Cook Family
Wm. Cook and Daniel Cook, brothers, came from Washington county, Pa., in the spring of 1815, and settled, Wm. on the farm one mile west of Lexington now owned by James Chambers, and Daniel on the farm two and half miles southwest from Mansfield, on the Lexington road. They put in crops, and in the fall went after their families. The two families, with Jabez Cook's family, all came out in one wagon with a five-horse team. Wm. Cook remained on this farm until February, 1817, when he traded with Ichabod Clark, one-half mile south of Lexington. While living on the Chambers place Wm. Cook was sadly troubled with bears. They devoured his hogs in the woods. He therefore took up the life of a hunter. Game of all kinds was abundant, and multitudes of deer, turkeys, raccoons fell a prey. The bears soon quit troubling him. Bee-trees were frequently found, so that with but little trouble the table was most sumptuously supplied.He went up to Jerry Bowers' farm, several miles north, and procured some tallow from an ox he had the misfortune to lose, and mixing it with raccoon oil and beeswax, indulged in the then great extravagance of candles. Had to go thirty miles into Knox county for all breadstuffs and for any other than wild meat. Wolf trapping, by means of log pens, and a cover fixed so that when the wolf jumped into the pen after the bait the cover fell, was generally indulged in. In 1819 he lost his barn by fire. The fire from a clearing got into a dry tree and was blown from that to the barn, causing the loss of nearly all his grain. He lost a horse by the burning of a tree on a neighbor's farm. The horse got into the field and stood around the fire until the tree fell. Fodder being very scarce, one spring he cut trees for brousin? his cattle, and one morning accidentally fell a tree upon his best cow.The Indian trail from Sandusky south led them through his vicinity, and their calls at this house with cranberries for sale were frequent. They were always ????. There was a grist-mill and sawmill at Lexington, which was a regularly laid-out village when he came. There was no church at Lexington for many years. Meeting was held by all denominations in school houses, private houses, and in groves -- God's first temples. Frequently preaching was held at the house of Noah Cook; one-half mile from Lexington, on the farm now owned by Thomas Cook. In 1831 he sold the farm bought of Clark and bought another three miles southwest of Mansfield, on what is known as the "Gass road," where he lived un 1855, when he moved to Mansfield. He married Eunice Corwin on October 28, 1813. There were thirteen children -- all living (in 1857) in robust health. Their names were: Hannah, Samuel, Stephen, Elsa, Asenath, Sarah, William P., Eunice, Catherine, Julia Ann, Eleanora, Isabel Martha and Mary E. Cook. Wm. Black married Hannah in 1832 and settled on J.H. Cook's farm, Madison township, O. Samuel married Catharine J. Brown in 1839 and settled in Allen county, O. Stephen married Miss Amanda Mitchell in 1839 and settled in Allen county, O. Aaron Brown married Aseneth in 1842; at the old homestead. Robert Beattie married Elisa in 1849; on Lexington road, three miles southwest. John H. Richie married Eunice 1850 and moved to Farmington, Vanburen County, Iowa. Wm. P. married Eleanor Craig in 1853; on J.H. Cook's farm. Catharine married Samuel Cockley in 1833 and moved to Farmington, Vanburen county, Iowa. Samuel Cook married Belle M. Cook in 1854 and settled in Morrow county.
From THE OHIO LIBERAL: June 4, 1873