JOHN COOK

COOK, KOCH

Posted By: Joni Hindman (email)
Date: 9/7/2009 at 12:26:52

JOHN COOK, deceased; son of Michael Koch (Koch, in German, is literally Cook in English, hence the change in name), and grandson of Johann Koch, who emigrated from Germany in Revolutionary times; was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and moved with his father's family in 1811 to Columbiana county, Ohio. In 1851 he came to Iowa with his family, and settled in section 18, what is now Oxford township. He had visited Iowa in 1849-50, and purchased a large tract of land of about 1600 acres. His religious ideas were obtained by association with the Quakers, and inclined to the faith of that sect. In politics he was democratic, having began to take up interest in politics in 1828, during the famous Jackson campaign. Up to that time he was only able to read German. Political affairs gave him a desire to read for himself, and he learned to read and write English. For several years he filled a number of township offices with credit, and was county supervisor in 1863-64. He died in 1873, leaving an estate of $20,000. Source: History of Johnson County Iowa 1836-1882, p801.