Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cook, George B 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 4, 2007, 8:57 pm

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County 

GEORGE B. COOK. A resident of this county for many years before his death, Mr. 
Cook became well known among the people of this part of the state, and his 
manly qualities made him popular with all classes. Industrious, persevering 
and energetic, he was eminently worthy of large financial success; but 
unfortunate enterprises deprived him of much of his capital, and this, 
combined with his generosity, which was a dominant trait in his character, 
prevented him from becoming the possessor of a fortune. However, he won that 
which is of more value than money—the respect of his associates, the regard of 
his acquaintances and the affection of his friends, and it is doubtless true 
that few men have been more deeply mourned at death than was he.

A son of Lewis and Mary (Hartwick) Cook, the subject of this article was born 
in Watertown, N. Y., in August, 1840, and was one of a family of five sons and 
two daughters, of whom only two sons survive. When he was a boy his father 
brought the family to Illinois, settling in Cook County, where he died. The 
wife and mother died in Lockport in 1891. On coming to this county in early 
manhood, our subject for some years was employed in the office of the canal 
commissioner at Lockport, after which he was lockkeeper and then a clerk in a 
dry-goods store in Lockport. From there he went to Channahon as lock-keeper. 
Two years later he accepted a position as superintendent in the widening of 
the feeder near Wilmington, a work that required several years in its 
completion. Next he became a member of the firm of Cook & Fowler, merchants at 
Shermanville, this county, but after a few years returned to Chicago and 
clerked there for some time. In 1885 he returned to this county, accepting a 
position as clerk for Mr. Dyer in Joliet, later clerking for Neighbor & 
Nicholas, and afterward engaging in the dry goods business on Washington  
street, thence moving to Jefferson street.  On selling out he took a clerkship 
with the Joliet Dry-Goods Company and continued in charge of their dry-goods 
department until his death.

Politically Mr. Cook believed in the wisdom of Republican principles and gave 
his vote to that party. Though not a member of any denomination he was a man 
of firm religious belief and lived the life of a Christian. For some time he 
held membership in Matteson Lodge No. 175, A. F. & A. M. ,in which he was past 
master. He also was a member of Joliet Chapter, R. A. M., and Joliet 
Commandery No. 4, K. T. On the 6th day of June, 1897, while out riding upon 
his wheel, he suddenly fell from the bicycle and in a moment was dead, the 
victim of heart disease. His sudden death was a shock to his friends and a 
source of deepest sorrow to his family.

March 25, 1860, in Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Cook married Miss Eliza Killeen, who 
was born near Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of a family of five sons and four 
daughters, of whom one son and three daughters are now living, the son, John, 
being a prominent citizen of New Liberty, Iowa. When a child she was brought 
to America by her mother and later received her education in a convent in 
Louisville, Ky. Her father, Theodore Killeen, a native of Ireland, engaged in 
the mercantile business there until his death. Her mother, Ann, was born in 
England, being the daughter of Frederick Potts, an officer in the English 
army. After the death of her husband she brought the family to the United 
States and settled in Providence, R. I. Her death occurred in Davenport, Iowa, 
in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Cook became the parents of two sons, James and George, 
both of whom make their home in Joliet, but are traveling much of the time as 
advance agents for Ringling Brothers' circus.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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