BIO: Ben COOK, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 363-364. _________________________________________________________________ BEN COOK, stock raiser and general farmer, of Darlington township, Beaver county, Pa., has traveled a good deal throughout the country. On account of ill health he was obliged to give up school, but received a fair degree of instruction in the public schools of Beaver county. He subsequently learned farming. He wanted to see something of the world, and while still a young man went west. He traveled through all the western states and was interested in various occupations. He remained in the West until 1889, and then returned to Beaver county, where he purchased his present farm. This farm contains one hundred and fourteen acres, and is almost entirely cleared. A fine brick house is standing upon it and it is considered one of the best country homes in the district. A large, three-story bank barn, built by the subject hereof, also ornaments the place and adds to the comfort of the stock, which is Mr. Cook's "hobby." The gentleman of whom this narrative treats led to the altar Julia Morton, a favorite daughter of Dr. Woodson Morton. She was born, reared and educated in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have four children, namely: May, Howard, Carrie and George. All are regular attendants at the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cook is a hard worker in the cause of the Republican party, but never accepted office. He was born in Darlington, Pa., March 21, 1855, is a son of A. J. and Margaret (Robinson) Cook, and grandson of Benjamin R. and Susannah (Johnston) Cook. Benjamin R. Cook was a native of Chambersburg, Pa., and went to Western Pennsylvania in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation for many years. Later he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Darlington. He was one of the first three merchants of that place. The others were Andrew Leach and David Gilliland. After some years he sold his store and bought a farm east of the town. A few years further on he moved one mile west of 364 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES the present home of the subject hereof. There he purchased eighty acres of partly cleared land. An old cabin then on the land still exists. Here upon this farm Benjamin R. Cook remained until 1845. He then went south in quest of better health, but never found it, and died there April 6, 1845. He wedded Susannah Johnston, a native of Beaver county. She was a daughter of Andrew Johnston, a pioneer of prominence in this section of Pennsylvania. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, viz: Mary; A. J., father of N. Ben; John; James; Martha A. (McClure); and Emeline. Mary, the eldest of these, was a college graduate and followed the profession of teaching for a number of years. She became one of the best educators in this country, and gained for herself a national reputation. Her sister Martha was also a successful teacher before her marriage. A. J. Cook was born at Darlington, Pa., October 1, 1821. After attending district school he finished his education at Darlington Academy. He then learned farming. Subsequently he purchased a half interest in a threshing machine. The other half was owned by John Davis. At a later period A. J. Cook sold his interest, and for a brief period resumed farming. He afterward bought a hotel in Darlington and followed the hotel business for seventeen years. On relinquishing this, he became the first permanent station agent of the Fort Wayne R. R. at New Galilee. He resigned that position, however, and opened another hotel, which he sold after awhile, and purchased an eighty-five acre farm, where his son, L. J., now lives. Mr. Cook continued to reside upon this farm for nine years, when he was deprived of his beloved wife by death. Since then he has rented his farm, and makes his home with the subject hereof. His wife was Margaret Robinson, a daughter of Andrew Robinson, of New Castle, Pa., where Margaret was born. This happy union was blessed with eight children: Andrew J.; Lucinda; William; L. J.; N. Ben, to whom these lines pertain; Amelia; Carolina; and Lizzie. The first two died in infancy. William Cook received his education at Darlington Academy, and taught school for some time afterward. He then studied medicine under Dr. Sherlock, and later under Dr. Clendenning, of Cincinnati. He practiced medicine at Freeport, Pa., but was cut off by death at the early age of thirty-five years. L. J. Cook is a farmer of prominence, and is also an agent for farm machinery. Caroline died aged thirteen, and Lizzie at the tender age of two years.