FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - BIO: KOOKEN, James (published 1880) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by LeaAnn Rich leaann1@bellsouth.net February 9, 1999 *************************************************************************** History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio Pub by Williams Bros., 1880 JAMES KOOKEN James Kooken, second son of Capt. James and Mrs. Gertrude Kooken, natives of this country, but of German stock, was born in Western New York November 9, 1809. His father was a surveyor, and for many years followed his calling in the then new counties of the Empire State, and in 1811 determined to try his fortune further toward the setting sun. He reached the infant settlement at Franklinton, opposite the subsequent site of Columbus, the same year, where he engaged in his profession, as he found opportunity, for several years. In 1815 the first State penitentiary building at Columbus which had been commenced two years previous, was finished and occupied and Captain Kooken was appointed its first warden. He died in Columbus while his son, James, was still quite young. the lad received the elements of education in the public schools of the city, and in 1826 entered, as a clerk, the store of Messrs. Stewart and Brotherton, on High street, the senior of which firm, Mr. Francis Stewart, was father of the lady destined to become, many years afterwards his second wife. In 1835 he became a book-keeper in the Clinton bank, conducted by Mr. David W. Deshler upon the site now occupied, in part, by the bank managed by his heirs, on the corner of State and High streets. In 1841 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Work, of Columbus, sister of J.C. and Frank Work, two old and prominent citizens of that place. He had no children by this or the subsequent union. He was, at that time, engaged for himself in the dry goods business at Groveport (formerly known variously as Rareysport and Works Grove), in Franklin County, to which place he had gone in 1838. Two years after marriage, his wife's health failed. They came back to Columbus, where he entered the dry goods establishment of Messrs. McCoy, Work, and McCoy, the second member of which was his brother-in-law. He lost his first wife by death in 1847, and the next year removed to New York, to take a partnership in a silk house, in which another brother-in-law, Mr. Frank Work, was a partner. In this he remained for more than twenty years, when in 1869, his property having been sacrificed through unfortunate outside investments, he again turned his face westward, and settled this time at Logansport, Indiana, where he was appointed treasurer of the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western railroad, subsequently accepting a similar position upon the Chicago division of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis road. While occupying the latter post, MArch 8, 1871, he was remarried, this time being joined in matrimony to Mrs. Ruth A. (Stewart) Knox, of Columbus, whose first husband forms the subject of another sketch in this volume. His health failing shortly after, he resigned his place, and removed in May of the same year back to Columbus, where his reclining years were spent in peace and comfort, and in enjoyment of the universal respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He died in that city on the seventeenth of August, 1872, lamented by a large circle of relatives and a host of friends. He was not, in any sense, a noisy or obtrusive citizen, but his sterling qualities of character and kindness of heart greatly endeared him to all who knew him well. He was eminently a quiet, domestic man, and in his private and family life, as in his business, he was ever irreproachable. It cannot always be noted of a step-father, as of him, that the children of his second wife became as much attached to him as they had been to their own father. He had excellent business abilities for the places he occupied in his later life, but freely confessed that he had not the enterprise necessary for large and independent transactions. He was, however, nevertheless a most estimable citizen, and his memory will long be held in honor by the multitude whom he numbered among his friends. ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====