Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

JAMES W. COOK

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

Was born in Cass County, Missouri, in 1846. His father, John B. Cook, was a native of Kentucky, 
who, in the earlier days, settled in Missouri, engaged in farming and stock-growing, and there 
married Miss Mary Wilson. She died in 1855. In 1857 Mr. Cook, senior, came overland with his 
family to California and located in Sonoma County, taking up his residence in Bennett Valley, near 
Santa Rosa. There he purchased land and engaged in farming and stock-growing. The children in 
the family were: Andrew W., John H., William Y., Elizabeth, now Mrs. J. E. Betterton, of Plumas 
County; Jesse G., a resident of Santa Ana; James W., the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Judge 
J. A. Barham, of Santa Rosa; Lucinda, now Mrs. Solomon Otis, of Plumas County; and F. Lee, all of 
whom, with the exception of John and William, are residents of California. The subject of this sketch 
was reared upon the farm of his father in Sonoma County, and was engaged with his father in farming 
operations until 1877, in which year his father sold the farm and took up his residence in Santa Rosa. 
The death of his father occurred in that city the same year. In 1878 Mr. Cook came to Los Angeles 
County, and spent the winter in Los Angeles. In the spring of 1879 he visited the Azusa section and 
purchased sixty acres of land about three-fourths of a mile southwest of the present town of Glendora, 
where he took up his residence and engaged in general farming and horticultural pursuits. This land he 
placed under a good state of cultivation, planting orchards, vineyards, etc. In 1887 he sold his farm and 
purchased a home place of seven and a half acres just south and east of the city of Azusa. Upon this 
he has made substantial improvements, erecting a fine two-story residence, well ordered barns and out 
buildings, and has also planted five acres with Washington Navel oranges, and a family orchard of a 
choice variety of deciduous fruits. His place is well watered from the ditches of the Azusa Land and Water 
Company, of which company he is a stockholder. Mr. Cook is well known in the community where he has 
resided for the past ten years; is an intelligent and progressive citizen, interested in building up his section 
of the San Gabriel Valley, and is a supporter of such enterprises as will tend to develop its resources. In 
political matters he is Democratic, and has represented his district as a delegate in county conventions, 
etc. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, being affiliated with the Santa Rosa Lodge. He is a 
supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1869 Mr. Cook married Miss Grace Millington, the 
daughter of Seth and Maria (Woodward) Millington. Her father was a prominent and well-known citizen of 
Sonoma County at the time of his death. Her mother is still a resident of that county. Mrs. Cook was born 
in Iowa. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cook there are five children living, viz.: James Bailey, Marian, 
Estella, Grace M. and Seth Williams, all of whom are members of their father's household.

An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1889   Page 414