Wookey, Thomas & Alma (Snook)

WOOKEY, SNOOK, SALTER DAY

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/12/2019 at 05:44:56

BIOGRAPHY ~ THE THOMAS and ALMA WOOKEY FAMILY

Reflections of Grand River, Iowa: 1881 - 1981
Clarke Pub. Co. p. 315. Osceola IA. 1981.

Thomas A. Wookey was the son of Adrian Percival and Jane Salter Wookey. He was born in Somersetshire, England on March 12, 1869. At the age of 12, he along with his parents and three brothers and three sisters left the old country with plans to settle in the United States.

They came by boat across the ocean which took them many long days. Some friends of theirs by the name of Bill Day and his wife also from England, had come over earlier and settled on a farm southeast of Grand River.

As they had no children, it was decided that Tommy would live with them as their son and work for them.

Being unable to find what they wanted, the rest of the family went on west and settled in and around Red Oak, Iowa. His parents, brothers, and sisters are all deceased and are buried in a Red Oak Cemetery.

Tommy was married to Alma Snook on Dec. 25, 1906 at her parents home north of Grand River.

The Day's bought a home in Leon, leaving Tommy to live on the farm and manage it.

Aside from farming the place, Tommy raised white-face cattle and hogs. The crops were all put in with pull type machinery and horses.

On Oct. 24, 1909 Tommy and Alma had one son; William Day. He was named after the family that had raised Tommy.

Tommy attended school at the old Diamond brick school house, located across the field from where he lived. Later a new school house was built a little further north from the old one. It is also called the Diamond and still stands. It is being used as a community building.

Thomas and his wife Alma were members of the Maple Grove Methodist Church. They attended regularly until the church was torn down and moved elsewhere. When possible they attended the Grand River Methodist Church.

Alma passed away March 16, 1957 and Thomas died July 12, 1959.

NOTE: Thomas and Alma were interred at Grand River Cemetery.

Note courtesy of Sharon R. Becker

Copied from "Reflections of Grand River, Ia. 1881-198" by Stacey McDowell Dietiker