Lee Fred Cook

Notes:

Lee F Cook and his wife Malinda M. Lee appear in the Dubuque City Directory of 1911 on p159. He was a conductor on the C.G.W. Line (Chicago, Great Western Railroad) most of his working life. His mother Clara S. (Cooley) also resided with them at 2729 Pine St.


Obituary
Lee F. Cook, Retired Railroad Conductor, Dies Jan 24 1963 - Lee F. Cook, 89, a resident of the Masonic Sanitarium for, the last six months and formerly of Oelwein, died in the sanitarium Wednesday evening [23 Jan 1963]. Born in Garnavillo, Iowa, he married the former Malinda Musefeldt in 1900 and she preceded him in death in 1914. In 1920, he married Bessie Meehan, who preceded him in death in 1950. Mr. Cook was a retired railroad conductor. Among his survivors are a son Fred H. Cook, of Oelwein; and a grandson, Marlin Cook, of Davenport. The body will be sent from the McGinnis Funeral Home, Bettendorf, to the Brant Funeral Home, Oelwein, for funeral .services and burial there.
- The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa; 24 Jan 1963, Thu; Page 8

Lee married Malilnda Musfeldt on 2 May 1900 in Volga Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa. Malilnda was born about 1879 in Volga Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; died about 1914 in Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Fred and Melinda were divorced during the perior 1910-1920.

Lee married Bessie Meehan on 4 Sep 1920 in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois. Bessie was born about 1875; died about 1950. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FRED COOK is one of the popular and widely known officials of Clayton County, as he occupies the important position of Sheriff to which post he was elected in the fall of 1893. Back then he declared himself as an Independent candidate and was endorsed by the Republ1cans in the Convention. In the election he received a majority of 1674 votes, one of the largest ever polled in the county. His pleasant home is situated in Elkader where he has resided for one year. Before that he lived in Garnavillo for more than twenty years. A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Cook's birth occurred in 1846, in Chillicothe, Ohio and during his early years fate seemed to deal hardly with him for he was deprived by death of his parents when he was two years of age. His boyhood days were passed in Ohio and Kentucky and at the age of ten years be came to the Hawkeye State with his sister, settling in Ft. Madison, Lee County, Iowa where he received the advantages of a public school education. When 19 years old he commenced his career by learning the blacksmith's trade at Ft Madison. In the spring of 1865 he first set foot in Clayton County, Iowa. His apprenticeship was served at Guttenberg, where he remained until 1870. About that time he removed to Garnavillo where he embarked in the farm implement business in partnership with Fred Harberg. Later the firm name became Cook & Harberg. He remained in that business until he was elected Sheriff. In the year 1869 our subject was married to Miss Clara S. Cooley, who was born and grew to womanhood in this county. Her father, A. S. Cooley was one of the pioneers of this locality having located within the limits of the county as early as 1839 [1837]; he was one of the leading farmers of Garnavillo Township for many years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cook has been blessed with two sons: Lee F. and George W. From his early years he has had to "paddle his own canoe" and though he has met with many obstacles and discouragements on the journey of life he has bravely and courageously met and overcome them, seeming to acquire new strength for further conflict at the same time. Few men have a better reputation in this locality for honorable and upright methods and he truly deserves the high esteem in which he is held by those who know him best. Mr. Cook is active in several fraternities belonging to Garnavillo Lodge No. 90, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Garnavillo Lodge No. 29, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Garnavillo IOOF Lodge Nr 29 was organized 25 Dec 1850 and is the oldest fraternal organization in Clayton County. Among its first officers was Fred Cook. Garnavillo Lodge No. 90 A. F. & A. M. was organized by dispensation on the 25 May 1855. Among the charter members was Fred Cook. On 24 Jun 1879 the following persons were duly installed as officers of Garnavillo Lodge No. 90 A.F. & A.M.: ... Fred Cook JW - Junior Warden is charged with the supervision of the Lodge while it is in recess for meals or other social purposes.
Clara S Cook was appointed administratrix for Fred Cook Estate 23 Dec 1902 in response to a petition by her son Lee F. Cook. Fred died intestate and Lee took the estate inventory resulting in real property worth $1600 and personal property of about $2500.

Frederick married Clara Salome Cooley about 1869 in Probably Iowa. Clara (daughter of Andrew Sutherland Cooley and Salome Warren) was born on 3 Sep 1848 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; died on 7 Mar 1941 in Strawberry Point, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about 1941 in Garnavillo Community Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A small newspaper cllipping from the Oelwein Daily Register, Oelwein, Fayette Co, Iowa dated 27 Jul 1946 states that during its Centennial a cane at least 100 years old owned by Andrew S. Cooley father of Mrs. Lee Cook (Clara S. Cooley) was on display in Ritchie's window.
Clara S Cook, wid Fred appears in the Dubuque City Directory of 1911 on page 159. She is a clerk at J.F. Stampfer Co. and resides at 2729 Pine St with her son Lee F Cook (also an entry on p159) and his wife Malinda M. Lee was a conductor on the C.G.W. Line (Chicago, Great Western Railroad) most of his working life.
The Order of Eastern Star of Elkader, Iowa, was organized on the 27th day of February, 1894, and on October 4th, 1894, their charter was granted, with 23 charter members. Among the first officers was Clara Cook.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

Married:
There is presently (Dec 2020) no marriage information on this couple. The Dubuque county history has 1849 as the marriage year.

Notes:

Andrew S Cooley, Samuel T Cooley, and probably Caleb C Cooley were signers of an 1833 petition to the U.S. Government to re-route the Detroit-Grand River plank road to a more northerly bearing of higher elevation (roughly, present highway 24). It never happened and the former plank road is now US Interstate 96. - Carter, Clarence Edwin, "The Territorial Papers of the United States: Vol. XII, The Territory of Michigan 1829-1837"
Died at the home of Fred Cook, Garnavillo, on Tuesday, October 28, 1890, Andrew S. Cooley, at the advanced age of [86] years, 3 months and 17 days. Thus another of the pioneers of Clayton county has been called from the scene of his labors, to mingle with the silent majority beyond the tomb. Their labors here are ended, but their memories will be cherished. The best monument that can be erected to them, is this beautiful county, inhabited by the happiest people on earth. With its organization, A.S. Cooley was intimately connected. He was one of the earliest inhabitants and for nearly 60 years, his home was on its soil. Few of us are destined to witness the changes of life that he has witnessed during his long career. This sacred soil which he helped to wrest from the savages has become the home of thousands. He has witnessed the gradual advancement from the rude slow pioneer life, with its manifold trials and dangers, to the rush and rant of our modern civilization, and with the realization of a well spent life, he finds eternal rest among the scenes of his labors. Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born in the Pittsford, Rutland county, Vermont July 11, 1804. When eight years old his parents removed to Niagara county, New York, where he was raised on a farm. March 10, 1825, he married Miss Salome Warren, of Cambria, N.Y., a descendant of Jos. Warren of Revolutionary fame. In 1830 they emigrated west, and located in Franklin, Oakland county, Mich., where they resided until 1834. But that spirit of the typical New Englander, which compels him to seek new scenes, drove him further west. He left his wife and five children in Michigan and sought a new home in Iowa. He landed at Dubuque where he found employment with Dr. McCraney, on a farm. In the spring of 1835 he returned to Michigan by team, intending to bring his family to Dubuque. In the meantime his wife and family, not hearing from him had returned to New York, as they supposed him to have been killed by Indians. He at once started on this tedious journey, found his family and brought them to Dubuque, where they arrived November 20th, 1835. After remaining in Dubuque two years they came in company with Dr. Andros to Clayton county. There was at that time not a town, church or school house in this county. They broke up some prairie and raised a small crop about one mile south of Garnavillo, what is now called the old Beckman farm. In the fall of 1837 they located on the banks of the Turkey river in Millville township. They remained here until 1839 when they again returned to the prairie near Garnavillo and in 1840 took up and improved some government land three miles south of the town. There they made their home until 1872, when the old homestead was sold and another farm purchased in Mendon township near McGregor, which was their home until 1883, since which time they have resided with their daughter, Mrs. Fred Cook.
Of the 17 children born to them 11 survive. His remains were buried at the old cemetery on Thursday. Rev. R. W. Wilcox of Clayton officiated.

(Research):David Coomer-AS Cooley land description comparison, Oakland County, Michigan

David Coomer 3 Dec 1830 W

Andrew married Salome Warren on 10 Mar 1825 in Lockport Township, Niagara Co, New York. Salome was born about Aug 1809 in Massachusetts; died on 2 Nov 1895 in Elkader, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about Nov 1895 in Old Garnavillo Cemetery, Clayton Co, Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Finalized spelling of her given name is "Salome" (spelled Saloma in some places); obtained from gravestone in Old Garnavillo Cemetery observed by DBC 7/19/98.

Elkader Iowa
Friday Morning, Nov. 8, 1895
Mrs A. S. Cooley
At Elkader on Saturday, Nov. 2nd 1895, occurred the death of Salome Warren, wife of A. S. Cooley, deceased. She was born at Ashfield, Mass., July 26th, 1809. Shortly after her birth, her parents moved to Niagara county, N.Y. where she grew up and spent her girlhood days. She was married to A. S. Cooley March 19th, 1825, at Cambridge, N. Y. In 1830, with her husband emigrated west and located in Michigan, from there came to Dubuque in 1834, and in 1837 settled In Clayton county, where they have since lived. Her husband died in Garnavillo, Oct. 28, 1890, at the age of 86 years. Seventeen children were born to them, eleven of which are still alive and are residents of different states in the Union. Mrs. Cooley is the mother of the first white child born in Garnavillo twp., namely, Noah Cooley, now a resident of Leavenworth, Kansas. [Error: Storrs Andros was the first] For the last twelve years Mrs. Cooley has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Fred Cook. The funeral took place on Monday Nov. 4th, 1895. Her remains were taken to Garnavillo, and laid at rest beside her husband, Rev. Fisk, of Elkader, officiating.

(Research):Salome: A Hebrew name taken from Solomon ("peace"). Selima is another variant.

Other Events and Attributes:

• _TODO: Open

Notes:

Grandma Carrie Louella Miller-Cooley's anecdote: "They" lived 13 miles from Niagara Falls but never saw them. (This would be Robert Reed's grandfather's family, Noah Cooley and Jane Sutherland who lived on Holland Land Purchase property in Niagara County New York about 13 miles direct line distance east from the Falls). Another anecdote (Dale Cooley): They could sometimes see a rainbow caused by water spray from the Falls.
Noah Cooley, son of Col Benjamin, married Jane daughter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly Walker to that of Peter Rice--now R. Burdett's. The cellar of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years, and then removed to 'Western Country' where he died, Jan 11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854. [These death dates are apocryphal. They come from p320 in Caverly's The History of Pittsford but cannot be verified because the original letter to Caverly has been lost].

Fourth Child discrepancy A large discrepancy cropped up in 2010 concerning Noah and Jane's children. Sally Merryman produced a document written by Jennie Lincoln a cousin of James Watson Cooley. The reason I latched onto that document so quickly was the way it was written including the time of day the children were born. Noah's father, Col. Benjamin Cooley as Town Clerk of Pittsford entered the births of his children into the official records of Pittsford use this same method and language. For instance, "Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born July 11th 1804 Wednesday about one o'clock in the morning". The discrepancy concerns the fourth child. Caverly in the History of Pittsford names a James G Cooley born about 1810* whereas the document written by Jennie Lincoln** has no James G. but Jane Eliza Cooley-Coomer as the fourth child, b. 11 Oct 1811, d. 10 Oct 1871. The latter is well documented and a centaph has been built by Coomer descendants in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Morenci, Seneca Twp, Lenawee Co, Michigan. Consequently, I felt "James G" was an error for many years until I visited Pittsford Vermont in 2016. I went through many land records in the Town Office and found several references to a James G Cooley in the year range 1840-1860. Those references showed James G. involved in land transactions with Lydia Huntley, wife of Azariah Cooley, elder brother of Noah Cooley. This knowledge and the fact that Lydia aged 76 is found in the household of James Cooley in Leicester, Addison County, Vermont in the 1860 US Census leads to the conclusion that James G Cooley was the son of Azariah Cooley and Lydia Huntley.
* Here is the list of Noah and Jane's children from the History of Pittsford page 697: COOLEY, NOAH s of Col. Benjamin, m 1802, Jane Sutherland, b August 24, 1787. Children-- 1, Andrew s. b 1804; 2, Samuel b 1806; 3, Caleb C. b 1808; 4, James G. b 1810; 5, Milton b 1815; 6, Mary b 1823, d 1851; 7, Benjamlin F. b 1825. The father d January 11, 1852; the mother d July 4, 1854.
**Here is Jennie Lincoln's list of Noah and Jane's children (courtesy of Sally Merryman): Benjamin and Ruth's son Noah, B 2 Jul 1782 Pittsford, VT, d. 11 Jan 1852 New York State or MI, M. 24 Jan 1804 Jane Sutherland B. 24 Aug 1787 prob Greenwich, CT, D. 4 Jul 1854.

Their children were:1. Andrew Sutherland B. 11 Jul 1804 d. 30 Oct 1890. I believe their children were: Peter, Clara married Fred Cook, Eliza, Thomas, Lewis, Robert, and Hersey. This is where Dan Cooley's (danbcooley) family comes in.
2. Samuel Thurman, B. 30 Mar 1806 Pittsford, VT, d. 4 Jan 1892 Jonesville, MI, M. 3 Feb 1831, Oakland Co., MI Harriet Electa Woodruff. Their children were: A. Byron, b. 1837 M. Sarah Collins. The only other thing I have besides the names of their children that I posted on your was on his son George. I have two pictures only. One was of Byron, George and his wife (name unknown)and their twin daughters (names unknown). The other picture is of the twin daughters only. B. Rebecca, b. 3 Mar 1839 married George Coffin. Their children were Fred and Jean. C. William, b. 1841 married Melissa Hyde. He was in Co. D", 11th Mich. Vol. Cav.
Their children:
1) Byron
2) Ralph d. 6 Feb 1961 3) Celia married Norton (first name unknown). Their children:
a. Ruth b. Grace married Charles Machin. Their child: Norene, Born 1906 Died 1922
D. Woodruff, b. 1843? d. 1848? E. James Watson, b. 12 Mar 1843 Pittsford, MI, D. 20 Jul 1924 Grand Rapids, MI, M. 30 Jun 1870 Pittsford, MI Armilla Howell. Their child: 1) Justin Winthrop, b. 5 Nov 1877 Ottawa Lake, MI, M. 3 Oct 1899 Pittsford, MI, Hazel Gwendolyn Sturdevant. Their children: a) Clifford Winthrop, bB. 2 Sep 1900 d. 27 Apr 1901
b) Madeline Evelyn, b. 11 Jun 1902 d. 15 Apr 1969
c) Thurman Woodruff, b. 30 Aug 1904 d. 5 Oct 1936
d) Marjorie, b. 17 Oct 1907 d. 25 Apr 1989 e) Katherine Armilla, b. 28 May 1909 d. 18 May 1988 f) James Louis, b. 22 Feb 1912 d. 21 May 1960. He played high school football with the late President Gerald R Ford.
g) Richard Harold, b. 2 Oct 1916 d. 14 Nov 1992 h) Audrey Janet, b. 21 Aug 1919. She is my mother-in-law.

3. Caleb Carroll, b. 25 Mar 18084. Jane Eliza, b. 11 Oct 1811, M. Arnold Coomber (brother to Ben Coomber)
5. Milton Potter, b. 6 Apr 1818
6. Noah Beach, b. 14 Nov 1819 D. 7 Sep 18207. Mary Isabel, b. 21 Feb 1823, M. Ben Coomber (brother to Arnold Coomber)
8. Frank

Noah Cooley's death date discrepancy From pp46-47 of John William Sutherland and Allied Families by Millie A. Owings "Noah Cooley was born 2 July 1782...and died 11 Jan 1852 in Lockport, New York This presents a fairly large discrepancy between the History of Pittsford year of 1856 (which the Cooley Genealogy uses) and the John William Sutherland Genealogy (1852); the day and month agree but there is a four-year difference. Also, Owings states a death place of Lockport NY whereas the Cooley Genealogy ducks the death place by saying "Western Country".
Although there is a death date discrepancy, the larger problem is that neither Noah Cooley's nor Jane Sutherland's death dates and places have any documentation whatever. Whether Lockport New York or Michigan or 1852 or 1856, it makes little difference since their death information remains an undocumented mystery.

_TODO:
Lets expand our view to include Cambria - after all, Andrew Sutherland and wife Naomi Cooley were there, buried there. Then review Holland Purchase locality - forget the 13 miles - it suffices to say they lived close to the Falls

Noah married Jane Sutherland on 24 Jan 1804 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. Jane (daughter of Peter Sutherland and Carol Bush) was born on 24 Aug 1787 in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co, New York; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Jane's death is even more mysterious than Noah's because the last record about her I have been able to find is the 1840 U.S. Census, Michigan, Lenawee, Seneca. There is an 1845 Michigan state census but the summary on Ancestry.com lists only head of household, namely, Noah Cooley, MI, Lenawee, Seneca.
On p46 of John William Sutherland and Allied Families by Millie A. Owings we have "Jane [Sutherland](3) (Peter(2), John William(1)] was the first daughter of Peter and Amy [Sutherland] and was born 24 Aug 1787 at Nine Partners, Dutchess county, New York and died 4 July 1854. A footnote in the JW Sutherland genealogy states that "One source says that Jane died in Lockport, Niagara county, New York. Another surce says she died in Seneca township, Lenawee County, Michigan where her children lived. We were unable to find a cemetery record for her either place.
This paragraph is reproduced from Noah Cooley's research notes.: Noah Cooley, son of Col Benjamin, married Jane daughter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly Walker to that of Peter Rice--now R. Burdett's. The cellar of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years, and then removed to the western country where he died, Jan 11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854. [These death dates are wrong; they come from p320 in Caverly's The History of Pittsford which was also wrong about Noah and Jane's children. Mortimer Cooley just copied these erroneous data to his Cooley Genealogy p492 and p547-8].
Amazingly, in the 1850 U.S. Census Noah (aged 68) turns up back in Pittsford VT living with his brother Azariah (70) and his wife Lydia. Alas, Jane is not with him. In 2008 I went to Michigna to investigate a conjecture that she died in Lenawee or Hillsdale counties but turned up nothing in the south-central area (see Owings' footnote above).

Notes:

Married:
Noted that Jane was age 16 when married (Noah was 21)