Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....Kooker, T. Hurd June 19, 1871 - 
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Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 September 2, 2015, 10:53 pm

Source: Vol. II  pg.63  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present 

        T. HURD KOOKER, who is successfully established in the practice of his
profession, that of civil engineer, is a member of the representative
Jacksonville engineering firm of Ellis, Curtis and Kooker, with offices in the
Realty Building.
	Mr. Kooker is a native of the old Keystone State and a representative
of families there founded in an early day. He was born at Norristown,
Pennsylvania, June 19, 1871, and is a son of JOHN H. and SARAH ELIZABETH
(JONES) KOOKER, the former of whom was born in Bucks County, that state, July
3, 1844, and the latter of whom was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
July 7, 1848. The marriage of the parents was solemnized at Norristown November
18, 1869, and they became the parents of three sons and three daughters, all
but one of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the
number. JOHN H. KOOKER became a successful contractor and builder, and
continued his operations in Pennsylvania until 1882, when he came with his
family to Jacksonville, Florida, where he became a leading contractor and
builder and erected many buildings of major importance, including the first
Hubbard Block, at the corner of Main and Forsythe streets, and the Snyder
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He had supervision of the Livingston Fund
that was utilized in building the churches in various parts of Florida. He was
a vital member of the Sons of Temperance, was a prohibitionist in politics, and
he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Kooker
passed to the life eternal on the 22nd of August, 1888, and her husband long
survived her, his death having occurred October 10, 1917.
	In the public schools of Pennsylvania T. HURD KOOKER gained his 
rudimentary education, and he was eleven years old at the time of the family 
removal to Jacksonville, where he continued his studies in the public schools 
until initiated his association with business affairs by becoming a clerk in a 
book store. He continued his clerical services until the spring of 1906, when 
he entered the civil engineering department of the Chicago & Great Western 
Railroad, with which he served as chainman in surveying operations in Illinois 
and Iowa and in which connection he gained technical knowledge and practical 
experience that led to his advancement to the position of transitman. He 
continued in the service until 1908, when he returned to Jacksonville and
became associated with the civil engineering business conducted by ROLAND
WOODWARD. On the 1st of January of the following year he formed a partnership
with R. N. ELLIS, Jr., and ERNEST W. CURTIS, and they took over the business of
Mr. Woodward, which they have since successfully conducted under the firm title
of Ellis, Curtis & Kooker.
	Mr. Kooker is affiliated with Solomon Lodge No. 20, A. F. and A. M.;
Jacksonville Chapter No. 12, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery No. 2, Knights
Templars; Florida Consistory No. 2, Morocco Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; and his
Masonic affiliations are further extended to include membership in Jacksonville
Chapter No. 15, Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is past worthy patron.
The maiden name of his wife was LILLIAN MAY KOOKER, and she was born in the
State of New York.


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