My Genealogy Hound

JACOB WHEELER COOK (deceased), was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1819, descended on the paternal side from German ancestors, and on the maternal from Irish. He was educated in his native city, and came to Pittsburgh when a young man. For a time he kept a store for the sale of magazines and other periodicals, on Fourth avenue, between Wood and Market streets, which was burned in 1845. He then took employment with N. Holmes & Co., bankers, subsequently acquiring an interest in the business. With a brother and a Mr. Harris he organized the banking firm of Cook & Harris; was also one of the organizers of the Allegheny National Bank, becoming its cashier, and for many years was president of same, a position he occupied at time of his death, which occurred Jan. 23, 1883. Mr. Cook was a member of the steel-manufacturing firm of Anderson, Cook & Co.; then became interested in the nail works of Chess, Smythe & Co., which firm was succeeded by Chess, Cook & Co., and at his death his interest in the latter firm fell to his youngest son. Following are the names of Mr. Cook’s children: Edward Simpson (on the homestead at Mansfield), George A. (late cashier of the Allegheny Bank, died Oct. 4, 1887), Annie Wallace (see sketch of S. D. Culbertson), Lily R. (wife of David B. Stewart, of Allegheny), Thomas McKown (married to Clara Walton, and now residing in the city of Allegheny).

MRS. ELVIRA COOK, widow of Mr. Cook, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and is a daughter of Thomas McKown, a Scotch-Irishman, who was a prominent contractor of the Pan Handle railroad.