James W. Cook

As printed in 1890

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 Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa (1890). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.