Cook, H. C.

COOK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 16:14:31

H. C. Cook

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.652)
H. C. COOK. F. M. Ellis & Co., architects, rooms 243, 244 and 245 Merriam building, Council Bluffs, and the main office in the Bee Building, Omaha, is a company formed December 1889 and consisting of F. M. ELLIS, H. C. COOK, and J. H. KENT. The office in Council Bluffs is under the supervision of H. C. COOK. Some of the principal buildings of Omaha and other cities have been erected by this firm, such as the Commercial National Bank, residence of H. W. YATES, Alfred MILLARD, Hon. H. C. CLARK's building of Omaha, and the First Presbyterian Church of Council Bluffs; also the State Insane Asylum of New York, Nebraska, the McDonough County (Illinois) Asylum, the courthouse at Lincoln, Nebraska, the Wesleyan University at Bartley, Nebraska, Grand Opera House at Peoria, Illinois, opera house at Huron, Dakota, Opera House and Masonic Temple at Oskaloosa, Iowa, hotel at Waterloo, Iowa, and numerous other fine buildings at different points of the west and central states.

Mr. COOK came to Council Bluffs in December 1889, where the branch office was formed. Previous to his coming to Council Bluffs, he was located in Omaha, Nebraska, where he had been five years. He was a student of H. P. SEDDING of London, England, in architectural work. He also traveled through Italy and France, in the pursuit of his studies, after which he returned to London, England, where he remained but a short time. In 1875 he came to America, locating at Boston, Massachusetts, where he was engaged at his trade, and in 1884 he removed to Kansas City, where he spent one year. In 1885 he came to Omaha, Nebraska. His entire life has been devoted to his business, having entered the study of architecture at the age of fifteen.

He is native of Boston, Massachusetts, born in 1851, the son of Edward and Mary (HOWARD) COOK, of English ancestry. He was married in November 1874 to Miss Elizabeth FOUNTON, daughter of Joseph FOUNTON, a native of France. They are the parents of five children: Edward, William, Mary, John, Frank, all at home. Mr. COOK is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen and the A.F.&A.M. The family are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. COOK being President of the M.M.A., a society of the same church, and is one of the rising businessmen of the city of Council Bluffs.