COOK, David S.

COOK, SCOTT, REDDEN, GAINES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 20:15:08

DAVID S. COOK, M. D. 

With the history of probably more households in Clinton county than that of any other man is the name of Dr. David S. Cook, now deceased, linked, for through a half century he engaged in the practice of medicine through this portion of the state. Coming to Clinton county at an early period in its development he was through more than five decades one of the most prominent and successful medical practitioners of the locality and the loved family physician in hundreds of homes, where his generosity, his kindness and genial manner, as well as his profession skill, won him the confidence, respect and friendship of all. His death was widely and deeply mourned and his memory is cherished and revered by all who knew him.

Dr. Cook was a native of Batavia, Genesee county, New York, born February 20, 1825, his parents being Solomon and -------(Scott) Cook, the former a native of England, and the latter of the highlands of Scotland. At the age of eight years, in company with his half-brother, Dr. Cook went to White Pigeon, Michigan, and three years later secured employment in the office of Dr. De La Mater, under whose direction he began the study of medicine when sixteen years of age. In 1848, he removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he continued his reading until the following year, when he took up his abode in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and began practice. In 1851 he became a resident of Jackson county, Iowa, and while engaged in the practice of medicine he also continued his studies in the Keokuk Medical College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1855. The succeeding year Dr. Cook went to Kansas, but returned to Jackson county in 1858, and thence came to Wheatland, where he opened an office, practicing successfully here until 1868, when he took up his abode upon a farm in Liberty township. He enjoyed rural life for a few years, but in 1872 again became a resident of Wheatland, and with the exception of a few months spent in Baldwin in 888, he made Wheatland his home until called to his final rest.

Such in brief is the history of his professional career, but this does not tell anything of the sacrafices which he made for his patients, of the broken hours of sleep, when he would leave his bed in order to minister to the needs of the suffering, of the long, hard rides across the country in the storms of winter and summer, of the hours spent in study of text books that he might better inform himself concerning a certain disease and its treatment. All these things were a part of his life and contributed to his success. His devotion to his profession, arising not only from an interest in the science but from a desire to benefit his fellow men, gained for him the regard of all, and made him very prosperous in his chosen calling.

On the 2d of February, 1863, Dr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Redden, and unto them were born three children: Dr. A. W. Cook, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work: Mrs. Edith Gaines, of St. Louis; and Emma, who died at the age of three years. By another marriage there was also a son, Dr. Frank Cook, a physician of Calamus. The subject of this review was an exemplary member of Zeredatha Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Wheatland, and improved the many opportunities which he had in his professional life for putting into practice the beneficent principles of the fraternity. He passed away March 7, 1901. He bad been about his business the day before and the end came suddenly, but this was as he would liked to have had it, for it gave him opportunity to continue his useful and humanitarian labors up to the very last. Wheatland has never been more grieved than over the death of this honored man, who had for many years been identified with her interests, doing everything in his power for her welfare and progress. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct, stainless in reputation, his was indeed a life worthy of emulation.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.