Cook, John M.

COOK, KIPPS, CHAPMAN, HORR, ALLISON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/15/2003 at 08:33:14

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

JOHN M. COOK.

Among the old and honored citizens of Orange township is John M. Cook, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres on section 27. He was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, on the 6th of November, 1828. His father, Samuel Cook, was a native of Pennsylvania, and when young went to Virginia, where he subsequently married Polly Kipps, a native of that state. Our subject was reared on a farm in Roanoke county, and as he had but limited school privileges he is almost wholly a self-educated man. At an early age he began earning his own livelihood and was inured to hardships and privations.

In Rockingham county, Virginia, Mr. Cook was married September 10, 1857, to Miss Mary Chapman, who was also born in that state, and was a daughter of James L. Chapman. Soon after their marriage they removed to Indiana, where they spent about a year, while Mr. Cook served as assistant postmaster at Dalesville, and at the end of that time returned to the Old Dominion. In the spring of 1859 he came with his father-in-law to Clinton county, Iowa, and for three or four years worked on the Chapman farm in Orange township. He then purchased forty acres of land where he now resides, on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He had built a house on his father-in-law’s place, and this he removed to his own farm, making it his home for several years. He has since enlarged and improved his residence and has added to his farm until he now has one hundred and ninety acres, which he has placed under excellent cultivation. He also owns a twenty-three acre tract of timber land. He has given considerable attention to the raising of a high grade of stock, and is accounted one of the most successful agriculturists of his community. His prosperity has been worthily achieved, as it is due entirely to his own labor, economy and perseverance.

Mr. Cook has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died July 30, 1900, and was laid to rest in the Smith cemetery in Orange township. Unto them were born eleven children, as follows: James S., a resident of Grand Mound; Nettie, who died at the age of twenty years; Lottie, wife of Aden J. Horr, of Tacoma, Washington; Jackson B., who is now carrying on the home farm; Berryman D., who died in Tacoma, Washington, in August, 1888, at the age of twenty-three years; Margaret V., deceased wife of Robert Allison; Fannie, wife of David Allison, of Oregon; William E., who assists in the operation of the home farm; and Stella May, Grace M. and Perry V., all at home.

On national issues Mr. Cook has always voted the Democratic ticket since casting his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce in 1852, but at local elections he votes independent of party lines, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He served some years as school director, and also filled the office of supervisor of highways, but has never cared for official honors. He is, however, a public-spirited and progressive citizen, and does all in his power to advance the interests of his community along various lines.