Los Angeles County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Hooker, John D May 24 1911
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Paula Hinkel phinkel@pacbell.net November 11, 2004, 10:40 pm

Los Angeles Times May 25, 1911 - Page ii1

Death Stops Good Works. Philanthropist Hooker is Quickly Called. Pioneer of the 
West Gave Much to Charity. Great Mount Wilson Lens his Donation.

Hooker was widely known throughout the West. He retired from business about a 
year ago. Three years ago he made his first step toward retirement when the 
John D. Hooker Company was dissolved by him.  A year ago he resigned from the 
vice-presidence of the Baker Iron Works, and had since devoted his time almost 
exclusively to philanthropic and scientific work. He was especially interested 
in astronomy and his notable contribution toward the furtherence of research in 
that science was his gift of apparatus to the Mt. Wilson Solar Observatory. The 
great lens and mirror that are being prepared for the observatory, and which 
are the gift of Hooker, interested him keenly and only a few days ago he 
expressed himself as eager to make the work finished in order that he might 
know what secrets of the heavens would be revealed through the instrumentality 
of the new equipment. His gifts to the observatory amounted to about $100,000.

John D. Hooker, millionaire business man and philanthropist, died at 8:15 
o'clock last night at his residence, No. 425 West Adams Street, as the result 
of an attack of peritonitis that first manifested itself Sunday morning. He was 
73 years of age, and until the brief sickness that caused his death enjoyed 
excellent health and was regarded an unusually active septegenarian. Sunday 
morning he complained that he did not feel well. He want to bed and did not 
rise again.  As the end drew near he was semi-conscious, passing away 
peacefully away.

Much philanthropic work, of which even his closest friends never knew, was done 
by Hooker.  He rarely let it be known what he was doing in the realm of 
charity, although he was the benefactor of many individuals and institutions. 
He was a member of the board of directors of the Southern California Academy of 
Sciences and for many years had been interested in all branches of scientific 
research.

The dead philanthropist leaves a widow and daughter, Dr. Marion Hooker, both of 
whom reside in this city, and were at the bedside when the end came.  He was 
born at Hudson, NH, and came to California in 1861, when 23 years of age. He 
grew up with the western country, seldom absenting himself from the Coast 
except on business trips to the East and abroard.  The John D. Hooker Company 
was one of the best-known concerns here.  Upon dissolution of that company 
about three years ago, Hooker became vice-president of the Baker Iron Works.

The close friendship of many prominent men in the city was enjoyed by Hooker.  
He was an active member of the California Club and the University Club, and 
spent much time in social intercourse in the club rooms.

Los Angeles Times
June 20, 1911 pg ii-2

The will of John D Hooker, disposing of an estate of $2,000,000, was in the 
Probate Court yesterday. All the money goes to his family and relatives.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/losangeles/obits/gob2794hooker.txt

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