Cool, Peter J.

COOL, KLINE, CRPENTER, STONE, SCOTT, THOMPSON, STEVENS, FERGUSON, ALLEN, GOODWIN, CURYEA, GALLAGER, DODD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 09:27:18

Cool, Peter J.

The gentleman to a review of whose honorable career we now call the attention of the reader is one of the representative citizens of Independence Township, one of Baxter's substantial men, having maintained his home in this locality for a period of fifty-eight years or practically all his life, consequently he has been a witness of the wonderful growth of the same from the wild plains, having come here with his parents when the period of wolves and Indians was still on. He has worked hard and his efforts have been rewarded with a large measure of success all along the line.

Peter J. Cool was born in Freeport, Illinois, July 1, 1852, the son of John and Catherine Ann Elizabeth (Kline) Cool, the father born in New Jersey and the mother in Maryland. They grew up in the East and were married there, and after living for some time in Illinois, came to Jasper County, Iowa, in October 1853, locating in Clear Creek Township, spending the rest of their lives on a farm here, both being now deceased. They were the parents of two children, William H., born January 6, 1850, died at Mt. Pleasant in 1886; and Peter J., of this sketch.

Peter J. Cool grew up on his father's farm and assisted with the general work during his boyhood, attending the pioneer schools in the wintertime. He has met with success in a business way and has secured a competency, and today he is the owner of a number of valuable and desirable residence properties in Baxter besides two hundred and twenty-six acres of good land in North Dakota. At present he represents two fire and lightning insurance companies, the Iowa State, of Keokuk, and the Fidelity Phoenix, of Brooklyn, New York. For thirty-five years he followed carpentering.

Mr. Cool was married on March 27, 1878, to Lusina B. Stone, who was born in Wisconsin, on June 16, 1860, the daughter of R. N. and Emma (Carpenter) Stone, the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio. They came to Iowa in an early day and both died in Maxwell, having attained an advanced age, and they passed from earthly scenes only a few hours apart, being buried in one grave at Collins, their funerals having been held at the same time. Mrs. Cool has two half-sisters, Mrs. Emma Scott and Mrs. Alice J. Kline. The eldest of the second family was Mrs. Cool, of this sketch; Lysander died in infancy; Mrs. Nettie E. Thompson; Charles is deceased; Mrs. Catherine Stevens; Mrs. Audra Ferguson, deceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cool have been born six children, all living, named as follows: Mrs. Agnes Workman, born December 15, 1878, is residing in Baxter; Mrs. Leola Allen, born August 2, 1880, is living near Baxter; Mrs. Jennie Goodwin, born January 27, 1882, is living in Independence Township, this county; Mrs. Winnifred Curyea, born December 16, 1883, lives at Parker, South Dakota; Mrs. Alphonse Gallager, born August 2, 1887, lives at home; Mrs. Ethel Dodd, born November 30, 1891, is living in Eden Township, Marshall County. These children were all born and reared in Jasper County.

Politically, Mr. Cool is a Democrat, and he has been active in local affairs, and has been signally honored by his fellow men. He has been treasurer of the independent school district of Baxter for twelve years; he has been Township clerk for six years, also constable for six years, and he was marshal of Baxter for four years. Fraternally, he is a member of Unit Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Baxter, and he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias. He and four of his daughters belong to the Pythian Sisters of Baxter. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1215