A. D. Cook, one
of the prominent and wealthy armers of Clayton County,
was born in Franklin County, Vt., on the 4th day of May,
1817. His parents, Joshua Cook and Abigail, nee Bliss,
were natives of Orange County, VT., where they were
married; soon after they moved to Franklin County where
ten children were born, 6 living, viz.: Abigail, Louise,
Orinda, A. D. and Samuel B. He was a recruiting officer
in the war of 1812. In politics, Mr. Cook Sr., was an old
line Whig and at the organization of the Republican
party, joined them and affiliated with them until his
death, which occurred in 1857. His wife died in 1859. The
subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received
a common-school education. When fourteen years of age he
went to Boston where he was employed in a furniture store
as clerk. In 1837 he left Massachusetts for the Galena
Lead Mines and engaged in mining there for eight years,
then embarked in farming. In 1850 he went to California
with teams. On the Humboldt River, their provisions
giving out, they left their teams and wagons and
continued their journey on foot making forty miles per
day, which they were forced to do in order to make their
provisions hold out. In 1851 he returned to Jo Daviess
County, Ill., and in 1854 came to Clayton County, where
he has been engaged in farming since. On Oct. 21, 1848,
he married Caroline Schamahorn, of Cayuga County, N.Y.,
where she was born March 9, 1833. Eight children have
blessed their union, viz.: Almira, Wartstill, Oliver,
Delbert, Louisa, Thomas (deceased), Greenville, Fayette
and Harriet. Mr. Cook came to the county a poor man but
by good management and close attention to business has
succeeded in accumulating a fine property, owning 440
acres of land, valued at $45.00 per acre. He has held
several local offices of trust. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 654 |