The Cook Families of Clinton County, Iowa

DAVID S. COOK, M. D.

With the history of probably more household in Clinton county than that of any other man is the name of Dr. David S. Cook, now deceased, linked, for through a half century he engaged in the practice of medicine through this portion of the state. Coming to Clinton county at an early period in its development he was through more than five decades one of the most prominent and successful medical practitioners of the locality and the loved family physician in hundreds of homes, where his generosity, his kindness and genial manner, as well as his professional skill, won him the confidence, respect an.d friendship of all. His death was widely and deeply mourned and his memory is cherished and revered by all who knew him.

Dr. Cook was a native of Batavia, Genesee county, New York, born February 20, 1825, his parents being Solomon and

(Scott) Cook, the former a native of England and the latter of the highlands of Scotland. At the age of eight years, in company with his half-brother. Dr. Cook went to White Pigeon, Michigan, and three years later secured employment in the office of Dr. De La Mater, under whose direction he began the study of medicine when sixteen years of age. In 1848 he removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he continued his reading until the following year, when he took up his above in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and began practice. In 1851 he became a resident of Jackson county, Iowa, and while engaged in the practice of medicine he also continued his studies in the Keokuk Medical College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1855. The succeeding year Dr. Cook went to Kansas, but returned to Jackson county in [858, and thence came to Wheatland, where he opened an office, practicing successfully here until 1868, when he took up his above upon a farm in Liberty township. He enjoyed rural life for a few years, but in 1872 again became, a resident of Wheatland, and with the exception of a few months spent in Baldwin in 1888, he made Wheatland his home until called to his final rest..

Such in brief is the history of his professional career, but this does not tell anything of the sacrifices which he made 'for his patients, of the broken hours of sleep, when he would leave his bed in order to minister to the needs of the suffering, of the long, hard rides across the country in the storms of winter and summer, of the hours spent in study of text books that he might better inform himself concerning a certain disease and its treatment. All these things were a part of his life and contributed to his success. His devotion to his profession, arising not only from an interest in the science but from a desire to benefit his fellow men, gained for him the regard of all, and made him very prosperous in his chosen calling.

On the 2d of February, 863, Dr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Redden, and unto them were born three children: Dr. A. W. Cook, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Edith Gaines, of St. Louis; and Emma, who died at the age of three years. By another marriage there was also a son, Dr. Frank Cook, a physician of Calamus. The subject of this review was an exemplary member of Zeredatha Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Wheatland, and improved the many opportunities which he had in his professional life for putting into practice the beneficent principles of the fraternity. He passed away March 7, 1901. He had been about his business the day before and the end came suddenly, but this was as he would liked to have had it, for it gave him opportunity to continue his useful and humanitarian labors up to the very last. Wheatland has never been more grieved than over the death of this honored man, who had for many years been identified with her interests, doing everything in his power for her welfare and progress. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct, stainless in reputation, his was indeed a life worthy of emulation.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ACHILLES W. COOK, M. D.

For a half century the name of Cook has been associated with the medical practice in Wheatland and Clinton county, and is now worthily borne by Dr. A. W. Cook, a most successful representative of the medical fraternity. He makes his home in Wheatland, where much of his life has been passed. He was born March 6, 1866, in Liberty township, Clinton county, upon the farm of his father, Dr. David S. Cook, long a prominent physician of the locality. Like most of the boys of the period, he began his education in the public schools and there mastered the branches of learning taught in such institutions. He afterward studied medicine under the preceptorship of his father and was also a student in the Keokuk Medical College, from which institution he was graduated on the loth of March, 1891. He then began practice in Wheatland, where he has remained continuously since, and now has a large and lucrative patronage. He is the local surgeon for the Northwestern Railroad at Wheatland and belongs to the Iowa State Association of Railway Surgeons. The Doctor is a man well read, keeping in touch with the constant advance in the medical field both by extensive home reading and also having taken a post-graduate course at the Chicago Post-Graduate Medical College during the summer of

The Doctor was married in this city, February 14, 1887, to Miss Annie Tebbe, a daughter of John Tebbe, a retired farmer of Wheatland. She is a native of Clinton county and by her marriage she became the mother of four children, but Walter, Bessie and Leo have all departed this life. Howard, the only surviving child, is now an interesting little lad of seven years. The Doctor possesses the true, enterprising spirit of the west and this is manifest in his professional work. He is a student, his reading and researches continually adding to his knowledge and supplementing his ability to care for the professional duties entrusted to him. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of Zeredatha Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M., also Spring Rock Camp, No. 24, M. W. A.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Classed among the self-made men and highly esteemed citizens of Brookfield township is John Cook, who was born in Lancaster county Pennsylvania, November 23, 1853. His parents, Marshall and Magdalina (Honsell) Cook, were natives of Germany, and on their emigration to the United States, in 1852, located in Lancaster county Pennsylvania, where the father worked at the mason's trade for two years. He then came west, and entered land in Sharon township, this county. In connection with the operation of his farm he worked at the mason and plasterer's trade throughout the northern part of the county. He died in December, 1872, and his wife departed this life in September, 1895. They were the parents of seven children, namely: John, our subject; Naomi, widow of Charles Pithan, and a resident of Lost Nation: Albert, who is represented on another page of this volume: Rosan, wife of Nick Ales, a farmer of Sharon township; Marion, who died at the age of fourteen years; Christ, a farmer of Sharon township: and Amelia, wife of Wheeler Swan, a farmer of the same township.

John Cook accompanied his parents on their removal to this county, and here he was reared to manhood, his education being acquired in its common schools. In 1880 he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Keil, a native of Elgin, Illinois, and a daughter of Frederick and Frederika Keil, both now deceased. By occupation the father was a farmer and butcher. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have three children, namely: Marshall, born in 1883; Emma, horn in 1885: and Simon, born in 1886.

After his marriage Mr, Cook took up his residence on a farm on sections eleven and twelve, Sharon township, and resided there until January, i8<;2, when he removed to his present farm in Brookfield township, known as the M. C. Finton place. It is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section eleven, and is well improved and highly cultivated. Mr. Cook carries on general farming and stock-raising, and is meeting with well-deserved success. He started out in life for himself empty-handed, and the prosperity that he has achieved is due to his own unaided efforts. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and socially is a member with the Odd Fellows Lodge, Xo. t,, of Maquoketa.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Prominent among the substantial farmers of Sharon township whose success in life is due to their own industry, perseverance and good management is Albert Cook, who was born December 20, 1859, on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of Marshall and Magdalina (Housell) Cook, who were natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1852. They spent two years in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where the father worked at the mason's trade, and then came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he entered the land now owned and occupied by our subject. He made all the improvements upon that place, and in connection with its operation he also worked at the mason's and plasterer's trades throughout the northwestern part of the county until his death, which occurred in December, 1872. His wife died in September, 1895. They were the parents of seven children, namely: John, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Naomi, widow of Charles Pithan and a resident of Lost Nation; Albert, our subject; Rosann, wife of Nick Ales, a farmer of Sharon township; Marion, who died at the age of fourteen years; Crist, a farmer of Sharon township; and Amelia, wife of " "heeler Swan, a farmer of the same township. They were all educated in the common schools of this county.

Throughout his active business life Albert Cook has followed farming, and has been eminently successful. He also gives considerable attention to stock raising. He now owns about two hundred acres of good farming land in the eastern part of Sharon township, and is quite well-to-do. Mr. Cook married Miss Mary Kramer, also a native of Sharon township. Her father having retired from active labor, her parents now make their home in Lost Nation. In his political afhilatons Mr. Cook is a Democrat, and he is now efficiently serving as one the school directors of his district. He is quite prominent and influential in the community where he resides, and has mainfriends throughout the county".

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN M. COOK.

Among the old and honored citizens of Orange township is John M. Cook, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres on section 2. He was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, on the 6th of November, 1828. His father, Samuel Cook, was a native of Pennsylvania, and when young went to Virginia, where he subsequently married Polly Kipps, a native of that state. Our subject was reared on a farm in Roanoke county, and as he had but limited school privileges he is almost wholly a self-educated man. At an early age he began earning his own livelihood and was injured to hardships and privations.

In Rockingham county, Virginia, Mr. Cook was married September 10, 1857, to Miss Mary Chapman, who was also born in that state, and was a daughter of James L. Chapman. Soon after their marriage they removed to Indiana, where they spent about a year, while Mr. Cook served as assistant postmaster at Dalesville, and at the end of that time returned to the Old Dominion. In the spring of 1859 he came with his father-in-law to Clinton county, Iowa, and for three or four years worked on the Chapman farm in Orange township. He then purchased forty acres of land where he now resides, on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He had built a house on his father-in-law's place, and this he removed to his own farm, making it his home for several years. He has since enlarged and improved his residence and has added to his farm until he in w has one hundred and ninety acres, which he has placed under excellent cultivation. He also owns a twenty-three-acre tract of timber land. He has given considerable attention to the raising of a high grade of stock, and is accounted one of the most successful agriculturists of his community. His prosperity has been worthily achieved, as it is due entirely to his own labor, economy and perseverance.

Mr. Cook has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died July 30, 1 goo, and was laid to rest in the Smith cemetery in Orange township. Unto them were born eleven children, as follows: James S.. a resident of Grand Around; Xettie, who died at the age of twenty years; Lottie, wife of Aden J. Horr, of Tacoma, Washington; Jackson B., who is now carrying on the home farm; Berryman D., who died in Tacoma, Washington, in August, 1888, at the age of twenty-three years; Alargaret V., deceased wife of Robert Allison; Fannie, wife of David Allison, of Oregon; William E., who assists in the operation of the home farm; and Stella May, Grace AI. and Perrv V., all at home.

On national issues Mr. Cook has always voted the Democratic ticket since casting his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce in 1852, but at local elections he votes independent of party lines, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He served some years as school director, and also filled the office of supervisor of highways, but has never cared for official honors. He is, however, a public-spirited and progressive citizen, and does al-1 in his power to advance the interests of his community along various lines.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.