The Cook Families of Story County, Iowa

James W. Cook, farmer, Nevada, Iowa. Every community is bound to have among her citizens a few men of recognized influence and ability, who by their systematic and careful, thorough manner of work attain to a success which is justly deserved. Among this class is Mr. James W. Cook, a man esteemed to be a prominent and substantial, as well as progressive, farmer, of the township. He was born in Culpeper County, Va., on August 14, 1834, and his parents, Wesley and Nancy (Edwards) Cook, were natives also of the Old Dominion. The father died in Ohio at the age of forty-five years, but the mother is still living, is a resident of the Buckeye State, and is about seventy-six years of age. They moved to Ohio about 1836. James W. Cook, the eldest of five children, was reared on the farm and began for himself by tilling the soil in Ohio, where he continued until 1859. In the fall of that year he came to Story County, settled in Nevada Township, and in the fall of 1866 removed to his present farm, three miles east of Nevada, where he owns 250 acres of land. He made his own way in life and the principal part of his property since the war. During that great struggle he served in Company A, Twelfth Iowa, from 1864 until the close of the war. Previous to this, in 1857, he was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah E. Barnes, whose birth occurred in Oneida County, N. T., on April 2, 1836, and who is the daughter of Philip and Lntitia (Bailey) Barnes, both of whom died in the Buckeye State. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook: George P., John W., Nancy A., Mary M., James T. Lewis C. and Frederick. Mr. Cook is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the G. A. R., Woods Lodge No. 99, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he first came to this State he rented land for seven years, but is now the owner of one of the best farms in the county.

John Cook, farmer and stock-raiser, Cambridge, Iowa, is justly conceded a place among the enterprising, influential men of worth in this community. Not only is he esteemed as one of the pioneers of the county, but is one of its progressive and substantial citizens. Born in Central New York on the 15th of August, 1835, he was the fourth of eight children — five sons and three daughters [see sketch of Charles Cook for further particulars of family]. The father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Ireland, and the former was a successful agriculturist. He died when about eighty-three and the mother when sixty-five years of age, and both are interred in Centre Grove Cemetery. John Cook's educational attainments were obtained in the old subscription schools, and in the common country schools of New York. He early had instilled into his youthful nature all the duties of farm life, and this calling has ever continued to be his chosen field of labor. He commenced for himself at the early age of fourteen years, and is to-day one of the most practical farmers in Union Township, whither he had moved from Lewis County, N. Y., in October, 1855. He those as his companion in life Miss Lucy Sear, a native of Ohio, born July 19, 184 3, and who received her education in the Clinton (Iowa) high schools. This marriage was consummated in Clinton, Iowa, on the 24th of February, 1866, and three children were born to them — all sons:

Fred (resides with his parents, has a fair common-school education, and has chosen farming and stock-raising as his occupation), Jasper (resides at home and is also a farmer) and George (who died of scarlet fever when about eight years of age). Mr. Cook has identified himself with the Republican party, but is not a strict partisan, favoring the man rather than the party. He cast his first presidential vote for the lamented Abraham Lincoln, at his first election, and at a time when the war cloud hung o'er sea and land. At different times Mr. Cook has been tendered positions in his township, but has modestly declined, being aware that a practical farmer's time is of more value and consequence to him than any official position. He has served, however, all of five years as school director, and is a great supporter of all good educational principles which tend to develop the rising generation. He and Mrs. Cook are ready to aid all enterprises calculated to benefit Story County, and they allow no worthy movement to fail for want of support so far as they are concerned. Mr. Cook emigrated direct to this county in 1855, as above stated, and was one of the first pioneers of Union Township. Many are the changes which have occurred since this worthy citizen located here, and he has witnessed the growth of what was once a vast marshy tract of land to one of the most prosperous and influential counties in the State. Nevada contained only two stores and three or four houses, and Cambridge contained a little shanty and an old water saw-mill. Mr. Cook got out the timbers of the Cambridge City Steam Mills, and he also dug the pit at the mill. He being one of the first settlers can relate many interesting incidents relative to pioneer times. He tells about the first celebration held in Cambridge, and how he was one of the number who raised the first liberty pole. Mr. Cook is a living example of what can be accomplished by honesty, toil, frugality and economy. He is the owner of 500 acres of improved land, a comfortable and commodious house and excellent out-buildings. His first neighbors were Amos Ball, Josiah Chandler and S. Chandler. He has 500 rods of tiling on his farm, and intends to tile more. He and Mrs. Cook expect to make Story County their home for the future, and, surrounded by an abundance of this world's goods, are content to pass the balance of their days here.

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

Charles Cook is an old resident of the town of Cambridge, and, although he was formerly engaged in harness and saddle-making, he is now giving his attention to the livery business. He is a native of New York, his birth occurring in Lewis County in 1839, and he was the seventh of eight children born to Robert and Catharine Cook, who were natives of Europe, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The father was a farmer by calling, and died in Story County, Iowa, at the age of seventy-nine years, his wife also dying there, aged about seventy years. The names of their children are as follows: Sarah (who died in New York, aged about sixty years), William (who married Miss Rosetta Steele, and was engaged in harness and saddle making in New York for many years), Marie (who is the wife of John De Lawyer, a farmer of Polk County, Iowa), John (who is married to Miss Lucy Sayers, and is following the occupation of a farmer in Story County, Iowa), James (who was a miner in California, and died at about the age of forty-five years), Robert E. (who is married to Miss Nancy Marie Ferris, and is engaged in farming and carpentering in Benton County, Iowa), Charles (the subject of this sketch) and Mary (the wife of A. C. White, a farmer of Kansas). Charles Cook obtained his early training in the common schools, and also took a short course in a select school in New York; and from the time he attained his majority he has always supported and upheld educational interests. He was married in North Carolina, in 1867, to Miss Henrietta Watson, and unto them have been born a family of nine children, six of whom are living: Katie (married to M. M. Keller, a lawyer, of Missouri), Tabitha M. (who died at the age of four years), Charles W. (who lives with his parents in Cambridge, and is engaged in the livery business with his father), John L. (who died at the untimely age of seventeen years, May 13, 1890), Anna Sweet, George Maxwell, Harry M. (who died in infancy), Addah V., and Lizzie May (the baby). Mr. Cook was mustered into the Union service in the fall of 1861, becoming a member of Company D, Ninety-fourth New York Infantry Volunteers, and after fourteen months' service he was transferred to Company M, Fifth United States Cavalry, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. His regiment took an active part in seventeen engagements, the principal ones being the second battle of Bull Run, Beverly Ford, Falling Waters, Ashby's Gap, Manassas Gap, Front Royal, Gettysburg and Winchester (and witnessed Gen. Phil Sheridan, after his famous ride, rallying his men to victory), Culpeper Court House and Lynchburg, Va. Mr. Cook, with about 900 men, was captured and paroled on the field at Manassas, he being under the command of Gen. Pope at that time. He was present at the Grand Review at Washington, D. C, and returned home with the consciousness of having served "Uncle Sam" faithfully and well. After his three years of enlistment had expired he became connected with the construction party, and remained steadily in the Government employ until the final surrender. He received honorable discharge in the fall of 1864, at Middletown, Va. He received a severe injury, while in the service, by his horse falling upon him but he has never drawn any relief from the Government as yet. At the early age of fourteen years he commenced doing for himself, and was reared to the trade of a harness-maker and saddler, in Jefferson County, N. Y. He emigrated to Story County, Iowa, direct from Raleigh, N. C, in 1870, and although this county at that time offered few inducements to settlers, he located here, and here has since resided, being now the owner of a comfortable home and business. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He belongs to Ersland Post No 231, G. A. R., at Cambridge, Iowa, and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity of Cambridge. He and his wife have always been liberal contributors to worthy enterprises, and are highly respected in this community.

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

Charles W. Cook, farmer, Nevada, Iowa. Among the many estimable citizens of Story County stands the name of Charles W. Cook, who is one of the progressive and substantial farmers of his portion of the county. He was born in Lake County, Ill., on December 14, 1840, and is the son of Alonzo and Mary (Holton) Cook, the father a native of Vermont, born in 1808, and the mother a native of Massachusetts, born the same year. They were married in 1836, and now have been living together fifty-three years. They make their home with their son, Charles W. In 1832 the father went from Vermont to Chicago, Ill., where he was in business for some time. The paternal grandfather, Nathan Cook, was born in Massachusetts and died in Vermont, at seventy years of age. His wife died in the same State when eighty-one years of age. The Cook family are of English descent. Charles W. Cook, the elder of two children, received-, in addition to a common-school education, several terms of training in the Batavia Institute, Illinois, and

,g "- assisted his father on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. He was at Champion's Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Mobile, and was honorably discharged in 1865; then returned to Illinois, where he resided until 1869, and then came to Story County, Iowa, settling on his present property. His farm, consisting of 120 acres, is situated two miles west of Colo and five miles east of Nevada. Mr. Cook was married, in 1877, to Miss Adalaide M. French, who was born in Story County, Iowa, on June 11, 1856, and who is the daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Hague) French. The fruits of this union were three children: Glenville D. (born in 1880), Blanche (born in 1886), and Clarence Jay (born in 1888). In politics Mr. Cook is a Republican, and his first presidential vote was for Gen. U. S. Grant. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and the G. A. R., and is one of the honorable men of Nevada Township.

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