My Genealogy Hound

Edward P. Cook, farmer of Gasconade Township, was born in Montgomery County, Mo., March 1, 1823, and is a son of Joel B. and Margaret (Mowser) Cook, who were born in New York and Tennessee, April 17, 1800, and in 1808, respectively. Joel B. Cook is a son of John Cook, who was born in New York, September 7, 1761, and came to Missouri with his family when his son Joel was a young man, locating in Montgomery County, where he was engaged in blacksmithing, gunsmithing, carpentering and mill-wrighting until his death in April, 1845, about four miles below Chamois, in Missouri Bottom, Osage County. Joel B. Cook resided in Osage County, Mo., until 1846, when he located in Pulaski County, and lived until his death, November 25, 1887, being engaged in milling and farming the latter part of his life. His wife died October 29, 1886, having been an earnest and consistent member of the Christian Church. Eleven of their twelve children lived to be grown, and nine are living at the present time: Edward P., John T., Caroline (deceased), Mary, James (deceased), Sarah, George, Nathaniel G., Welton, William J., Lydia A., and Martha (deceased). Edward P. Cook attained his majority in Osage and Montgomery Counties, and in 1849 began selling goods in Waynesville, Pulaski County, but in the spring of the following year took the overland trip to California, where he remained nearly three years, and then returned home via New York City. His return was one accompanied by serious hardship. Associated with his uncle, Lorenz D. Cook, passage was taken on an old steam-wheeler to San Francisco, and thence to the mouth of the San Joaquin River. About a mile up the river near midnight on the night of May 28, 1853, owing to the reported intention of the crew to murder them, Mr. Cook and his uncle undertook to swim ashore, first casting a few sticks of cord-wood in the water to assist in their escape. In this effort L. D. Cook was drowned, our subject finally reaching land, and coming upon a temporary habitation where help was accorded him. A two days effort was made in dragging the river for the body of the unfortunate man, but without success. Subsequently Mr. Cook went to San Francisco, thence to Panama and New York, reaching home in Pulaski County, Mo., about August 1, 1853. He taught school in Pulaski County during the winter following his return, and the next year was married, and commenced farming in Laclede County, on the Osage Fork of the Gasconade River, but since 1857 has been a resident of his present farm. He served in the Missouri State Militia during the latter part of the war. In 1856 he was elected assessor of Laclede County, which position he held by re-election for six years. He was first married to Mary J. Honsinger, who was born in Laclede County January 16, 1829, and died November 19, 1857, having become the mother of the following children: Margaret and William (twins), Joel B. and John E. All died in childhood except Joel, whose death occurred at the age of eighteen years. Sarah M. Maxey became Mr. Cook’s second wife. She was born in Tennessee December 5, 1829, and died November 12, 1884, having borne the following children: Mary, Laura, Angeline, Lucy and an infant (deceased). The eldest daughter is the wife of Riley Bench, and Laura is the wife of Oscar Jackson. The latter resides on the home farm with her father. Mr. Cook is also a member of the Christian Church, and belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the Agricultural Wheel. He is a member of the Union Labor party, and has held a number of offices in his township.