Henry Cook's biography, Homer Township, Calhoun County, Michigan Copyright © 1999 by Pat Nowicki. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. _____________________________________________________________________ Henry Cook 1788-1874 Henry Cook was born in Palestine, Montgomery county, N.Y., Feb 17, 1788. Upon reaching his majority he worked for a time for his father, by the month, and later removed to Onieda county, where, on August 7th, 1814, he was married to Miss Maria Mumbrue, who died in Eckford, this State, June 15, 1871. The family came to Michigan in 1831 and settled in Saline, Washtenaw county, and the following spring came to Eckford, as has been stated in chapter IV. Mr. Cook was what might be termed a public spirited man, and was of a kind and generous disposition. In church matters he was an earnest christian and a liberal giver. He and Mrs. Cook were among the members who organized the Congregational church on the Plains, in 1834, which church was merged into the Presbyterian church, of this village, which was organized in 1838 at which time he was elected deacon, and continuously occupied some official position in said church up to the time of his death, which occurred September 14, 1874. He was a large owner of real estate, at one time his lands consisting of 1,200 acres. He acquired a handsome property and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in this section. His homestead, which is now owned by his youngest son, Theodore, is one of the finest farms in Southern Michigan. Mr. Cook was the father of twelve chldren: John, born March 15, 1815, was never married and resides at the old homestead in Eckford; Sylvanus, born Oct. 25, 1816, married Lucy Oliver; William, born May 3, 1818, married Louise Cook; James Henry, born Jan. 26, 1820, married Lucinda Prior, who died in an early day, his second wife being Aurelia Osborn, reside in this village; Elizabeth, born Nov. 22, 1820, died Feb 17, 1862, being the wife of James M. Eamans, of Benton Harbor; Jane, born Oct. 29, 1823, died Oct. 22, 1830; Stephen, born Dec. 6, 1825, married Mary Sheldon, resides at Benton Harbor; Christina, born Nov. 22, 1827, died Oct. 26, 1854, being the wife of Ozro Buckingham; Rachael, born June 29, 1830, now Mrs. John Powers, south of this village; Daniel, born Feb 12, 1833, married Mary Bryant and lives at Riverside; Ester, born March 15, 1835, widow of the late George Mitchell, Charles City, Iowa; and Theodore, born March 8, 1839, married Julia Hafer, and resides on the old farm in Eckford. Homer and It's Pioneers - 1888