 20 years
old. He was married at Rockland
the Fourth of July, 1862, to Miss
Henrietta H. Furman. They cele-
brated their golden wedding at the
Victoria mine, July 1, 1912. His wife
passed away at Cresco. Iowa, three
years ago.
He accepted a situation at the
Champion iron mine, as mining cap
tain, and remained there one year.
From there he came to the Union
mines. Ontonagon county, Carp Lake
township as timberman and remained
there as caretaker until appointed
superintendent of the Ontonagon Sill
yer mine in 1873. In 1874 he accepted
a position as superintendent OF the
Nonesuch copper mine. In 1875 he
leased the Nonesuch for seven years.
He built a stamp mill there and
tramway to Lake Superior. and en-
gagged actively in the mining and
production of copper. In 1881 he
sold his lease to the Nonesuch Mil
ing syndicate. and remained at the
Nonesuch as agent until 1883. In
1881 in connection with Byron N.
White, and Charles A. Parker, he
opened up the White Pine mine, took
out the first cooper and shipped It,.
In 1883, he moved his family from
the Nonesuch. and took up his resi-
dence in Ontonagon. That same
year he accepted the position as
agent for the Michigan State Quarry
company. at the "Arvon" near Bar
aga, Michigan. He remained there
for five years. In 1888 he went to-
Port Arthur, Canada, as agent Tor
the Beaver Silver Mining company.
In 1893 he removed to Cresco, Iowa,
near where he had . large farm and
in 1899 he was appointed as agent
for the Victoria Copper mining COM
pany, which position he held for sew
en- years, when he resigned and his
Oldest son George, succeeded him as
agent. .s.-..:.,.,a.., ,.,.,.,
During his stewardship at the VIC
toria, Capt. Hooper was instrumental
in installing the compressed air plant
which is one of the wonders OF the
mining world. He laid out the un-
derground workings. had all ma
chinery installed, had all necessary
buildings erected, including a saw
mill, and houses for the benefit OF
the workers at the mine, and their
families, and put the location In a
first class mining condition. After
resigning from the Victoria in 1906,
he went to Goldheld, Nevada, as su-
perintendent of the Goldfeld Mines
syndicate, and spent the ensuing
years inspecting and examining min
eral properties all over the mineral
zone of the United States. also in
Mexico. A few years ago he retired
from active work to his home In
Cresco, Iowa, coming to Lake Super
Tor and spending his summers among
his children. 1
Captain Hooper is survived by one
sister who still lives in England, one
daughter, Mrs. Jamse Craig, OF
and five sons. George and
Charles of Victoria mine, James of
Nevada, Thomas and STAN |
ley of Cresco, Iowa, 20 grandchildren
and nine great grandchildren. He
always took active interest in coun-
ty politics and served four years on
the board of supervisors.
He was raised to the sublime de-
gree of a Master Mason at Rockland.
So years ago. He was member OF
Montrose commandery, Calumet. and
took the Scottish Rites degrees at
Grand Rapids, Mich. i
He died at a. M, on the 2Sth day
of October. 1920. He had at no time