OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 133 



A HERCULES OF THE HORSE BLOCK 



48. Perhaps the most commanding figure in the Chicago horse 

 market during its most prosperous years was that of CoL. John 

 Sidney Cooper. Col. Cooper was born in Chicago in March, 

 1842, of combined English and Irish parentage. He was edu- 

 cated in the Wilder School in Chicago and began his business 

 career at fifteen years of age with the railroads, working first 

 as a brakeman for the Illinois Central and afterward as a pas- 

 senger conductor on the Chicago & Alton, the latter relation 

 continuing fourteen years. In 1871 he took a contract for street 

 cleaning in Chicago and established stables in the square 

 enclosed by Michigan and Indiana avenues, and Adams and 

 Monroe streets. Here he conducted a general teaming business, 

 working in the vicinity of 150 horses. He also became inter- 

 ested in the boarding and sale of horses, the latter feature grow- 

 ing to such a degree that in 1885 he came to the Union Stock- 

 yards and engaged in a strictly commission business for the 

 sale of horses and mules. 



Col. Cooper was the first to inaugurate the vending of horses 

 by auctioneering methods on the Chicago market, a device which 

 vastly increased the volume of business possible for him to 

 handle. In 1894, when the horse exchange was organized, he 

 was elected president, and retained that position until his death 

 in 1917. His business prospered in Chicago to such a degree 

 that he found it possible to open a branch sales stable in the 

 Union Stockyards in South Omaha where he did a large busi- 

 ness in the sale of range horses. One of his most interesting 

 undertakings consisted in securing suitable mounts for the Chi- 

 cago mounted police force. CoL. Cooper not only chose a 

 beautiful yet serviceable type, but he also devoted the latter 

 years of his life to the constant improvement and replacement 

 of the animals thus selected. 



