Willis C. Cook Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1002-1005 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				WILLIS C. COOK. 

	Willis C. Cook in various ways has left and is leaving the 
impress of his individuality upon the history of the state. He has been 
identified with law practice, with newspaper publication and with 
various official duties and is a recognized leader in the ranks of the 
republican party of the state. He was born October 5, 1874, at Gratiot, 
Lafayette county, Wisconsin, a son of Alfred and Sarah (Cole) Cook. In 
the paternal line he is descended from English ancestry. William Cook, 
who was born in England and was educated at Eton College, came to the 
United States in 1838 and settled in Pennsylvania, whence he went to 
Wisconsin. He had married in England and of his children, Alfred 
married Sarah Cole, a daughter of Samual and Jane (Connery) Cole, the 
former a son of Samual Cole, Sr., who was a minuteman at the battle of 
Lexington. The Cole family came to America early in the seventeenth 
century, settling first in Massachusetts, while later generations of 
the family went to Vermont. The death of Alfred occurred in 1905, while 
his wife, who still survives, is now living in Sioux Falls. They were 
the parents of but two children and the daughter is now deceased. 

	The son, Willis C. Cook, acquired a public-school education in 
Wisconsin and afterward attended the Wisconsin State University, from 
which he was graduated in 1895 with the LL. B. degree. He then entered 
upon the practice of law, remaining in Wisconsin until 1899 when he 
came to South Dakota, settling first at Plankinton, where he practiced 
his profession until 1908, in which year he removed to Sioux Falls In 
1907 he became associated with C. L. Dotson in the ownership of the 
Sioux Falls Daily Press, with which paper he was connected until 1910, 
when he sold his interest therein. At different times he has been 
connected with public office. In 1901 he was elected county judge of 
Aurora county and served upon the bench for two years. In 1905 he was 
elected state senator for a two years, term and discharged his duties 
so creditably that he was reelected for a second term. He was one of 
the leaders of the senate and was connected with much important 
constructive legislation and his influence was always on the side of 
advancement, progress and improvement In 1906 he was chosen chairman of 
the republican state central committee of South Dakota and was 
reelected to that position in 1908 and again in 1910. In the latter 
year he was appointed by President Taft collector of internal revenue 
for the district comprising North and South Dakota, and, making his 
headquarters at Aberdeen, he continued in that position until 1913. 

	In Chicago, in 1899, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
Butler Miller, by whom he has one son, Alfred Leaming. Mr. Cook holds 
membership in the Minnehaha Country Club, the Dacotah Club and the Sons 
of the American Revolution. He is always interested in those public 
questions which are, to the man of affairs, of deepest significance and 
value and at all times he keeps abreast with modern progress and 
improvement.