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Daniel
William Cooper, born near Frederickstown,
Ohio, was 25 years old at the time of the
founding of Sigma Chi. He is credited
with contributing much to the moral and
spiritual found ations of the Fraternity.
The confidence of his fellow Founders led
to his election as the first Consul of
Alpha chapter.
Of him Runkle recalled,“To him more
than to any other man is due the birth
and early growth of the kindly and
generous spirit of Sigm a Chi. It is hard
to account for his dominant spirit, and
his influence in that little band. He was
a man of God, honest, upright, and pure.
In his intercourse with the rest of us he
was gentle and considerate. He never
reproved; he never lectured. By common
consent he was the head of the chapter,
and no one thought of displacing him .
His quarters were the resort of each one
of us when in trouble, and there we found
sympathy and convincing, unselfish
advice. Different from every one of us,
he walked among us honored, loved, looked
up to with perfect confidence. He taught
us that the badge was not to be looked
upon as common. Many an hour did I pass
in his room, and every minute was a
benediction. Brother Cooper, in those
days, though rich in spirit was poor in
worldly goods, and his life and work
contain a priceless lesson for those of
us who think that the end of life is the
attainment of material riches and worldly
power.”
Following graduation, Cooper at tended
seminary and was ordained as a Presbyteri
an minister. He held several pastorships
in Ohio and engaged in special missionary
service. In retirement, he lived for some
years in the South, returning to Ohio
where he spent his last years with his
son, James G. Cooper, Ohio Wesleyan
’02. He was the last surviving of
the seven Founders, passing to the
Chapter Eternal in 1920 at age 91. He is
buried at Allegheny Cemetery in
Pittsburgh.
Cooper wore his original Sigma Phi badge
until his death; it is now on display at
the Fraternity Head quarters museum. The
original badge is pinned on the newly -
installed Grand Consul at each Grand
Chapter, and the Grand Consul is then
given a replica to wear during his term.
Related links:
James Parks Caldwell
Isaac M. Jordan
Benjamin Piatt
Runkle
Franklin Howard
Scobey
Thomas Cowan
Bell
William Lewis
Lockwood
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