BIOGRAPHY - Harry D. Cook
COL. HARRY D. COOK. Among the prominent citizens of Illinois who were
actively identified with the war history of the State and soldier interest
subsequent to the return of peace, few, if any, are deserving of more
favorable mention than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
Col. Cook was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1818, and was a son of John
Cook. His father was a close friend of Garrett Smith, and was descended from
an old New York family, the grandfather of the Colonel being a soldier in
the Revolutionary War. H. D. Cook received a liberal education, and in his
youth learned the carpenter's trade. In 1841, he was married in New York to
Miss Joanna Hall, daughter of William and Sally Hall. The lady was born in
New York and comes of an old family of that State.
In 1850, Col. Cook emigrated from the East to Illinois and settled in Fulton
County, but after a year removed to McLean Country, locating on a farm near
Bloomington. He was employed on the Illinois Central Railroad as a
bridge-builder, and in 1853 removed to Woodford County. In 1860, he was
elected to the Illinois Legislature on the Republican ticket, and in May of
the following year entered the volunteer service for the late war as Captain
of Company G, Fourth Illinois Cavalry. He participated in the active service
of the war, was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded his regiment.
When mustered out after three years of service, he held the rank of Colonel.
On his return to the North, Col. Cook was reelected to the Legislature and
after the close of the war was commissioned by Gov. Oglesby as military
financial agent for Illinois and ordered to Washington to secure the payment
of State claims against the general Government, growing out of the late war.
So well did he discharge his duty, that he secured the payment of nearly all
the claims due the State, manifesting superior business ability and tact.
When the railroad and warehouse commission was organized by act of
Legislature, Col. Cook was appointed by Gov. Beveridge a member of that
board, and at its organization was chosen Chairman. This position he filled
with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people until his death, which
occurred in November, 1873, at his home in Normal, Ill.
The Colonel was an original Abolitionist and a warm friend of Owen Lovejoy.
He was a man of positive views and was a popular speaker, widely and
favorably known. The war afforded a field for distinction for men of nerve
and strength of character, and Col. Cook's career developed the latent
talent in his character for leadership, he becoming prominent and
influential in State and National affairs. For several years prior to his
death, he had made his home in Normal, Ill., where his wife, who survives
her husband, still resides, though well advanced in years.
Seven children were born to Colonel and Mrs. Cook, of whom four are living,
three having died in childhood: France L., the eldest, who married Miss Kate
Anderson, is the present State Attorney of Ford County, and resides in
Paxton. John W. married Lydia Spofford and is President of the State Normal
University at Normal; Florence A. is the wife of Judge Alfred Sample, of
Paxton, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and Ida is the wife of
F. W. Gove, a resident of Denver, Col.
Extracted 28 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 260-261.
