Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


JOHN W. COOK. � An American who believes in living and letting 
others live, and an adopted Californian who has enjoyed better health here 
than anywhere else in the entire land, is John W. Cook, who is provided with 
a good ranch and a comfortable home. He was born near Jordan village, 
Owen County, Ind., on May 7, 1858, the son of George W. Cook, who was 
also born in Owen County, was a farmer and then removed to Clay City, 
Ind., where he farmed and died, living to see the nation he loved round out 
its first century of great progress. Susan Cook, the mother, was born in 
Indiana, and died there in 1900, the mother of eleven children, of whom 
our subject is the seventh eldest, and the only one now living. 

Brought up in Clay City, John attended the public schools there, and 
when, during his seventeenth year, his father died, he continued at home 
to assist his mother run the place. At her death, the property was sold, and 
the estate divided. 

He there married Miss Alice Lankford, who was born in Clay County, 
Ind., and was a mate with him at school ; and his mother continued her 
residence with him, until her death in February, 1900. On the fourteenth 
of the following May, his wife died ; and he was also ill ; so, as soon as practi- 
cable, he sold out and moved to Oklahoma. 

He drove there in a wagon, and then sold the team and went to Eureka 
Springs, where he remained for six months ; after which he returned to In- 
diana. He made three trips to North Dakota, and in 1905 went to Saskatch- 
ewan, Canada, where he homesteaded 160 acres. But on account of bad 
health, he let it revert to the government. Then he went back to North Da- 
kota and farmed for a year. 

In 1909 Mr. Cook took the important step which brought him to Fresno 
County and started him at last on the way to a satisfying prosperity. He 
bought this ranch of ten acres on Section 15, and later bought ten acres 
more, making twenty acres on Jensen Avenue, twelve miles west of Fresno. 
From what was once raw land Mr. Cook has raised the values by many im- 
provements, planting trees, alfalfa and setting out vines. 

Two children bear Mr. Cook's name : Lonzie, is in Fresno ; and the 
other, Cecil, in Clay City, Ind. In national politics Mr. Cook is a Democrat ; 
but he finds pleasure in supporting local projects regardless of party affilia- 
tions, and always aims to vote for the best men and the best measures.