Carsten Cook

COOK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/12/2009 at 12:34:07

Carsten Cook, Carsten Cook owns and cultivates a fine farm of 240 acres on Sec 33 and 34 Marcy township. He has been a resident of Boone county since 1866, but Germany is the land of his birth. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Holstein, September 9, 1834, his parents being Claus and Abel Cook, both natives of Germany. The father was a laborer and died in his native country., but he mother afterward came to America, passing away at the home of her son Carsten, near Boone, in 1879. In their family were five children, the eldest being the subject of this review: Phoebe is the wife of John Lineman, a resident of Ogden, Elsaby became the wife of Hans Peters, but both are now deceased, Annie is the wife of George Powers of Amaqua township, and Hans settled here in 1877 and died in 1900. He was a shoemaker of Boone. The children were afforded the educational privileges of the schools of Germany.
Carsten Cook acquired a fair knowledge three and remained in Germany until after his marriage, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Martins, of the fatherland. Three children were born unto them: William, who is living upon his father’s farm, Charles at home, and Annie a mail carrier who resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The mother of these children died in Boone on September 1870.
Immediately following his first marriage Mr Cook came to the United States, landing at New York, whence he made his way westward to Lyons, Iowa in 1865. In that locality he worked as a farm hand for a year and then came to Boone county, settling in the city of Boone, where he secured employment in the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. He aided in grading the roadbed and worked all along the road for six years. On the expiration of that period, with the capital he had acquired through his own exertions, he began farming one mile south of Boone, I Des Moines township. He then rented a farm for several years, after which he purchased his present farm, in January 1882. He now owns 240 acres of rich and arable land on Sec 33 and 24 Marcy township. He has made all of the improvements upon this place and is successfully engaged in the tilling of the soil and in the raising of stock, both branches of his business having returned to him a good income. He is now largely relieved in the arduous work of the farm by the labors of his sons, so that he is practically living retired at present, but he has been a most diligent and energetic man.
In this county Mr Cook was again married, his second marriage being with Wihelmina Peters, a native of Germany, born May 12, 1852. Her father Theodore Peters, came to America and for a short time lived with his children in Davenport, Iowa, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring there after a brief residence in the new world. By the second marriage of our subject nine children have been born, but the first died in infancy unnamed. The others are: Henry at home, Lizzie, employed in the eastern part of the township, Emma, Arweina, Albertina, Dora and Mary all at home, and Herman who died in 1900.
Both Mr and Mrs Cook hold membership in the German Lutheran church of Ogden. He has served as school director of his township and in other minor offices. In his political affiliations, however he is independent, regarding only the capability of the candidate. He is a self made man who deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. He had to borrow ten dollars upon his arrival in Boone, and thus literally empty handed he stated out upon his business career here. He was energetic and resolute, however, and in the course of time as the result of his industry and economy he has amassed a sufficient sum of enable him to purchase land. As the years have passed he has prospered and today is enjoying a comfortable competence.

1902 Boone County History Book