Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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JOHN W. COOK
 
        Among the successful business men and horticulturists of Glendora 
mention must be made of the above‑named gentleman who has been so closely 
identified with the founding and building up of that prosperous village. Mr. 
Cook came to Glendora in the fall of 1885 and the next season commenced the 
clearing and planting of a tract of land lying just east of Glendora, on what is 
now Sierra Madre avenue, and also erected a neat and well-ordered home and 
suitable out-buildings, early recognizing the advantages of his section for 
business and residence. In 1887 he was one of the original incorporators of the 
Glendora Water Company and the Glendora Land Company. In the latter company he 
placed twenty acres of his land for town-site purposes. He was appointed 
secretary of both companies, and entered heartily into the enterprises for which 
Glendora is indebted for the wonderful growth and prosperity that followed the 
incorporation and successful management of those companies. Mr. Cook held the 
position of secretary in these companies until 1889 when his failing health 
compelled his retirement to quieter walks of life. In addition to his business 
enterprises he has devoted his attention to horticultural pursuits upon his home 
place, and has at this writing (1889) fifteen acres of citrus fruits, comprising 
ten acres of Washington Navel oranges and five acres of lemons, and also a 
family orchard of deciduous fruits containing a large variety of the most 
approved fruits grown in his section. He has also, in addition to his fifty 
acres comprising his homestead, forty acres of land above Sierra Madre avenue, 
which is devoted to grain cultivation, and thirty acres just east of Glendora, 
all of which is fine fruit land and well adapted to citrus fruit. In addition to 
his operations in developing water as a stockholder and officer of the Glendora 
Water Company, he is the owner of one half of six inches of water developed by 
private enterprise. The intelligent care and attention that he has devoted to 
his horticultural pursuits is well shown by the results he has secured in his 
orange culture, which has placed his grove in the ranks of the most successful 
and valuable in his section. The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford 
County, Pennsylvania, in 1857. His parents, William H. and Sarah (Whiting) Cook, 
were both natives of that State. In 1858 his father moved to Knox County, 
Missouri, and there engaged in farming and stock-growing. Mr. Cook was reared to 
that calling, at the same time receiving a good education. Upon reaching his 
majority he engaged in the warehouse business with his brother, at Edina, 
Missouri. He was successfully engaged in that business until 1885 when he came 
to California and took up his present residence. Mr. Cook is a man of sound 
business principles and broad views, and has made a success in his undertakings. 
He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a prominent member 
of the Masonic fraternity, being a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar. In 
political matters he is a Republican. In 1885 Mr. Cook was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary S. Baker, the daughter of Joshua W. and Sarah (Lawrence) Baker. 
She died in 1888, leaving two children: Dale B. and Inez W., both of whom were 
born in Glendora.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 416
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler