The First American Private Detective

From Cooper to Copper

This is the third in a series of men and women who were instrumental in history but have been all but forgotten. The first was Elizabeth Smith Friedman, and the second was Major Benjamin Tallmadge.

Allan Pinkerton from Wiki Commons — public domain

In 1846, the only cooper of Dundee, Illinois, was known for his quality barrels, kegs, and butter churns. He had a reputation for providing…