The following sketch of a distinguished pioneer citizen of Davenport appeared in a “History of Scott County,” published in 1882:
Hon. John P. Cook died at his residence in Davenport, on the corner of Sixth and Main streets, at five o'clock on the afternoon of April 17, 1872. He was a native of the State of New York, having been born in Whitestown, Oneida County, in August, 1817. At the age of nineteen he came to this place with his father, and with him settled on the “Cook farm,” at the present western boundary of this city. Remaining there for a year or two, he then prepared himself for the practice of law in the office of his brother, Ebenezer Cook, in this place; removed to Tipton, in Cedar County, and in the year 1842 was admitted to the bar. He married, in 1842, Miss Eliza A. Rowe, of Pleasant Valley, in this County. In 1851 he removed from Tipton to this city, which was his home to the day of his death. Subsequent to his settling here he was elected to the House of Repre sentatives of the United States, and served his country well and faithfully in the Thirty-third Congress. On the breaking up of the Whig party he affiliated with the Democratic party, the principles of which he labored earnestly to sustain and promulgate, even to the end of his days. His life was one of great energy and industry. He was by natural instinct a true western man — a wide-awake, thoroughly active pioneer who never saw the time when he could lay aside the business harness, and to all appearance never wanted to . As a lawyer he had few superiors; was always ready, fluent, and an able advocate, and with these qualities were combined energy, tact and industry; and for years past, and up to the day of his demise, no law firm in the Northwest has stood in better repute than that broken by his death.
It was but a few months before that the death of his brother, the Hon. Ebenezer Cook, took place. To him was the subject of this notice most devotedly attached. They had been together almost constantly from boyhood; all their business plans were conned over together, neither ever taking an important step without consulting with, and probably in some way deferring to, the other. His illness was of long duration, but he bore up to the last with the courage of a brave soul.
He was one of the founders of the Scott County Pioneer Settlers' Association, and always took the greatest interest in its gathering. No old settler was more missed in their annual social gathering than he. He was fifty-five years old at the time of his death.
BIOGRAPHIES