Bartholomew-Jennings County IN Archives Biographies.....Cook, Eli 1832 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2007, 9:19 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) ELI COOK. For fifteen years Eli Cook has resided on the farm in Sand Creek township which is now his home and has made of it an excellent property, well improved and supplied with all equipments and conveniences as are found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. Born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1832, he is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Apple) Cook. The father was born in 1801, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Christ Cook, long a resident of the Keystone state, served as one of the heroes of the war for independence and lived to enjoy the freedom of the country for many years after the close of hostilities. John Cook, father of Henry, continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1821, when he removed to Montgomery county, Ohio. There he entered land from the government with the intention of developing a farm and making a home for his family there. As there was no house or improvements of any kind upon the place the family lived in the wagon in which they made the journey westward until a cabin could be built. Mr. Cook began to clear the land and was killed by a log falling upon him. The mother then reared her family and under her supervision the farm was developed and crops were raised. Henry Cook remained with his mother until twenty-five years of age and assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. He married Miss Elizabeth Apple and then began farming on his own account. His wife was also a native of Pennsylvania, whence she had come with her parents to Ohio. Henry Cook had preempted a farm for himself and at the time of his marriage he began to clear it and make it ready for the plow. The Indians still lived in the neighborhood at that time and the Cook family frequently saw them as they traveled through the forest in search of game. Pioneer conditions existed on every hand. The homes were mostly built of logs and all around stood the primeval forest, giving shelter to wild animals and wild men. As time progressed, however, all the comforts and conveniences of an older civilization were introduced, and the Cook farm became a valuable property, which the father continued to occupy and cultivate up to the time of his death, respected by all. He was an ardent Democrat, deeply interested in the party and its success. He passed away at the age of forty-six years, and his wife survived him for about six years, being at the same age at the time of her death. They were the parents of nine children, of whom eight are still living: Sarah, the wife of Michael Day, a resident of Jackson county, Indiana; Eli; Daniel, a machinist living in Illinois; Henry, a carpenter, of Columbus, Ohio; Mike, who lives in Ross county, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of Louis Beber, a farmer of Illinois; David, who carries on agricultural pursuits in this state; Mary, the wife of Harrison Evans, a resident of Montgomery county, Ohio; and John, deceased. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Mr. Cook in his boyhood days. He spent his youth on his father's farm and when not engaged with the studies of the district school he assisted in the work of the farm, early gaining practical experience concerning the best methods of planting the fields and raising profitable crops. He obtained a fair education for that day and afterward earned his own livelihood by working as a farm hand by the month. He thus gained his start in life and was employed in this manner until twenty-five years of age. In 1857 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cook and Miss Elizabeth Bybee, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Sarah (Walker) Bybee. The wedding occurred in Fayette county, Ohio, and they began their domestic life upon rented land, for Mr. Cook was then in limited financial circumstances. He afterward became the owner of a tract of forty acres in. Hardin county, Ohio, where he lived until 1875, when he came to Indiana, settling in Jennings county. There he remained until March, 1888, when he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, two and one-half miles east of Azalia. His farm work has been followed by excellent results and his property is now well improved and valuable. He has good buildings upon his place and his work is of such a practical nature that he annually harvests good crops, and finds for them a ready sale upon the market. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Cook has been blessed with six children, four daughters and two sons, as follows: Eliza, the wife of Mike McKinsey; Laura B., deceased; Charles married Laura Waits and lives in Elizabeth town; William, who wedded Alice Akins, is a farmer; Delia and Lula are yet under the parental roof., the former being a dressmaker working at Indianapolis. In his political affiliations Mr. Cook follows in the footsteps of his father, giving an earnest support to the principles of the Democratic party, which his mature judgment sanctions. He is interested in its success, yet has never been an aspirant for office. In his business career he has continually progressed through the improvement of his opportunities and through unfaltering diligence and today stands oh the plane of affluence among the substantial farmers of his adopted county. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/cook788gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb