Zook, Joseph

ZOOK, SELL, WILL, SIMMONS

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/12/2019 at 09:05:24

Biography ~ Joseph Zook

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 655-56:

"JOSEPH ZOOK, farmer and stock-raiser, in High Point Township, is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Sell) Zook, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Adams County, that State, in 1846. His parents are of Dutch and French ancestry, who have been in America 200 years. His education was received in the common schools of his native State. He was reared on a farm, which vocation he has followed more or less through life. During the war he enlisted in Company G, Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served one year. He was in the battle of Fort Steadman, and the final assault on Petersburg with minor skirmishes. He was mustered out at Chester, Pennsylvania, after which he returned home and resumed work on the farm, taught school one term, and came to Illinois in 1866. He was married in Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, in 1872, to Miss Emma E. Will, who died in August, 1873, leaving one child -- Earle W. Mr. Zook came to Iowa in 1872; returned to Illinois in 1873, and engaged in mercantile business, and came again to Iowa in 1875. In 1877 he married Miss Anna Simmons, a native of New York City, who came to Iowa with her parents, Henry and Louisa Simmons, in 1858. Their children are -- Ella J., John H. and Alice L. Mr. Zook has held the office of school director and township trustee,. He owns a herd of short-horn cattle, and other improved stock. Mr. Zook commenced life a poor man. He now owns 160 acres of land, well improved."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)