Funeral of John P. Cooke

Includes a biographical sketch.  “The funeral of Mr. John P. Cooke, the musical composer and leader or orchestral bands, who died in this city, after a brief illness, took place yesterday morning, at Trinity chapel, in West Twenty-fifth street.  The large attendance of friends who had met to pay the last tribute of respect to a brother professional was sufficient evidence of the high esteem in which the deceased was held in the community.”

          Mr. Cooke was forty-five years of age at the time of his death.  His birthplace was Chester, in Cheshire, England. . . . [He came to the U.S.] in 1850. . . . Mr. Cooke was cousin to Mr. J. L. Wallack. . . .

          The funeral ceremonies were largely attended by representatives of the dramatic and musical professions, and by delegations by the Dramatic Fund Association, the Musical Protective Union, the Philharmonic Society, the St. Cecelia and New York Masonic Lodges and other corporate bodies.  Among the late theatrical and musical associates of the deceased were noticeable Messrs. John Sefton, John Gilbert, Charles Fisher, George Wood, Henry Isherwood, E. L. Davenport, Ringgold, Chanfrau, Norton, Geo. Holland, Forbes, Dr. Quinn, Samuel Colville, E. Mollenhauer, H. B. Dodworth, Charles [sic] Stoepel and others.  The ceremonies were extremely impressive, their effect being heightened by the performances of a band of music from the Philharmonic Society.”