Fred W. Cook

As printed in 1906

FRED W. COOK, well known as editor of the Niles Daily Star, was born in the city of Niles, March 22, 1859. His father, Darius B. Cook, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and passed away at Niles at the age of eighty-six and a half years. He became a journeyman printer in New York city in early life and on removing to the west settled at Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed as a compositor in the office of the Detroit Free Press until 1838. He then started to Chicago with an ox-team and an old Washington hand press on his wagon, but he did not carry out his determination to become identified with the printing business in Chicago, for on arriving at Kalamazoo, Michigan, he determined to remain there and followed his trade, doing his printing on the hand press. He was thus engaged until the spring of 1842, when he came to Niles and established a weekly paper called the Niles Republican, and of which he was editor and proprietor for twenty-four years. It was one of the early journals of this part of the state and in connection with its publication Mr. Cook engaged in job printing. His son, Fred W. Cook, now has a file of all the papers published by his father. He also printed many campaign documents. Later the Niles Republican was merged into the Niles Democrat, and after selling out Mr. Cook established another weekly paper called the Niles Mirror. He also did job work until his death and for many years was a most prominent representative of the printing interests of Berrien county. He was conservative in his political belief but was an earnest champion of all measures and movements which he believed would promote public welfare and progress. Throughout the community where he made his home he was greatly esteemed. He married Miss Jane Wadhams, who was born in Connecticut and died in 1889 at the age of seventy-one years. In their family were three children, two sons and a daughter — Frank D., who is now living in New York city; Emma, the wife of Perry Griffin, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Fred W.

Reared in the city of his nativity Fred W. Cook attended the public schools eight years. When only five years old he could set type, for he always availed himself of every opportunity to go to his father's printing office and was deeply interested in the work. At a very early age he began learning the trade under the direction of his father and when a young man of only seventeen years he became the publisher of the Niles Mirror and after his father's death the owner, continuing the publication of the paper for some time, when he sold out. On the 24th of March, 1886, he issued the first copy of the Niles Daily Star, the first daily to be published in Berrien county. He has never missed an issue up to the present time, covering a period of twenty-two years. He has been very successful in conducting this publication and owns the building and all its contents, having a well equipped newspaper plant. The character of the paper is indicated by the liberal patronage accorded it. It has a good circulation and advertising patronage and from the beginning the enterprise has proven a profitable venture. On the 25th of September, 1878, Mr. Cook was married to Miss Mary Flaherty, who was born in Niles, Michigan. They have two sons, Fred D., who is conducting a job printing office, having a plant in connection with his father's newspaper establishment, and who married Martha Heiser of South Bend, and is living in Niles. Harry W., living in New York city, is engaged in the wholesale tea and coffee business. Both were born in Niles.

Mr. Cook is independent in politics but has no aspiration for public office. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the order of Patricians and the Owls. He has always made his home in Niles and throughout his entire life has been connected with the newspaper business, in which connection as well as a private citizen, he has been the champion of progressive public measures.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.