Friend COOK, one of Ringgold County's leading agriculturists, residing on section 15, Rice Township, is a native of Herkimer County, New York, born February 12, 1846, a son of Friend and Emeline COOK. When he was six years old he was taken by his parents to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where his youth was spent, he remaining in that county until he enlisted in the late [Civil] war, March 3, 1864. as a member of ne of the gallant regiments of Pennsylvania. [Friend enlisted as a Private with Company H of the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry and as a Private with Company A of the 145th Pennsylvania Infantry.] He joined the Army of the Potomac under General GRANT. March 23, 1864, the regiment mustered 648 guns, and in May the campaign against LEE's army opened, and June 28, the regiment could only muster sixty-four guns, and one company only three men. In June, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, when he returned to his father's home, remaining there till the following spring, when he came to Ringgold County, Iowa. In September, 1867, he returned to Pennsylvania for his bride, Miss Caroline HOMER, a daughter of Josiah HOMER of Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. COOK have seven children living, all at home - Josiah, Burton, Edith, Friend, Clarence, Peace, and Helen. Three children, named Alice, Jesse, and Clara, are deceased. On first coming to Ringgold County, in 1866, Mr. COOK settled in Grant Township where he improved a farm of 440 acres, which he sold in 1875. Two years later he located on his present farm in Rice Township, which contains 500 acres, improved by Mr. COOk from a state of nature. His residence and farm buildings are among the best in the neighborhood, and have been built by him since locating here. his farm is admirably adapted to stock-raising, and he is devoting his attention to that enterprise, and has at present about 120 head of cattle besides other stock. He is an active and progressive citizen, and stands high in the township where he makes his home. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Mount Ayr Lodge, No. 169.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 229-30, 1887

WPA Grave Survey; IAGen Gravestone Photograph Project

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z