Aaron W. Cook

COOK, HURSHER, MOORE, LEGGETT

Posted By: C Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/17/2007 at 18:14:50

Aaron W. Cook, deceased, the first settler in Monona County, was born in Otsego County, N.Y., September 25, 1807. His father was a farmer and ran a sugar bush at the foot of the Allegany mountains in that portion of the “Empire State.” In his youth Aaron received a good education, and early in life learned the trade of a miller and millwright. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, where he found employment at his trade, and eight years later was engaged in running the engine in a paper mill at that place. While there thus employed, he married Miss Martha Hursher, in about the year, 1832, and she became the mother of four children: Barbara Ann, James, Joseph and Jacob. When the last named was about two or three months old, about the year 1842, Mrs. Cook died, and some two years subsequent, Aaron Cook was again married, the lady on this occasion being Mrs. Louisa Leggett, the wedding taking place near Deleware. By this union were born two children: Sarah Jane and Mary Ellen. In the fall of 1847 Mrs. Cook was also called away by death. The same season Mr. Cook came to Iowa stopping for a time in Council Bluffs, but spent the following winter at what is now Florence, Neb. The “Winter Quarters.” In the fall of 1848, he located at Council Bluffs, where the following fall he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Moore, who became the mother of three children: Elmira, David, Elizabeth. She is still living, making her residence with her son-in-law, John Jones in Colorado.
In September, 1851, in company with his son James and Josiah Sumner, Mr. Cook made a trip to this county is search of bee trees, and seeing the advantages of the country, they returned here the last of October of the same year with their families, and made a permanent settlement as already detailed in these pages. He made his home in this county from that time until January 1, 1856, when he succumbed to an attack of liver complaint—and passed to his rest beyond the grave. His sons, James and David, are still residents of the county.

Source: History of Monona County Iowa
Chicago National Pub Co 1890