Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 955 - 956

JOSEPH J. COOK, a prominent and influential farmer and stock-raiser, residing upon section 20, Waco Township, is a native of the State of Illinois, born in Cass County, May 25, 1848, and is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Horrom) Cook. His father was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1816, and with a desire to improve his fortunes, knowing that in his own downtrodden land he could not do so, came to America in 1837. He was engaged in farming for many years, but is now living in Cass County, Ill., a retired life, having by his industry and economy accumulated sufficient of this world's goods to allow him to suspend active operations, and spend his declining years in peace and quietness. His wife, the mother of our subject, was born in 1810, in Ohio, and died June 5, 1879. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the following is a record: Samuel, who died in infancy; Cyrus, who married Miss Mattie Blair, and is the father of ten children, two of whom are deceased, is engaged in farming in Cass County, Ill.; Timothy, Charles and Layman, who died in infancy; Joseph, the subject of this sketch; James, who died at the age of eighteen years; Caroline, Mrs. John Warner, a resident of Hamilton County, Neb.; Sydney, who married Richard Stith, and is the mother of one child, is living on a farm in Illinois; and Daniel, who married Miss Emma Fielding, is carrying on the old homestead in Cass County, Ill.

             The subject of this narrative received his education in the common schools of his native State in his youth, and assisted in the labors of the farm until he was some twenty-four years old. He then rented some land of his father, and carried on agricultural pursuits for about three years, which proved quite remunerative to him, but in 1873 he came to Kansas to look at the country, and after a ten-months stay in this State returned to Illinois. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Kansas, and settled in Sedgwick County, in Waco Township, where he has ever since resided. He has a fine farm of 160 acres of highly cultivated and well cleared land, on which he has erected some handsome and substantial buildings, and has set out an orchard, which comprises seventy-five apple, fifty peach, thirty cherry trees, 100 grape vines, and a quantity of small fruits. A view of the home place is given on an accompanying page.

                    After his return to Illinois, from his first visit to this State, Mr. Cook was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Caldwell, the wedding ceremony taking place March 4, 1875. The bride was a native of Cass County, Ill., born Dec. 26, 1851, and is the daughter of Patrick and Mary (Reynolds) Caldwell, natives of Ireland. Her father was born in 1812, and emigrated to America when twenty-one years of age, and died in Illinois, in April, 1878. Her mother died in the same State, Dec. 31, 1884. Mrs. Cook was one of a family of ten children born to her parents, of whom the following record is given: Charles, who married Miss Kate Heaton, was the father of seven children, and died in Cass County, Ill., at the age of forty-two years; Francis died in Illinois, at the age of six years; Thomas died in Maryland when a year old; James married Miss Delano Legg, who was the mother of four children, one of whom is deceased; she died also, and he married Rachel Wheelock, who died in 1884; he is residing in Logan County, Kan. John died in Illinois, at the age of forty-one years; Francis is a farmer in Mason County, Ill., having married Matilda Livingston, and is the parent of two children; Thomas married Margaret Miller, is the parent of six children, and resides on the family homestead in Illinois; Elizabeth is the wife of our subject; Patrick married Miss Mary Miller, and was the father of four children, and died in Cass County, Ill., in June, 1885; Mary Ann married Charles Biddlecome, was the mother of one child, and died May 7, 1878.

             Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been the parents of six children, four of whom are living to brighten the joys of the family fireside. Their record is as follows: One who died in infancy; John J., born Aug. 15, 1877; Mary Annie, born March 20, 1879, and died June 11, 1880; Daniel, born Oct. 1, 1880; James Walter, whose birth occurred Oct. 30, 1883; and Carrie E., who was born June 10, 1887. Mr. Cook is not connected with any organization, but his estimable wife is a Catholic, having been brought up and educated in that faith by her parents. In his political affiliations Mr. Cook is a Democrat of the strictest type.

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