Biographical Sketch of Charles L. COOK (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl-
vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley
and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila-
delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 851-2.

"CHARLES L. COOK, a retired manufacturer residing at Coatesville, is a man
who has led a busy life, seen much of the world and been almost uniformly
successful in whatever he has undertaken.  He was born April 15, 1818, in
London Grove township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, his parents being
Thomas and Hannah (Edwards) Cook.  The Cooks are of English antecedents.

"John Cook (grandfather) was born in Chester county, where he passed his
entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He owned a farm in London
Grove township, was a member of the Society of Friends, married Elizabeth
Davis and reared a family of two sons and two daughters; Caleb, Thomas,
Hannah, and Sarah Cook.  He died about 1825, aged eighty-nine years.

"Thomas Cook (father) was born in London Grove township, this county, Oct-
ober 30, 1785, and after attaining manhood engaged in farming, and fol-
lowed that occupation all his life.  He died July 3, 1868, at the advanced
age of eighty-two years and seven months.  In politics he was first a whig,
but on the advent of the Republican party he identified himself with that
political organization.  Following the religious traditions of his family
he early became a Quaker, and lived a useful and consistent life.  He was
active and industrious, possessed sound judgment and strict integrity of
character, and became one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers
of his township.  He married Hannah Edward in 1807, and to them was born a
family of eight children.  She was a native of London Grove township, and
a member of the orthodox Society of Friends, and died in 1866, aged eighty-
one years and two months.  Her father, John Edwards (maternal grandfather),
married Lydia Roberts, owned a fine farm, and in olden times ran a distil-
lery.  He was of English antecedents, the family coming to this country
in 1600 [sic].

"Charles L. Cook grew to manhood on his father's farm in London Grove
township, and acquired his education in the common schools of that early
day, which found their home in the 'little log school house' so familiar
to early generations, but now known to our young men and women princi-
pally through literature and tradition.  After leaving school he engaged
in teaming and soon became familiar with all parts of the surrounding
country, having driven all over the roads in this section.  He was ener-
getic and aspiring, and it was not long until he was engaged in running
three threshing machines among the farmers, to him belonging the honor of
having introduced the first threshing machine ever seen or used by the
farmers of his neighborhood.  About the same time he began to deal in live
stock, purchasing cattle, sheep and horses in the west, and driving them
through to markets in eastern Pennsylvania.  While engaged in this busi-
ness he made twenty-six trips over the Allegheny mountains.  In 1851 he
located in Philadelphia and embarked in the mercantile business, con-
ducting two large retail stores in that city with P. E. Jefferis until
1852, when he bought a farm about the fork of Brandywine, in Pocopson
township, and removed to Coatesville, this county, where he has ever since
resided.  After coming to this place he began the manufacture of phosphate,
and successfully carried on that enterprise for a period of sixteen years.
In 1878 he retired from active business with a handsome competency, and
has since lived a quiet life, finding recreation and pleasure in superin-
tending the operations of the two fine farms which he still owns in this
county.

"On November 11, 1841, Mr. Cook was married to Hannah E. Jeffries, a
daughter of James Jeffries, a farmer of Newlin township, this county.
They have no children.  In politics Mr. Cook is an independent republican,
but has never taken a prominent part in political contests, preferring to
devote his time and attention to matters of business during his more active
life, and in later years to the enjoyment of that rest and relaxation which
is earned by a busy and successful career."