Aaron B. Cook
In 1907 after more than thirty-eight years' close
identification with farming interests in Allamakee Aaron B. Cook
moved into Postville where he has since lived in retirement,
having earned rest and leisure by many years of earnest,
honorable and well directed work in the past. A spirit of
enterprise and determination has actuated him in all that he has
done and his work has been of a high order, touching the
influencing the trend of agricultural development in this part of
the state. He was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, September
15, 1840, and is a son of William and Ursula (Burr) Cook, natives
of New York, born near Utica. The father was one of the pioneers
in Michigan, going there when the present state was still a
territory, and identifying himself with general farming in St.
Joseph county where he remained until 1868 when he went to
Mottville, where he turned his attention to the real-estate
business in which he continued until his death, September 5,
1878. He was prominent in Public affairs in St. Joseph county and
held various positions of trust and honor, serving for several
years as county commissioner. He had long survived his wife, who
passed away in 1849. In their family were eight children, of whom
the subject of this review is the sixth in the order of birth.
Aaron B. Cook acquired his early education in the public schools
of Mottville and was later a student in White Pigeon Seminary.
When he was nineteen years of age he began teaching, spending the
winter months at this occupation and attending school during the
summers. Afterward, however, he turned his attention to farming,
buying land in Elkhart county, Indian, where he remained about
two years. He followed this by two years upon his father’s
farm in Michigan and then, in 1867, came to Iowa, having since
continued a resident of the state. At first he rented land in
Ludlow township, Allamakee county, but after two years purchased
eighty acres in Post township, whereon he resided continuously
for thirty-eight years, becoming, in the interval, one of the
most prominent and substantial farmers in this section of the
state. When he took up his residence upon this property it was
wild and unimproved, but with characteristic energy he set
himself to the task of clearing and developing it, steadily
carrying forward the work along practical and scientific lines.
From time to time he bought more land and added it to his
holdings until they today comprise two hundred and eighty acres
of fine farming land. In connection with the work of the farm, he
not only threshed for himself and neighbors during the
season-owning successively three threshing machines-but he also
taught in the district schools during the county winter season,
becoming, through his able and successful work, one of the
leading educators of the county. He was, as may readily be seen,
an indefatigable worker, possessed of the ability to divide his
energies without impairing their force and he had, moreover, that
knowledge of men and the power of judging their capabilities,
which enable him always to hire efficient and honest employes, a
great deal of his success being due to this fact alone. In
addition to the activities above mentioned, he was also for some
time president of the publishing company which controlled the
District Post, the second paper in Postville, and known as the
greenback paper of this district. Mr. Cook is at present manager
of the cooperative Postville canning factory and has proven
himself a reliable and far-sighted business man as well as a
successful educator and a capable farmer. In 1907 he removed from
his farm into Postville and is now living practically retired,
giving most of his attention to the supervision of his extensive
interests.
Mr. Cook married, on the 1st of April, 1860, Miss Caroline
Machemer, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania,
June 20, 1838. She is a daughter of William and Catherine
(Seeman) Machemer, natives of that section of the Keystone state.
For many years the father followed farming, but in later life
turned his attention to the mercantile business, operating a
large store in Constine, Michigan, whether he and his wife went
in 1855. There the mother died in 1878 and she was survived by
her husband until 1893, his death occurring when he was
eighty-seven years of age. Of their family of eleven children,
Mrs. Cook is the sixth in the order of birth. She grew to
womanhood in Pennsylvania and acquired her education in the
public schools of that state. She and her husband became the
parents of seven children. Flora, the widow of O. D. Franklin, of
Postville, was born May 7, 1861. She is now a teacher in the
Postville public school. James Albert was born December, 1862. He
is a resident of Keller, Washington, where he is engaged in
teaching. He married Myrtle Hoagland, a native of Chickasaw
county, Iowa. Carrie L., who was born September 29, 1866, is the
widow of Orrin M. Franklin and makes her home in Waterloo, Iowa.
Myrtle M., born February 14, 1872, became the wife of Elmer
McGhee, of the European Hotel, of Cedar Rapids. Perry E. was born
November 25, 1874, and still resides on the home farm. He married
Miss Stella Uhl. Charles B. was born October 17, 1877, and died
May 21, 1908. His wife was in her maidenhood, Miss Estella
Hammel. Gwendolyn, youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, was
born February 10, 1882. She is the wife of Walter Campbell,
secretary of the Cooperative Creamery Company of Postville.
Mr. Cook attends the Methodist Episcopal church, although he is
not a member of any religious denomination. He gives his
political allegiance to the democratic party and is actively
interested in public affairs, being always ready and willing to
cooperate in movements for the general welfare. He has held
important offices, serving with credit as justice of the peace
for sixteen years, as township trustee and as secretary of the
school board. In all relations of life he has proved honorable,
upright, straightforward and efficient and, in the county, where
he has resided for almost forty years, his name is a synonym for
progressive citizenship, business ability and high standards of
personal and political integrity.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index