COOK, Albert

COOK, HOUSELL, ALES, PITHAN, SWAN

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 00:00:19

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

ALBERT COOK.

Prominent among the substantial farmers of Sharon township whose success in life is due to their own industry, perseverance and good management is Albert Cook, who was born December 20, 1859,on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of Marshall and Magdalina (Housell) Cook, who were natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1852. They spent two years in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where the father worked at the mason’s trade, and then came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he entered the land now owned and occupied by our subject. He made all the improvements upon that place, and in connection with its operation he also worked at the mason’s and plasterer’s trades throughout the northwestern part of the county until his death, which occurred in December, 1872. His wife died in September, 1895. They were the parents of seven children namely: John, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Naomi, widow of Charles Pithan, and a resident of Lost Nation; Albert, our subject; Rosann, wife of Nick Ales, a farmer of Sharon township; Marion, who died at the age of fourteen years; Crist, a farmer of Sharon township; and Amelia, wife of Wheeler Swan, a farmer of the same township. They were all educated in the common schools of this county.

Throughout his active business life Albert Cook has followed farming, and has been eminently successful. He also gives considerable attention to stock raising. He now owns about two hundred acres of good farming land in the eastern part of Sharon township, and is quite well-to-do. Mr. Cook married Miss Mary Kramer, also a native of Sharon township. Her father having retired from active labor, her parents now make their home in Lost Nation. In his political affiliations Mr. Cook is a Democrat, and he is now efficiently serving as one the school directors of his district. He is quite prominent and influential in the community where he resides, and has many friends throughout the county.