BIO: Ben COOK, Beaver County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
  
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  Index for this bio book.
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 363-364.
  _________________________________________________________________ 
  
  BEN COOK, stock raiser and general farmer, of Darlington township, Beaver
  county, Pa., has traveled a good deal throughout the country. On account of
  ill health he was obliged to give up school, but received a fair degree of
  instruction in the public schools of Beaver county. He subsequently learned
  farming. He wanted to see something of the world, and while still a young man
  went west. He traveled through all the western states and was interested in
  various occupations. He remained in the West until 1889, and then returned to
  Beaver county, where he purchased his present farm. This farm contains one
  hundred and fourteen acres, and is almost entirely cleared. A fine brick
  house is standing upon it and it is considered one of the best country homes
  in the district. A large, three-story bank barn, built by the subject hereof,
  also ornaments the place and adds to the comfort of the stock, which is Mr.
  Cook's "hobby." The gentleman of whom this narrative treats led to the altar
  Julia Morton, a favorite daughter of Dr. Woodson Morton. She was born, reared
  and educated in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have four children, namely: May,
  Howard, Carrie and George. All are regular attendants at the Presbyterian
  church.
  
  Mr. Cook is a hard worker in the cause of the Republican party, but never
  accepted office. He was born in Darlington, Pa., March 21, 1855, is a son of
  A. J. and Margaret (Robinson) Cook, and grandson of Benjamin R. and Susannah
  (Johnston) Cook. Benjamin R. Cook was a native of Chambersburg, Pa., and went
  to Western Pennsylvania in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was a
  carpenter by trade and followed that occupation for many years. Later he
  engaged in mercantile pursuits in Darlington. He was one of the first three
  merchants of that place. The others were Andrew Leach and David Gilliland.
  After some years he sold his store and bought a farm east of the town. A few
  years further on he moved one mile west of
  
  364  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
  
  the present home of the subject hereof. There he purchased eighty acres of
  partly cleared land. An old cabin then on the land still exists. Here upon
  this farm Benjamin R. Cook remained until 1845. He then went south in quest
  of better health, but never found it, and died there April 6, 1845. He wedded
  Susannah Johnston, a native of Beaver county. She was a daughter of Andrew
  Johnston, a pioneer of prominence in this section of Pennsylvania. Six
  children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, viz: Mary; A. J., father of N. Ben;
  John; James; Martha A. (McClure); and Emeline. Mary, the eldest of these, was
  a college graduate and followed the profession of teaching for a number of
  years. She became one of the best educators in this country, and gained for
  herself a national reputation. Her sister Martha was also a successful
  teacher before her marriage.
  
  A. J. Cook was born at Darlington, Pa., October 1, 1821. After attending
  district school he finished his education at Darlington Academy. He then
  learned farming. Subsequently he purchased a half interest in a threshing
  machine. The other half was owned by John Davis. At a later period A. J. Cook
  sold his interest, and for a brief period resumed farming. He afterward bought
  a hotel in Darlington and followed the hotel business for seventeen years. On
  relinquishing this, he became the first permanent station agent of the Fort
  Wayne R. R. at New Galilee. He resigned that position, however, and opened
  another hotel, which he sold after awhile, and purchased an eighty-five acre
  farm, where his son, L. J., now lives. Mr. Cook continued to reside upon this
  farm for nine years, when he was deprived of his beloved wife by death. Since
  then he has rented his farm, and makes his home with the subject hereof. His
  wife was Margaret Robinson, a daughter of Andrew Robinson, of New Castle,
  Pa., where Margaret was born. This happy union was blessed with eight
  children: Andrew J.; Lucinda; William; L. J.; N. Ben, to whom these lines
  pertain; Amelia; Carolina; and Lizzie. The first two died in infancy. William
  Cook received his education at Darlington Academy, and taught school for some
  time afterward. He then studied medicine under Dr. Sherlock, and later under
  Dr. Clendenning, of Cincinnati. He practiced medicine at Freeport, Pa., but
  was cut off by death at the early age of thirty-five years. L. J. Cook is a
  farmer of prominence, and is also an agent for farm machinery. Caroline died
  aged thirteen, and Lizzie at the tender age of two years.