PETER COOPER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/12/1829 - HFSID 229

PETER COOPER
Cooper handwrote, signed and dated this letter to his attorney, Charles Davis, Esq. in 1829, regarding a lawsuit with a Mr. Ackerman. Cooper had little formal education and misspelled a number of words in this letter. Nevertheless, he went on to a number of significant achievements - including building the first American locomotive in 1830, a year after this letter was written.
Autograph letter signed: "Peter Cooper", 1p, 7¾x9¾. Lehigh County, 1829 January 12. Addressed to Charles Davis, Esq., Attorney at Law, Allentown. In full: "Sir, I have this day received your letter in which you State that you are desiring to know about about the suit of Mr. Ackerman, he is desirous to have it arbrated [sic] (if [illegible]) but according to your statement it is on the trail [sic, trial] list for next term, as to your own fees, I will see it done without any doubt, I should tank [sic, thank] you if you should assertain [sic] for certain weather [sic] it is on the trail [sic, trial] list or not. I shall be at [illegible] shortly and give you a call. [illegible]". Cooper had only a year of formal education and, as this letter demonstrates, a shaky grasp of spelling. Despite this, he went on to accomplish a number of significant technical firsts. These included "Tom Thumb", the first American locomotive, which was built and run a year after this letter was written. Lightly toned, stained and creased. Signature is lightly smeared but legible. Random ink stains. Discolored by pasted biographies on docket sheet. Adhesive remnants on verso. Small piece of lower right corner is missing. Folded twice vertically and thrice horizontally. Torn on right and left edge on or near folds. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Unsigned docket sheet. 1 page, 9¾x7¾, with ½-inch wax seal remnant near top edge. Addressed to Charles Davis Esquire, Attorney at Law, Allentown. Regarding the case of Ackerman v. Melman. With pencil notations on sheet in unknown hand, which touch handwriting. Lightly toned, stained soiled and creased. Tears at bottom edge. Top edge has been neatly torn from a notebook or pad. Biography and small b/w encyclopedia drawing of Cooper pasted on verso, which shows through on front. Adhesive remnants on verso. Folded twice horizontally and four times vertically. Large tear at bottom edge along center fold. Otherwise in fien condition. Cooper (1791-1883, born in New York City) designed and built the first American locomotive, named Tom Thumb, in 1830; was the promoter and financial backer of Cyrus Field in the laying of the Atlantic cable; and founded Cooper Union in New York City (1859) "for the advancement of science and art". The school is still giving free courses in science, chemistry, electricity, engineering and art. In 1876, Cooper was the Greenback party nominee for President, receiving 81,737 votes out of 8.4 million votes cast.