OPPER, FREDERICK BURR:
American political caricaturist; born at Madison, Lake County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1857. He attended school until fourteen years of age and then worked for a short time in a newspaper office. In 1873 he went to New York, where, encouraged by the sale of some of his humorous sketches, he adopted art as a profession. Opper served on the art staff of "Frank Leslie's Weekly" for three years, and for eighteen years was the leading artist for "Puck." In May, 1899, he accepted a position on the "New York Journal" and contributed to it humorous and political cartoons that secured him a prominent place among American caricaturists. His caricatures during the presidential campaign of 1900 attracted wide attention, and were reprinted in book form under the title "Willie and His Papa" (New York, 1901).
Opper has illustrated a number of the works of Mark Twain, Hobart (Dinkelspiel), and Dunne (Mr. Dooley). Many of his humorous creations have been impersonated on the American stage. Opper is the author of "Folks in Funnyville," a collection of verses, illustrated by himself.
- Who's Who in America, 1903.
