COOPER BROTHERS

Photo copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland. Shop was rebuilt after Nov. 26, 1895 fire.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 25, 1890.

A LIVELY ESTABLISHMENT.

   In years gone by paper making was one of the active industries of this community in the building located near the junction of the east and west branches of the Tioughnioga river, to the eastward of the intersection of Clinton avenue and River St. In the seventies the plant was occupied for a time in the manufacture of linseed oil. On July 1st, 1881, Lester and George F. Cooper purchased the property of John B. Cottrell. of Scott, and began the business of manufacturing and repairing machinery on a small scale.

   Obstacles of every description springing up like mushrooms were met with energetic push, which to-day is a noted element recognised as an inherited trait of our business men, and gradually the name of Cooper Brothers became widespread as an upright, careful and practical mechanical firm. Increasing business demanded increased facilities, and a foundry was erected. While attending to the repairing of machinery in general some seven years ago they took the job of constructing the gearing for a mill upon the order of L. V. Rathbun, of Rochester. That gentleman was so well pleased with the work that during the succeeding years he has called upon this house to supply the furnishings for upward of 80 roller flouring mills. Besides that of our townsman, Mr. T. F. Brayton, there are scores of mills throughout the northern part of the state whose machinery—aside from the rollers—are the products of this firm.

   To-day the Cooper Brothers are enjoying an active trade, employing twenty mechanics busily engaged in manufacturing pulleys, shafting—of the latter for several years the output has been upward of 5000 feet per annum. Building several heavy pieces of machinery for the Cortland Forging Company; reconstructing several portable mills for sawing around the logs for the Cortland Lumber Company, invented by the late Charles W. Gage, of Homer; together with minor manufactures. An addition [of] 30x52 feet has just been completed to the east of the original building in which will soon be placed a new 32x32 inch 10-foot planer; this, in addition to the six lathes and planers of different dimensions, together with drill presses, upsetting machines, etc., gives the best of facilities for handling large and heavy orders.

   While the Messrs. Cooper give personal attention to the business they have a competent and valued assistant in their foreman, Mr. Charles Kingsley, a thorough machinist, who is not only popular with his men, but a careful and observant workman. That the present prosperity attending this member of our manufacturing industries may continue its pulsations as long as the waters of the stream from which it derives its motive power shall flow, is expressing the sentiments of this community and is another incentive to those prospecting for a manufacturing site to cast their lot in Cortland.

Cooper Bros., Grip's Historical Souvenir: http://tcpl.org/local-history/documents/county-history-CNY/Grips_of_Cortland/grips204to219.pdf

 

Enlarging the Desk Works.

   Wednesday a meeting of the stockholders of the Cortland Desk Company was held at the office of the works on Squires street. The object of the gathering was to devise means of easing the pressure now placed upon their manufacturing capacity. The demand during the past year for the products of this house, Economy Wall Desks and other styles of home and office furniture, is beyond all expectations and still increasing, which speaks most favorably of the management as well as the quality of their productions. As the proper remedy, it was decided to erect a new three-story building between the two present structures.

   Plans and specifications for the same will be made at once and another monument reared to the continuing healthy condition of Cortland as a manufacturing centre. Those in need of desks for business or private purposes should write the Cortland Desk Company for circulars.

A New Firm.

   The firm of Mager & Stoker, dealers in dry goods, has been dissolved by limitation, Charles W. Stoker retiring. Messrs. Charles Corcoran and Mr. Albert B. White are admitted to partnership with Mr. Mager and the business will hereafter be conducted under the firm name of G. J. Mager & Co.

   Mr. Corcoran commenced clerking for Sears & Baucus at Freeville about ten years ago and remained with them three years. For the past six years he has been with Mager & Walrad and their successors. Mr. White entered the service of E. M. Van Hoesen in Preble in 1879, where he remained four years when he engaged with Galpin, Clark & Hulbert of Tully for two years previous to entering the service of Messrs. Mager & Stoker, where he has been employed for the past five years. The new members are young men of good habits, honest, temperate and industrious and have a very large acquaintance and hosts of friends. Mr. Mager has had many applications from desirable parties to take an interest in the business, but recognizing and appreciating the long and faithful services of Messrs. Corcoran and White he very generously gave them the preference.

   The new firm possesses ample capital and the business will be greatly enlarged and a much larger stock of goods will be carried. They intend to sell more goods at a smaller profit and will adhere closer to the cash system. Mr. Mager has been in the business for 38 years and is a thorough merchant and business man and has always met with success in trade. The DEMOCRAT wishes the new firm abundant success.

   We understand Mr. Stoker has not yet formulated plans for the future, but it is to be hoped that he will decide to engage in active business in Cortland, where he has many friends who have become attached to him through many years of honorable dealing.

Activity of the Actives.

   Having organized with W. McAuliff, catcher; J. Southern, pitcher; G. Welch, first base; E. Sheldon, second base; R. Mills, third base; T. Hayes, short stop; D. McCarthy, left field; J. Dexter, center field, and T. Flood, right field, under the club name of "Actives," Saturday, a game was arranged with the Indian club of Onondaga Castle. When the visiting nine arrived at 8:18 A. M. and passed up to their hotel, members of the home team might he observed gently stroking the topmost lock on their heads, utterly discouraged by the gigantic make up of the Indian nine.

   On the diamond the activity of the Actives told to the score of 21 to 5, which the visitors conceded with a gentlemanly grace. That the home team were greatly as well as most agreeably surprised over the result, accounts for the audible smile that greets the ear of all who mention the game to an Active.

CHANLER VS. LEWIS.

Lewis Turns up Again and Causes the Old Man More Trouble.

   Readers of the DEMOCRAT well remember an account given in these columns of the date of June 6th, giving the full particulars of the elopement of Mrs. William C. Chanler of Jackson, Pa., with one Charles E. Lewis, her husband's hired man. The pair were found a day or two previous, living as man and wife in this place, and were arrested upon the complaint of Mr. Chanler, who had followed them to this place. The matter was finally settled, the woman going home with her husband and the following morning, as there was no one to appear against Lewis, he was discharged. The latter promised that he would keep away from Chanler in the future, but it seems that he did not keep his word.

   On the night of July 15th at about 8 o'clock he called at Chanler's house and asked to be again taken into his employ. A correspondent of the Binghamton Republican writing from Susquehanna, gives the following account of what transpired thereafter:

   "Upon seeing Lewis, Chanler became enraged and seizing an old army musket that had hung on the wall for years, blazed away at Lewis and the latter in return fired at Chanler.

   Luckily the shots harmed no one. The men then engaged in a tussle in which Chanler was overpowered and locked in a room, while Lewis and Mrs. Chanler went to the barn and taking one of Chanler's teams made off. Chanler managed to get out of the bedroom window and started for Lake View, where he obtained a warrant and accompanied by a constable started in pursuit of the runaway pair. They found them in Susquehanna the following morning, and immediately after their arrival Mrs. Chanler obtained a warrant for the arrest of her husband, charging him with attempting to commit murder.

   Police officer Pooler arrested Chanler, and he was brought before Justice Tiffany in the afternoon to answer the charge. After a hearing he was held to bail for his appearance at the coming term of court. The constable from Lake View arrested Lewis and Mrs. Chanler and brought them back with him. The outlook for Lewis does not seem very bright."

Parochial Residence Removed.

   Until further notice, the parishioners of St. Mary's Church will bear in mind that the residence and study of the Rev. Father John J. McLoghlin will be located at No. 45 Madison Avenue, the street leading directly west from the church. Workmen began the placing of timbers preparatory to the removing of the old building, yesterday, to the lots on Arthur avenue belonging to B. A. Benedict where it will be fitted up for future occupancy. Mr. Alonzo Miller has charge of the moving and says the beautiful shade trees will not be injured while moving the old house out to the street. The long needed parochial residence will soon be in course of erection.

Wagon Co. Mutual Aid.

   The Mutual Aid Association of the Cortland Wagon Company will hold their annual excursion and basket picnic to Pleasant Beach Saturday, August 2. Round trip tickets $1.00, children 90 cents. Train will leave D. L. & W. depot at 7:45 A. M. sharp, stopping at Syracuse going and coming. Star-Louisville ball game will be held on the same day.

Matrimonial.

   On Wednesday afternoon, June 23, Mr. David W. Van Hoesen, of the legal firm of Kellogg & Van Hoesen of this place, and Miss Libbie V., daughter of V. B. Gross, of McLean, were joined together in the holy bonds of wedlock, Rev. E. A. McMaster of Baldwinsville, N. Y., a former classmate of the groom, officiating. Mr. Van Hoesen is one of Cortland's most promising young lawyers and is held in high esteem by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He is a graduate of Hamilton College of the class of 80, and has been practicing his profession in this place for the past two years with marked success. Miss Gross is a lovely young lady and has hosts of friends in Cortland who will wish her a long and happy wedded life. She graduated from the Normal in the class of January '90 and read the first essay at the commencement exercises. The newly married couple will make Cortland their future home, and their prospects for a successful and pleasant future are exceedingly flattering. Kind wishes for their future are expressed on all sides and the DEMOCRAT begs leave to add its heartiest congratulations.

King’s Daughters.

   At a meeting of Loyal Circle of Kings Daughters held July 19, the following officers were elected to all vacancies:

President—Mrs. Lyman Jones.

1st Vice Pres.—Mrs. A. H. Watkins.

Treas.—Mrs. O. D. Raymond.

Supt. Flowers and Card Mission—Mrs. Horace Hall.

Personals.

   Mr. Jas. S. Squires is with his family at Thousand Island Park.

   Dr. and Mrs. D. E. Smith are rusticating at the Thousand Islands.

   Mr. H. G. Joy, of the Standard office, is spending his vacation at Glen Haven.

   Mrs. A. Mahan and daughter Mamie, and son Alexis, are visiting friends in Jamesville.

   Rev. A. P. Palmer and family of Willimantic, Conn., are visiting his parents on Greenbush-st.

   Mr. Melvin A. Rice is assisting Engineer Rickey in surveying the Camden & Ogdensburg railroad.

   Ex-Judge A. P. Smith returned on Monday from Bainbridge, where he has been rusticating on his farm.

   Miss Edith Didama, of Medina, is visiting her brother, Dr. E. A. Didama, and other friends in this place.

   Mr. John E. Foster, superintendent of the San Rafael Mining and Milling Company of Honduras, C. A., who has been spending some weeks in London, is visiting friends in this place. He expects to sail for Honduras about the 10th of next month.

St. Lawrence

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   Moravia is to have macadamized streets.

   Kerosene lamp explosions are becoming of daily occurrence.

   Cases of poisoning from eating canned meat are being frequently reported.

   A large vineyard has been planted by the Cayuga Lake Niagara Grape Co., at East Varick.

   The two-dollar bill counterfeiting gang were surprised and two of the party arrested in New York Thursday night.

   The Binghamton Gas and Electric Light company will light less than one hundred gas lamps for 7 1/2 cents per lamp per night.

   The Odd Fellows celebration will occur in Chicago August 3 to 10. An amphitheater capable of seating 35,000 people is being erected.

   Thursday afternoon a break occurred in the new [Croton] aqueduct just above Harlem river letting out 250,000 gallons daily. Caused by bad construction of the interior.

   Supt. Parsons has issued an order to the effect that no Erie employe shall be sold liquor or other intoxicants at the Starrucca House, which is situated in the Erie depot building at Susquehanna.

   A laundry conducted by an almond-eyed celestial in Chicago was discovered to be but a blind to an opium joint. The police very properly "gathered in" the entire establishment Saturday morning.

   The weather reports show that in the middle Atlantic states, from Washington north to Rochester and Albany, and in portions of New England, Sunday and Monday morning were the coldest on record for the month of July.

   Friday the steamer St. Lawrence collided with a pleasure yacht near Alexandria Bay, resulting in the drowning of Edward Pemberton and wife, Mrs. W. D. Hart and Miss Margaret Henry, prominent society people of Bradford, Pa.

   According to the Times an attraction of Tully lake is a mud-turtle ferry boat; that is a member of the reptile family which carries from 100 to 150 frogs upon his carapax—deck passengers, so to speak. Shall we hear of a sea-sarpint next?