USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
In the district schools of Shiawassee town- ship, Charles B. Cook acquired a sound basis for his advanced course in the Michigan Agri- cultural College. From that institution he was graduated in 1888, becoming thereafter assistant instructor in the department of ento- mology. In this line of work and scientific in- vestigation, so important to the wellbeing and protection of the modern farmer, he spent two and one-half years.
Leaving a substantial and commendable col-
272
PAST AND PRESENT OF
lege career behind, Mr. Cook removed to New York, bought a fruit farm and continued as a horticulturist in that state for five years. He then returned to Shiawassee township, pur- chasing a half interest in the farm with which he is now identified. It is a fine tract of two hundred acres, of thoroughly improved land, with a large house and several barns.
Mr. Cook makes a specialty of raising White Leghorn fowls, of which he has a large flock, housed in immense and up-to-date build- ings. He has also a fine herd of Jersey cattle, most of them eligible for registration, al- though his policy is to raise them for individ- ual merit rather than for pedigree. The farm also has a fruit department of about forty acres, scientifically and successfully con- ducted.
Mr. Cook has been identified with the State Association of Farmers' Clubs since its incep- tion, and during the year 1905 was president of the association. His wife, an intelligent and cultured lady, has served the association as treasurer. Mr. Cook is also an enthusiastic member of the State Horticultural Society, having served on the board of directors for two years and being now vice-president of the so- ciety, serving his second term. He takes pride in the fact that he is also connected with the New York State Fruit Growers' Association, with which he has been identified for several years.
From the commencement of Institute work in Shiawassee county Mr. Cook has been an active worker, and his services as a speaker are often in demand. He has filled the offices of president and secretary of the local institute society and his name is seldom omitted from the programs. He is recognized as one of the most enthusiastic farmers' club workers in the county. The Maple River Club is proud to have Mr. and Mrs. Cook identified with its organization.
November 23, 1897, Charles B. Cook was united in marriage to Addie M. McGillvra. His wife is a daughter of Charles McGillvra, now living in Chicago, and of Adeline
(Payne) McGillvra, her mother having been born in Oakland county, March 17, 1847, and having died September 10, 1884. Her mater- nal grandfather, Jabez Payne, was born in Onondaga county, New York, September 18, 1809, and, at the age of ninety-five years is living with his granddaughter, Mrs. Cook, and her husband. He is a son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Payne, and in 1828, as a youth of nineteen years, he came to Michigan and lo- cated in Oakland county. For a time he fol- lowed his trade, that of a cooper, but after- wards bought land and became a general farm- er. In 1855 he removed to Bennington town- ship, residing there until the death of his wife. in 1884, when he went to live with his son Hobart, on the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Cook.
Jabez Payne was thrice married. By his first wife, Cynthia (Waugh) Payne he had four children, Norman, a resident of Owosso ; Cynthia, now Mrs. Cooper, of. Kansas City; William, and Martha. His second marriage was to Maude Howard, and the children re- sulting from this union were Adolphus, De Ett, Adeline (Mrs. Cook's mother) and Ho- bart; these children are all deceased. The third marriage, to Amanda Stockwell, was childless.
Mrs. Cook was one of five children, as fol- lows: Charles, an Owosso letter carrier; a child who died in infancy; the wife of our subject ; Percie, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Cook; and Jessie, who resides with her father in Chicago.
It will be readily seen that Mr. Cook is a scholar and knows how to make good use of his knowledge. Although a lifelong Republi- can, his time has been too fully occupied with? his studies and his practical activities to de- vote any part of it to politics. While at Lan- sing he was identified with the Presbyterian church, which he joined as a student, and he still considers himself in affiliation with that denomination. He is domestic in his tastes, being fond of his home, but has no children of his own.
213
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
JOHN Q. A. COOK
Antrim township has produced no more pa- triotic or worthy citizen than the gentleman whose name heads this page. He was born in that township November 4, 1842. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Dubois) Cook, na- tives of New York. Both died in Corunna. Michigan. The former was eighty and the latter about the same age at time of death. They were married in their native state and removed to Michigan in 1832, first locating in Lenawee county, where they lived for several years. They then removed to Antrim town- ship, Shiawassee county, being numbered among its first settlers. Peter Cook, Sr .. lo- cated three hundred and twenty acres of vir- gin land, built a log house and is said to liave turned the first furrow in that township. He was always engaged in farming until the last few years of his life, when he lived in Corun- na, making his home with his son Peter. In politics he was originally a Whig but later a Republican. For many years he held such offices as county commissioner, supervisor, township clerk and justice of the peace. Peter Cook taught school in Antrim township and also New York state. He was a well educated man for those days. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church.
Our subject's early education was received in a log school house with a bark roof, and fur- nished with hewed benches. He well remem- bers seeing snakes six and seven feet in length crawling through the floor into the. school room. At the age of seventeen he en- listed in Company H. Fifth Michigan Infan- try, August 9, 1861, at Owosso, under Cap- tain Louis B. Quackenbush. From there he went to Detroit and thence to Virginia with the regiment, which during its service had ou its rolls of muster 1,950 officers and men. Its losses were ten officers, one hundred and forty- one men killed in action ; six officers and sev- enty-five men died of wounds : three officers and one hundred and sixty-three men died of disease. Mr. Cook was in all the engagements
of the regiment for the first two years, when he was taken sick and discharged for disabil- ity. He then returned home and remained for five months, when he again enlisted .- this time in Company H. Tenth Michigan Cavalry. He he'd every office in the non-commissioned line and before leaving the state was made second lieutenant of his company, July 25. 1863. He resigned April 12, 1864, and after returning home attended the Corunna schools for two years. From there he went to Ann Arbor to prepare himself for college, but while in his junior year his health failed, obliging him to abandon his studies and return to farming. He then bought one hundred acres of land, part of his father's estate, although it had changed hands before his purchase.
December 11, 1869, he was united in mar- riage to Clara F. Pierce, a native of Washte- naw county, Michigan, where she was born in June, 1850. She was the daughter of Mowry A. and Frances ( Backus) Pierce. Mr. Pierce was for many years one of the most promin- ent citizens of Washtenaw county. At the time of the civil war he paid the heaviest rev- enue tax of any man in Washtenaw county. His father, Hon. Nathan Pierce, of Calhoun county, figures conspicuously as a politician in the earlier history of Michigan. He was repeatedly elected as a representative to the state legislature. and later was for several terms state senator. He lined up with Zach Chandler, the Howards, Cyrus G. Luce, and that class of politicians.
Mrs. Cook was one of a family of six chil- dren, five of whom are now living, as follows : Myron C., a resident of Washtenaw county ; Mrs. Cook : Augusta, wife of Peter Mulvaney, of Calhoun county : Helen M .. widow of George Farley of Washtenaw county : and Ed- ward. also a resident of Washtenaw county.
Mowry A. Pierce was born in the Empire state, April 4, 1818. He died in Washtenaw county, at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife was a native of Michigan and died at the early age of twenty-six years.
The parents of our subject had both been
274
PAST AND PRESENT OF
married before they were married to each other. The name of Mr. Cook's mother's first husband was Hood. Three children were the result of this union. George Hood is a resi- dent of Lansing, a teacher of many years' ex- perience, a graduate of the University of Michigan, and father of O. J. Hood, city at- torney of Lansing; Anna is Mrs. Carpenter, and resides in Detroit ; James is deceased. To our subject's father and first wife were born four children, of whom only one, Mary, is liv- ing, her home being in Minnesota. The others were Jabez, Harriet, and Ann. Jabez was a graduate of the medical department of the University of Michigan, and was a soldier in the Mexican war.
Our subject, and a brother, Peter N., were the only children born to his parents. Peter N. Cook is a practicing attorney and resides in Corunna.
Mr. Cook, since the purchase of the old home farm, has had a continuous residence thereon. A few years after coming into pos- session he built a fine residence and made oth- er needed improvements on the premises, later purchasing eighty acres more, about half of which he has improved. The farm is under a good state of cultivation and the buildings are attractive and commodious. In 1895 the house was destroyed by fire, with nearly all the con - tents, including books, records, and other val- uables, of which Mr. Cook had a good collec- tion. He immediately rebuilt on a larger and better plan than the first. The house is beau- tifully finished and is said to be altogether the finest structure in the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook have no children of their own, but a little girl was adopted when but a wee mite of eight pounds. Her name is Kit- tie. Her adoption has been a source of real comfort to Mr. and Mrs. Cook. She is now the wife of Duston Morrice, a prosperous farmer of, Perry township, and they have one son, Leon, aged eight years, who spends much of his time with his grandparents and is the light and joy of their home.
Mr. Cook takes pride in the fact that his
father, Peter Cook, did valiant service for his country in the war of 1812. In his later years, he was a government pensioner. His grand- father also served on the American side in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Cook has always taken an active interest in politics, being allied with the Republican party, the party with a history. A number of years ago he was ap- pointed one of the commissioners for the im- provement of the Looking Glass river, serving for two years. He has been supervisor of his township for eight or ten terms. At the time of Cleveland's first election he received the nomination for representative in the state leg- islature and lacked but few votes of an elec- tion. He is engaged in general farming, but gives special attention to sheepraising. He has now a fine flock of two hundred full- blooded Rambouillets.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cook are popular so- cially and their friends are legion. John Q. A. Cook cheerfully yields to his brother a por- tion of the space allotted to him, to record some of the more prominent activities of the latter's life.
Peter N. Cook raised a company and was mustered into the service of the United States. November 18, 1863, as captain of Company H, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, John Q. A. having been mustered at the same time as sec- ond lieutenant of the same company. Captain Cook was promoted to the rank of major, Feb- ruary 18, 1865. He followed the fortunes of his regiment until the close of the war and was honorably mustered out and discharged November 11, 1865, having to his credit two full years of active service in the field in one of Michigan's best cavalry organ- izations.
Returning to civil life, Major Cook entered the University of Michigan, in the law de- partment, from which he was graduated with honor. Later for eight years he rendered dis- tinguished service to his alma mater as regent. In "Phials," an annual publication by the jun- ior class of the Homoeopathic medical depart. ment of the University of Michigan, the class
215
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
of 1901 inscribed the volume to Major Cook, as follows :
"To Hon. Peter N. Cook, regent, Univer- sity of Michigan, in recognition of his faithful and efficient friendship for this department. and as a slight token of abiding respect and esteem, this little book is respectfully dedicated by class of 1901.
"The annals of Scottish history present the names of many families : but none is more dis- tinguished or honorable than that of Gordon. The subject of our sketch is a descendant of that house. There is a fable, believed by some, that this ancient family originated in Mace- donia. It pleases the writer to be numbered among those who consider the story founded upon fact. He recalls that. vision of olden time when a man of Macedonia appeared. saying, 'Come over into Macedonia and help us.' The splendid example of that old hero who heeded the Macedonian cry was well fol- lowed by this descendant of the Macedonian Gordons.
"It is history, now almost forgotten, that five years ago the Homeopathic Medical Col- lege of the University of Michigan was bat- tered, fractured, contused and helpless. With life almost extinct, it uttered the Macedonian cry, 'Come and help us.' Whether inspired by vision or otherwise prompted, the writer knoweth not, but at that critical time. the strong arm and willing heart of Regent Peter N. Cook restored to life and usefulness this department of the university.
"Mr. Cook served his country first as a teacher, then as a soldier, and an officer in the rebellion, and later as a lawyer. He has been honored in many ways by his fellow citizens, and his name and fame are widely known. Himself a graduate of two of the departments, in 1890 he was elected a regent of the univer- sity. Those interested in the cause of Hom- œopathy little appreciated then the significance and importance of this selection.
"In 1894, after years of college discord. the regents created a separate committee to con- sider the affairs of the Homeopathic depart-
ment. Regent Cook was unanimously chosen by his colleagues to head the committee. He accepted the trust and proceeded to reorgan- ize and rehabilitate the Homoeopathic college. He looked over the profession and selected a new faculty ; he advised with the new men and assisted to formulate a policy, for which his tactful and skillful management won respect.
"For nearly five years his energies were spent for the cause so dear to us. With what success, the reader must judge. From the ruins of a dismantled college, without students or prestige, has arisen a flourishing and suc- cessful institution, standing well toward the front of Homeopathic colleges in numbers and influence. Instead of a hospital of fifty beds, the student of next year will attend clinics in a thoroughly modern, scientifically up-to-date hospital with one hundred and twenty beds. Homcopathy, in five years' time, has made advances upon the campus and in the city of Ann Arbor which exceed in great- ness and importance all the previous history of our cause in this great university. For most of the progress, not entirely professional, credit must be given to the great hearted and sweet-spirited, the patient and cheerful, the fatherly and gentle, the masterful and tactful, the energetic and resourceful, the nobleman and gentleman, Peter N. Cook. Gladly does one who has witnessed them all attest these splendid qualities."
Major Cook's wife, Mary (Rutan) Cook. to whom he was married in 1868, is a daugli- ter of one of Michigan's early circuit judges. Their daughter, Frances, a graduate of the lit- erary department of the University of Michi- gan, is a successful teacher of years of experi- ence. She is now engaged in teaching in the Lansing city schools, where she has been em- ployed for the past three years.
THOMAS COOLING
Among the influential farmers of Vernon township. Shiawassee county, we find Thomas Cooling. He is a son of William and Ann
18
276
PAST AND PRESENT OF
Cooling, who were early settlers of Vernon township. At the time of their settling here the country was little more than a wilderness and wild animals and Indians were much more familiar objects than the face of white man or woman.
Thomas Cooling was born in the year 1854. His father and mother were born and married in England. He is the youngest of a family of three children and at the age of twenty-one years started out for himself to make a name and living in this great world. He set- tled on the farm where he now lives, in Ver- non township, which is well known as Cedar Wood Farm.
In 1880 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Ida Davids, whose parents were early settlers of Michigan. Mrs. Cooling's father is a stanch Republican, while our subject casts his vote in support of the men and measures of the Democrat party.
To our subject and wife one son has been born and he is assistant cashier of the Shia- wasse County Bank, of whose board of direc- tors our subject is a member.
Mr. Cooling is a member of the Farmers' Club and is engaged in general farming. His farm of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, with its substantial buildings, shows the thrift and enterprise of its owner.
PULASKI COOPER
The subject of this memoir, although dead, still lives in good works and in what he ac- complished by energy and ability while living. He was born in Brutus township, Cayuga county, New York, May 17, 1825, and died on section 4, Hazelton township, Shiawassec county, Michigan, January 26, 1904, at a ripe old age. His father Dorman Cooper, was born October 29, 1785, while his mother, Lu- cretia (Shaw) Cooper, was born March 12, 1790. When one and one-half years old, Pu- laski was taken to Oneida, Canada, by his par- ents. He subsequently met and married his
wife there. His father died October 30, 1847, and his mother joined the silent majority Oc- tober 29, 1826. The father of our subject was a printer, but owned and lived on a farm near Oneida at the time of his death. Mr. Cooper was the third of three children. Ar- minta, born February 13, 1821, is living in Hazeltown township. She married Caleb Lowson, who died in February, 1905, and they have three children, Lucretia, who is now de- ceased ; Wesley, who lives in Venice township ; and George, who lives in Hazeltown township. Eugene, who died in Jamestown, Michigan, married Maria' Phillips, and they had nine children.
March 25, 1856, Mr. Cooper married Eliza- beth Miller, who was a native of county Wex- ford, Ireland, where she was born, May 27, 1835. Her father was John Miller, a Scotch- man, who lived and died in Ireland, having been a farmer. Mrs. Cooper was the fifth in a family of six children. Of the eldest, John, all trace has been lost; Sarah is dead; Mar- garet lives in Canada ; Lucy lives in Tuscola county, Michigan ; and William's whereabouts are unknown.
After his marriage Mr. Cooper continucd to live in Canada, where he owned a farm of fifty acres, until 1867, when he sold and brought his family to Hazelton township, this county, where he bought eighty acres of wooded land. He first cleared a place upon which to build a small frame house; then chopped and cleared the remainder of the land. In 1876 he bought forty acres of wild land in scction 9, across the road from his original farm. Thirty acres of this also has been cleared. In 1890 he purchased forty acres in Montrose township, Genesee county, eight acres being partially improved. Now al! but eight acres is under cultivation. His widow and son, Pulaski, Jr., with the rest of the family now live on the old homestead, in Haz- elton township. There were no roads in that country when Mr. Cooper removed here. There were five children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, only two of whom are living.
277
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Lucretia, who was born in Canada, February 25, 1857, died July 29, 1887 ; she married My- ron Call, and they lived in Owosso, having had two children,-Pulaski and Ernest. John. who was born in Canada, November 12, 1859. is now living in Hazelton township on part of the first eighty acres his father purchased. He married Susan Perigo, and they have four children .- Pearl, who married Archie Rolfe, and Ray, Ermie and Eliza. Thus Mrs. Cooper is a great grandmother. Garibaldi, born in Canada, June 31, 1862, died March 14, 1863. Elizabeth, born in Canada, May 16, 1864, died in Hazelton township January 10, 1886. Mar- garet, born in Canada, July 10, 1862, died in Hazelton township, October 28, 1895. She married Henry Amidon : and had one son Elgin. Pulaski, Jr., born in Hazelton town- ship, January 11, 1871, married Nettie Aurin- ger, who was born March 3, 1824. Their mar- riage occurred December 15, 1890, and they have five children,-Nina, born February 23. 1893 ; Elzie, born December 11, 1894 ; Aubrey. born October 14, 1896; Baby J., who was born January 2, 1899, and died February 8. 1899; and Bernice, born August 26, 1901.
Pulaski, Jr., commenced farming for him- sclf after his marriage. He worked his fath- er's farm in Hazelton township on shares until 1893, when he assumed charge of the forty- acre farm in Montrose township, Genesee county, which his father let him use as his own. In March, 1904, he removed back to the old farm, after the death of his father. He owns fifty acres of that farm, and his brother John owns fifty acres. Mr. Pulaski Cooper, subject of this tribute, was a Republi- can, a Patron of Industry and a school officer. Pulaski, Jr., is a Republican, but votes for the best men. He is a member of the Maccabees at Montrose.
JOHN CRANE
We look with pleasure upon improved farms: and the delights of the cultivated fie'd, of the model farm house and barn, and
of well bred stock are the subject of many a conversation, discourse and essay. But the man who has given his life and labor, who has clenied himself of luxury and pleasure to achieve the results is often forgotten and re- ceives no word of praise. It is fortunate that in the present volume an opportunity is af- forded to record the history of such men and to perpetuate their memories.
John Crane, the subject of this sketch, was born in Washtenaw county, Michigan, on the 12th of March, 1849. His father was James E. Crane, born in the state of New York, in 1821. His mother, Lucy (Olds) Crane, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, in 1831. His grandfather, Amos Crane, was one of the carly settlers of Washtenaw county, Michigan.
James E. Crane grew up and was married in Washtenaw county. He owned a farm. on which he resided for seven or eight years. when, at the call of his country, he left his home and family, and sacrificed his life to save the nation, dying of camp fever, in the army hospital at Iuka, Mississippi. He enlisted in Company K. Fourteenth Michigan Infan- try, in 1862. His widow afterward married Myron Bignall, they had one child George .N. Bignall, now a boot and shoe dealer at Corunna. The mother died in the village of Ilenderson. December 2. 1903.
John Crane was the eldest of five children. The second, Viola, wife of La Forest Burn- ham, lives in Genesee county. The third. Charles, married Etta Green, and is engaged in the undertaking business at Munith, Liv- ingston county. The fourth, Phileta, was first the wife of Henry Barrett and afterward mar- ried George Palmer, of Brady township. Sag- inaw county. The fifth, Mary S., was also married twice, first to William Lewis, and af- terward to Cornelius Poulison, and she now resides in Clair county, Michigan.
Mr. Crane was reared in Rush township. and received his education in the Goss school house. He lived at home until the death of his father when the family was broken up. Not regarding the heavy debt his family had al-
278
PAST AND PRESENT OF
ready paid. the nation, Mr. Crane, in Decem- ber. 1864, enlisted in Company K, Thirtieth Michigan Infantry, at Owosso. His regiment never left the state. They were stationed at different points in the state and were mus- tered out at close of the war, at Jackson. Al- though he never saw any active service, he placed himself in the hands of his government to be used if his services were required. After his return from the army he lived for two years with his mother and stepfather, work- ing upon the farm. He then labored for eight years in the lumber woods of Montcalm and Gladwin counties. He then returned to Rush township and purchased eighty acres of wild land, ón section 19. This land was all woods and there were no buildings. He immediately set himself to the task of clearing the land and erecting buildings, and the next year was married to Mary E. Carmody, who was born June 2, 1855. She is a daughter of Thomas Carmody, a native of Ireland. Her mother was Ellen (Caiton) Carmody ; after the death of Mr. Carmody she married William Hoonan.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.