Cooke, John J.

ROOT, CARMACK, HARVEY, MORRIS, ECKENROD, BURK

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 11/23/2009 at 10:22:55

On the list of Bremer county's honored dead appears the name of John Jay Cooke, who settled in Fremont township during the Civil War and who was thereafter connected with agricultural interests here for almost thirty years. During that period his sterling traits of character gained him the favorable regard of all who knew him and his death in 1893 was a distinct loss to the community in the ranks of its representative citizens. Mr. Cooke was born in Huron county, Ohio, February 12, 1837, and was a son of Wyatt and Sophia (Root) Cooke, natives of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed agricultural pursuits during his entire active life.

John Jay Cooke acquired his education in the district schools of Huron county, Ohio. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then came west, settling on the Wapsie river, in Fremont township, this county, during the Civil war. He bought government land and carried forward the work of its improvement for many years thereafter, accumulating three hundred and ninety-five acres. His methods were practical and therefore productive of excellent results and his farm became one of the finest in this locality, reflecting the intelligent care and labor which he bestowed upon it. In 1891, Mr. Cooke rented his property and moved into Waverly, building a commodious home at 303 North Aspen street in which he lived until his death in 1893.

On the 26th of October, 1869, Mr. Cooke was united in marriage to Miss Julia Carmack, who was born near Harvard, in McHenry county, Illinois, August 25, 1845. She is a daughter of Christopher and Lois Ann (Harvey) Carmack, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke became the parents of three children: Ruth, who was born December 15, 1872, and who married John Morris, a retired farmer living in Waverly; Elma whose birth occurred March 30, 1876, and who is now the wife of Edward Eckenrod, a traveling salesman with headquarters in Waterloo; and Hattie, who was born August 3, 1879, and who became the wife of Edward Burk, a resident of Cedar Rapids. Mrs. Cooke still makes her home in Waverly, where she is widely and favorably known.

Mr. Cooke gave his political support to the republican party and he served in various township offices, his influence being always given to the support of various measures for the public good. When called to his final rest in 1893 he left a record that is well worthy of emulation.