Obituary 1907 [1]
Mr. John Cooper, one of the oldest veterans of railway service, has just died at Darlington. Cooper, who was born in the Waterloo year, began work as a porter on the first public railway, the old Stockton and Darlington line. He was never happier than when relating the experiences he had when as a guard in early railway days, his duty was to ride on a 'dickey' on the roof of the rear carriage, so that he might be enabled to look along the whole length of the train. Cooper eventually became personal attendant to George Stephenson, a post he held for many years.
The old man retired from railway service only four years ago, on a weekly pension of 6s.; but having absolutely no other means, and no relatives to care for him in his old age, he became an inmate of Darlington workhouse, in which institution he ended his day.