Biographical Sketch of Edward P. Cook, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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Edward P. Cook, farmer of Gasconade township, was born in Montgomery
county, Mo., March 1, 1823, and is a son of Joel B. and Margaret (Mow-
ser) Cook, who were born in New York and Tennessee, April 17, 1800 and
in 1808, respectively.  Joel B. Cook is a son of John Cook, who was 
born in New York, September 7, 1761, and came to Missouri with his 
family when his son Joel was a young man, locating in Montgomery county
where he was engaged in blacksmithing, gunsmithing, carpentering and 
mill wrighting until his death in April, 1845, about four miles below
Chamois, in Missouri Bottom, Osage county.  Joel B. Cook resided in
Osage county, Mo., until 1846, when he located in Pulaski county, and
lived until his death, November 25, 1887, being engaged in milling and
farming the latter part of his life.  His wife died October 29, 1886, 
having been an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church.
Eleven of their twelve children lived to be grown, and nine are living
at the present time: Edward P., John T., Caroline (deceased), Mary,
James (deceased), Sarah, George, Nathaniel G., Welton, William J.,
Lydia A., and Martha (deceased).  Edward P. Cook attained his majority
in Osage and Montgomery counties, and in 1849 began selling goods in
Waynesville, Pulaski county, but in the spring of the following year
took the overland trip to California, where he remained nearly three
years, and then returned home via New York City.  His return was one
accompanied by serious hardship.  Associated with his uncle, Lorenz D.
Cook, passage was taken on an old steam wheeler to San Francisco, and
thence to the mouth of the San Joaquin River.  About a mile up the 
river near midnight on the night of May 28, 1853, owing to the reported
intention of the crew to murder them, Mr. Cook and his uncle undertook
a swim ashore, first casting a few sticks of cordwood in the water to
assist in their escape.  In this effort L. D. Cook was drowned, our 
subject finally reaching land, and coming upon a temporary habitation
where help was accorded him.  A two day effort was made in dragging the
river for the body of the unfortunate man, but without success.  Sub-
sequently Mr. Cook went to San Francisco, thence to Panama and New
York, reaching home in Pulaski county, Mo., about August 1, 1853.  He
taught school in Pulaski county during the winter following his return,
and the next year was married, and commenced farming in Laclede county, 
on the Osage Fork of the Gasconade River, but since 1857 has been a
resident of his present farm.  He served in the Missouri State Militia
during the latter part of the war.  In 1856 he was elected assessor of
Laclede county, which position he held by re-election for six years.
He was first married to Mary J. Honsinger, who was born in Laclede 
county, January 16, 1829 and died November 10, 1857, having became the
mother of the following children: Margaret and William (twins), Joel B.
and John E.  All died in childhood except Joel, whose death occurred at
the age of eighteen years.  Sarah M. Maxey became Mr. Cook's second
wife.  She was born in Tennessee December 5, 1829, and died November
12, 1884, having borne the following children: Mary, Laura, Angeline,
Lucy and an infant (deceased).  The eldest daughter is the wife of
Riley Bench, and Laura is the wife of Oscar Jackson.  The latter re-
sides on the home farm with her father.  Mr. Cook is also a member of 
the Christian church, and belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the Agricul-
tural Wheel.  He is a member of the Union Labor party, and has held a
number of offices in his township.

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