In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1838, Wayne County
From History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906), A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio; (1896)
ACOB S. ZOOK, a prominent and heavy contractor and builder of \ an Wert, Ohio, was born in Wayne county, in the same state, April 5, 1838, a son of Daniel and Xancv (Steel Zook, the former of whom was born in Cumberland county, Pa., but who came with his parents to Wayne county when but eighteen years of age. Xancy Steel was also a native of Pennsyl- I vania, and was a mere child when brought to
Ohio; her parents being among the first families to locate in Wayne county. Daniel and Nancv grew to man and womanhood near Wooster, Wayne county, and were married there in 1834. Daniel, after marriage, immediately engaged in farming in Wayne county, and there remained until 1841, when he moved his little family to Crawford county, farmer there a year, and then moved to the west of Bucyrus, Crawford county, where he made his home until 1851; he then moved to Wyandot county, where he had entered forty acres of wild land, and there cleared up the farm on which he died in 1854. To Daniel and Nancy Zook were born six children, in the following order: Mary A., deceased; Jacob S., our subject; Amanda E., wife of D. Peterson, of Ada, Ohio; John W. and William N., deceased, and Dennis C., a railroad man of Valparaiso, Ind. In 1856, Mrs. Nancy Zook was married to Goodwin Hall, who is now also deceased, and in 1 88S she herself died, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Jacob S. Zook was about six years of age when taken to Crawford county, and about thirteen years old when taken to Wyandot county, where he made his home until 1 S 56, when, at the age of about seventeen, he went to Oceola, Crawford county, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter’s trade with John Dome. The next four years he worked in partnership with Mr. Dome, and then went to Nevada, Ohio, and began contracting on his own account, following his vocation there until 1873, when he came to Van Wert, as affording a wider scope for the exercise of his now fully ripened genius and perfected skill. He at first here formed a partnership with E. W. Wilson, which connection was maintained for four years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Zook continued in business on his sole account. Mr. Zook has erected, in
Van Wert, the Hotel Marsh, the Methodist Episcopal church, the City building, the North (Second ward) school-house, several large business blocks and a number of the better class of dwellings, and also built in 1885 the machine shop and round house for Ohio division of the C., & M. railroad. He owns his own fine residence on South Washington street, and at the rear end of his lot has a building devoted to the manufacture of screen doors, window frames and the lighter work pertaining to carpentry. He also owns 120 acres of land in Pleasant township, Van Wert county, and Mrs. Zook is the owner of eighty acres in Ingham county, Mich. He is also a stockholder in the Van Wert National bank, and is a member of its board of directors.
The marriage of Mr. Zook took place in Oceola, Crawford county, Ohio, January 12, 1862, to Miss Amanda E. Barrick, who was born in Crawford county, July 20, 1839, a daughter of John and Jane Barrick, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Zook is a republican, and as such has served in the city council two years. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason. As a business man he is unexcelled, and his social standing is among the best citizens of Van Wert. As Mr. and Mrs. Zook have no children of their own, they have recently taken P'rank Bennett, who was born in Vermont in October, 1886.
As printed in A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio; (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
COB S. ZOOK, a prominent and heavy contractor and builder of Van Wert, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 5, 1838, being a son of Daniel and Nancy (Steel) Zook.
Daniel Zook, who was a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, when 18 years old. Nancy Steel was also born in Pennsylvania, and was a mere child when brought to Ohio, her parents being among the first families to locate in Wayne County. Daniel and Nancy reached maturity near Wooster, Wayne County, and were married in 1834. The husband then engaged in farming in that county, remaining there until 1841, when he moved to Crawford County and in 1851 to Wyandot County, where he entered 40 acres of land and cleared up the farm on which he died in 1854.
To Daniel and Nancy Zook were born six children in the following order: Mary. Jacob
S., Amanda E., John W.. William X. and Dennis C. In 1888 Mrs. Nancy Zook died.
Jacob S. Zook was about 13 years of age when his parents moved to Wyandot County, where he resided until 1856, when at the age of 18 he went to Oceola, Crawford County, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter’s trade with John Dome. For the succeeding four years he worked in partnership with Mr. Dome and then went to Nevada, Ohio, where he commenced contracting on his own account, and thus continued until 1873. In that year he came to Van Wert as this city afforded a wider scope for the exercise of his skill and ability.
When first coming to Van Wert, Mr. Zook formed a partnership with E. W. Wilson, which continued for four years, at the expiration of which time he established an independent business. In this city he has since erected the Hotel Marsh, the First Methodist Episcopal Church, the City Hall, the Second Ward schoolhouse, the machine shop and roundhouse of the Cincinnati Northern Railroad, the Brumback library, the Auditorium, the Home Guards Temple and various other prominent buildings. He owns a fine residence on South Washington street and 400 acres of well-improved land in Van Wert and Paulding counties. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank and a member of its board of directors.
Mr. Zook’s first marriage took place in Oceola, Crawford County, Ohio, January 21, 1862, to Amanda E. Barrick, who was born in the county named, July 20. 1839. and was a daughter of John and Jane Barrick. Both he and his wife were members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Van Wert, until Mrs. Zook’s death, which occurred in 1902. They had no children. Mr. Zook was afterward married to Mrs. Rosa F. DeMoss Gamble. In politics Mr. Zook is a Republican and as such has served in Van Wert’s City Council for two years. Fraternally he is a Mason, ranking as a Knight Templar. As a business man he is broad and progressive, and his social standing is among the best citizens of Van Wert.
As printed in History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.