were born two children: Jesse B. (born in 1883) and Lessie May (born in 1884). In his political preferences he is a Republican, and his first presidential vote was for James G. Blaine. Mr. Confare is industrious and progressive, and is recognized as one of the enterprising young farmers of Nevada Township. Mrs. Confare is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
James W. Cook, farmer, Nevada, Iowa. Every community is bound to have among her citizens a few men of recognized influence and ability, who by their systematic and careful, thorough manner of work attain to a success which is justly deserved. Among this class is Mr. James W. Cook, a man esteemed to be a prominent and substantial, as well as progressive, farmer, of the township. He was born in Culpeper County, Va., on August 14, 1834, and, his parents, Wesley and Nancy (Edwards) Cook, were natives also of the Old Dominion. The father died in Ohio at the age of forty-five years, but the mother is still living, is a resident of the Buckeye State, and is about seventy-six years of age. They moved to Ohio about 1836. James W. Cook, the eldest of five children, was reared on the farm and began for himself by tilling the soil in Ohio, where he continued until 1859. In the fall of that year he came to Story County, settled in Nevada Township, and in the fall of 1866 removed to his present farm, three miles east of Nevada, where he owns 250 acres of land. He made his own way in life and the principal part of his property since the war. During that great struggle he served in Company A, Twelfth Iowa, from 1864 until the close of the war. Previous to this, in 1857, he was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah E. Barnes, whose birth occurred in Oneida County, N. Y., on April 2, 1836, and who is the daughter of Philip and Lutitia (Bailey) Barnes, both of whom died in the Buckeye State. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook: George P., John W., Nancy A., Mary M., James T. Lewis C. and Frederick. Mr. Cook is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the G. A. R., Woods Lodge No. 99, and he and wife are ' members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he first came to this State he rented land for seven years, but is now the owner of one of the best farms in the county.
John Cook, farmer and stock-raiser, Cambridge, Iowa, is justly conceded a place among the enterprising, influential men of worth in this community. Not only is he esteemed as one of the pioneers of the county, but is one of its pro gressive and substantial citizens. Born in Central New York on the 15th of August, 1835, he was the fourth of eight children—five sons and three daughters [see sketch of Charles Cook for further particulars of family]. The father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Ireland, and the former was a successful agriculturist. He died when about eighty-three and the mother when sixty-five years of age, and both are interred in Centre Grove Cemetery. John Cook's educational attainments were obtained in the old subscription schools, and in the common country schools of New York. He early had instilled into his youthful nature all the duties of farm life, and this calling has ever continued to be his chosen field of labor. He commenced for himself at the early age of fourteen years, and is to-day one of the most practical farmers in Union Township, whither he had moved from Lewis County, N. Y., in October, 1855. He chose as his companion in life Miss Lucy Sear, a native of Ohio, born July 19, 1843, and who received her education in the Clinton (Iowa) high schools. This marriage was consummated in Clinton, Iowa, on the 24th of February, 1866, and three children were born to them - all sons: