BROOKMONT
A Souvenir of "The Finest Farm in the World"
A.E. Cook, Owner, Odebolt, Iowa
This booklet extolling the virtues of Brookmont Farm was published in 1909, thirty-six years after Charles W. Cook established the huge farm north of Odebolt in 1873. His son, Albert E. Cook, took over management of the farm in 1893, and later purchased it from the other heirs. The original booklet is too large to scan. Instead we have scanned photos from it and present them here with the original text.
Not much is left of the original farm or buildings. Once about 7,860 acres and encompassing a block of 12 sections (all of sections 3-4-5-6 in Richland Twp. and all of sections 27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34 in Cook Twp.), the land was sold off in smaller tracts starting in 1908. By 1918 the last of the original land had been sold.
We present this in order to preserve a part of the early history of the Odebolt area, and so that people whose ancestors may have settled on "Cook Ranch" land will know its early history. My grandfather built his first farm on this land, so I have a personal interest in the subject. I am also old enough to remember drives in the country to pass by the old farm headquarters, and remember the dilapidated buildings while they were still standing.
- Barb Horak, April 2004.
