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Subject: [IAHENRY] Henry Co. Bio-Obadiah Cook
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 14:37:51 EST

>From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa" Chicago: Acme
Publishing Company, 1888.

Page 616-617:

OBADIAH HARRIS COOK, a resident of section 36, Salem Township, was born in
Preble County, Ohio, in 1834, and is a son of Nathan and Sarah (Denny) Cook.
The paternal ancestors were of English origin, and the maternal of Irish. The
union of the couple named was celebrated in Ohio, but Nathan and his second
wife, the mother of O.H., came from the Carolinas, where both were born. They
cleared a farm in Preble County and upon that farm their children were all born.
The first wife, who was a Miss Comer, bore two children: Jonathan, who is
wedded to Susannah Beason, and Martha, the wife of Samuel Maddock. After the
death of the first wife Nathan married Sarah Denny, who in that State bore
Elizabeth, now wife of Henry Lamm; William, who wedded Lucinda Bales; Susannah,
wife of Wheeler Davis; Isaac, husband of Mary J. Bishop; Hannah wedded first to
Cyrus Coffin, and after his death, married Jabez B. Smith; Charity married
David Thatcher; Eli, unmarried, finds a home with our subject; Henry W.,
deceased, was married to Laura Davis; then came our subject, followed by the birth of
Louisa, deceased; Elihu, who is married to Mary Pope, and Eliza and Amos, who
died unmarried. In 1839 the parents came to this county, and made a location
upon the same farm now owned and tilled by his son. This was then in its
virgin state, but the Quaker family soon made it a fine farm, and upon the new
land splendid crops grew. Nathan paid Gideon Frasier $7 per acre at that early
day for part of the farm, entering the east eighty acres. Upon this farm both
the father and mother died, she at the age of seventy, and he at eighty-six.
The historian has learned much of their goodness, and finds it only necessary
to state that their children have proved themselves worthy of such parents.
>From the age of five years our subject grew to manhood on the farm, and at the
age of twenty-two Miss Elizabeth Fisher became his wife. She was the daughter
of John and Esther Fisher, who emigrated from New Jersey to this State in
1842, and made a location at Ft. Madison. J. Fisher, Jr., a brother, was for a
number of years engaged in business in Salem, leaving that village in 1887 for
Clarinda, Iowa. Another brother, Alexander, is still in business in Salem.
There was a large number of children born to Mr. Fisher, who was twice married.
The second wife was Eliza Jane Alterman, both bearing children to him.

The marriage of our subject to Miss Fisher was celebrated April 17, 1856.
Their domestic life was begun and has been continued upon the old home, and
their children have all been born in the roomy old mansion: Amos E. wedded
Florence Rice; Edwin W., Clifton H. and Cora B. are unmarried. The two eldest
children are now in business. Amos graduated in law at Iowa City, and is a
practicing attorney at Malvern, Iowa; Edwin graduated in medicine at Iowa City, and
is a resident physician of Plattsmouth, Neb; Clifton graduated in stenography
at Iowa City the winter of 1887; Cora is completing her education, and makes
the old home cheerful by her presence. Mr. Cook has served his township in
positions of trust for several years. He has been one of the energetic men who
have aided in making this one of the noteworthy counties of Southeastern Iowa.
Through the endeavors of Mr. Cook, George W. Tyner and X.H. Arnold, the Salem
District Fair has been made a success, and in 1887, the third year, was
largely attended. The premium list awarded was $250, and Mr. Cook is now upon his
second term as President of the society. The grading and breeding of stock are
largely due to such enterprise, and to such men we are pleased to give proper
credit. As a man and citizen Mr. Cook justly holds a front rank in Salem
Township.

END
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pat Ryan White
Camarillo, CA

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