Henry Cook's biography, Homer Township, Calhoun County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Pat Nowicki. This copy contributed for use in 
the MIGenWeb Archives.  

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Henry Cook
 1788-1874

Henry Cook was born in Palestine, Montgomery county, N.Y., Feb 17, 1788.
Upon reaching his majority he worked for a time for his father, by the
month, and later removed to Onieda county, where, on August 7th, 1814, he
was married to Miss Maria Mumbrue, who died in Eckford, this State, June 15,
1871.  The family came to Michigan in 1831 and settled in Saline, Washtenaw
county, and the following spring came to Eckford, as has been stated in
chapter IV.  Mr. Cook was what might be termed a public spirited man, and
was of a kind and generous disposition.  In church matters he was an earnest
christian and a liberal giver.  He and Mrs. Cook were among the members who
organized the Congregational church on the Plains, in 1834, which church was
merged into the Presbyterian church, of this village, which was organized in
1838 at which time he was elected deacon, and continuously occupied some
official position in said church up to the time of his death, which occurred
September 14, 1874.  He was a large owner of real estate, at one time his
lands consisting of 1,200 acres.  He acquired a handsome property and at the
time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in this section.  His
homestead, which is now owned by his youngest son, Theodore, is one of the
finest farms in Southern Michigan.  Mr. Cook was the father of twelve
chldren: John, born March 15, 1815, was never married and resides at the old
homestead in Eckford; Sylvanus, born Oct. 25, 1816, married Lucy Oliver;
William, born May 3, 1818, married Louise Cook; James Henry, born Jan. 26,
1820, married Lucinda Prior, who died in an early day, his second wife being
Aurelia Osborn, reside in this village; Elizabeth, born Nov. 22, 1820, died
Feb 17, 1862, being the wife of James M. Eamans, of Benton Harbor; Jane,
born Oct. 29, 1823, died Oct. 22, 1830; Stephen, born Dec. 6, 1825, married
Mary Sheldon, resides at Benton Harbor; Christina, born Nov. 22, 1827, died
Oct. 26, 1854, being the wife of Ozro Buckingham; Rachael, born June 29,
1830, now Mrs. John Powers, south of this village; Daniel, born Feb 12,
1833, married Mary Bryant and lives at Riverside; Ester, born March 15,
1835, widow of the late George Mitchell, Charles City, Iowa; and Theodore,
born March 8, 1839, married Julia Hafer, and resides on the old farm in Eckford.

Homer and It's Pioneers - 1888