Notes:
John Cook was born and raised in Richmondville, a small suburb of Cobleskill in Schoharie County, New York . John became a prosperous businessman in Worcester, Otsego County, New York. He was a director of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad and was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Cobleskill. The Baptist church provided an outlet for John's devout nature.
Undoubtedly, William helped finance John's business success. The family moved from Schoharie County, New York, to Worcester, Otsego County, New York, around 1835. It is not known what prompted this move, which was about 12 miles southwest along the Susquehanna River. The river and road system fostered travel along this route and they surely were familiar with all of the area surrounding Richmondville and Cobleskill, as well as the area across the river in Worcester, Otsego County, New York. Around the time of the move to Worcester John married Cordelia Hartwell.
The 1840 U.S. census for Otsego County, New York, lists John Cook with 1 male, aged 30-40; 1 female, age 20-30; and 1 female, aged 15-20. John would have been 36. John's first wife, Cordelia, was probably the female, aged 20-30. Their marriage on the 23rd of January, 1834, was recorded in the family bible. It is unknown who the other female, aged 15-20 was. Since census records prior to 1850 only list the name of the head of household there is no way to definitely identify who the other female was.
John became a merchant in Worcester and his involvement in the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad brought success and controversy. Evidently, not everyone wanted to see the railroad transit their town. A letter to the editor in the Worcester Times, written by S. S. Burnside, appearing a few days after John's death, tells of John's involvement in the fledgling railroad. He took an active role in the new railroad, "…liberally subscribing for its stock. He was persecuted and abused by those who ignorantly opposed it." A subsequent letter to the editor, this time by John's brother-in-law, Robert F. Queal, reiterates his "friendship and service to the Susquehanna Road".
The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad stretched along the Susquehanna River through the Schenevus Valley from Binghampton, New York, in the Southwest of New York, to Albany, New York, in the Northeast, with stops in Bainbridge, Unadilla, Otego, Oneota, Cherry Valley and Cobleskill. Service commenced in 1869, bringing many new enterprises to the area. The railroad signed a long-term contract with the Delaware and Hudson Railroad to facilitate transportation of coal from the mining region in Northeastern Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. The coal was then transported south to New York City and north along the Hudson. The Delaware and Hudson Railroad eventually purchased the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, which was in turn obtained by the Canadian Pacific Railway when it acquired the Delaware and Hudson in the 1990s.
The arrival of the first trains in Worcester brought a surge of prosperity to the small community. In the early days there were as many as 5 trains a day. Hops was the farm crop, with lumber and mills adding to the economy. Poles, boxes, and drying kilns were turned out by the mill. Eventually, a blue mold turned the crops to potatoes.
John married for the second time at the age of 44. He and his wife, Celinda Fuller, had two children in Worcester. In 1841, he was a selected as clerk of the Second Street Baptist Church in Worcester and served in that capacity until just before his death. John built a fine house at the corner of Main and Cook Sts. during the Civil War. John's granddaughter, Nella Cook Whitcomb, later lived in the house, which still stands in Worcester, Otsego county, New York.
Sources:
- Cook Family Bible, H.& E Phinney, Cooperstown, N.Y. 1832. (NYHSA, Cooperstown, New York), John b. July 29, 1808.
- New York State Historical Association, Worcester, Otsego Times
Newspaper, 22 March 1878; Pg. , col 3&4 (pt. 1), In Memoriam. The
funeral services over the remains of Mr. John Cook were held at the
Baptist Church on Friday last, at 1 1/2 o'clock, p.m., Rev. J. Evans,
Rev. H. Brotherton, and Rev. I. Powers conducted the devotional exercises;
Rev. T. Simpkins, pastor of the church, preached from Psalms 16-11.
The choir sang selections made by the family of the deceased. The church
was densely crowded. Mr. Cook was one of our oldest and most respected
citizens, and a brief sketch of his life and character will not be out
of place here. He was born in the town of Cobleskill.(that part of it
now known as Richmondville.) July 29th, 1808. His father, William Cook,
was well known by many of the present citizens of Worcester, as a man
of good qualities as a citizen, and as an earnest Christian. he died
about seventeen years ago. John Cook came to Worcester when he was 29
years of age, and for nearly 40 years has been identified with the interests
of our village. For nearly thirty years he was engaged in the mercantile
business here, when a few years ago he retired to spend the remainder
of his days on his farm. He was one of the leaders in the movement that
resulted in bringing the Albany and Susquehanna R.R. thro' the Schenevus
Valley, and was one of the directors of the road from its commencement
to the time of his death. His name is identified with the Maple Grove
Cemetery as one of its projectors, and he was given liberally of his
time and money to make that beautiful spot still more beautiful, as
the sleeping places of the dead. As a business man he was active, enterprising
and honorable. Froom the beginning of his business career to its close
he held the confidence of those associated with him in business relations.
His conception of honor and integrity had been trained to a very high
standard. As a citizen he was a man of strong convictions. His views
of political and social life were as clear to him as the rights and
privileges of citizenship, and he was bold. and uncompromising in enunciating
them; while at the same time, he was respectful to (unreadable) he was
kind and sympathetic; always willing to help the poor, the needy and
the distressed, according to his ability. In speaking of his religious
character, we cannot do better than give the following extracts from
the sermon preached by his pastor at the funeral on Friday last: - "At
the age of twenty he gave himself to God, and was baptised into the
fellowship of the Cobleskill and Fulton Baptist Church". He was one
of the constituent members of this church, and for twenty six years
filled the office of Church Clerk, with great credit to himself, and
to the satisfaction of this brethren. No living man ever felt the necessity
of the work of a perfect Christ - more than the brother whose remains
lie before us to day. And yet, he was a man of sterling piety. Religion
with him was a thing of life and power. - Christ was the life of his
sould and the great cenre toward which his spiritual powers were ever
drawing. Constantly drinking at the fountain, he was p[repared each
day to do some thing for his Lord. He lived every day with an eye to
the end. In a consultation with him two or three weeks before his death,
he said: "I have set my house in order; I do not know that I have left
anything undone. My trust is solely in Jesus Christ; he is my Saviour
and my all." The Church of the Redeemer was dear to his hear; and he
watched with growing interest the signs of the time. He sympathized
deeply with every movement that had for its object the advancement of
Christ's kingdom in the world. He was a warm friend of this Church from
its organization, to the time of his death, and freely devoted his time
and money to its interests. His regular attendance at the house of God
on the Sabbath - at the weekly prayer meeting - and all the meetings
of the Church, were evidences of his love to Christ, and his zeal for
His cause. - Nor did his interest abate even on his death-bed. His latest
enquireies of his pastor were concerning the welfare of the Church he
loved, and to which he had devoted the best years of his life. He was
during his long life emphatically a diligent worker in the vineyard
of the Master. his remains were interred in the family lot, in the Maple
Grove Cemetery. Mr. Cook will be greatly missed in his family, and in
the Church of which he was a member, as well as in the community.
- New York State Historical Association, Worcester, Otsego Times Newspaper,
27 February 1890, Pg. 3, col. 3, OBITUARY. Mrs. Celinda F. Cook, relic
of the late John Cook died at Worcester Feb. 19th, 1890 after a brief
illness. The sumject of this sketch was born at East Long Meadow, Mass.
Oct. 16th, 1820, converted when 19 years old and baptized by Rev. Mr.
Warren at the above place. She came to this town 38 yrs. ago and immediately
united with the Baptist church of this place. She was faithful and zealous
in the Master's cause to the end. In temperament she was meek and amiable,
always pleasant and sociable. In religious matters always faithful.
She loved the sanctuary, surmounted every obstacle in order to be present
at its services and walked thither often when feeling tired and languid,
but according to her own testimony, always forgot her physical languor
in the spiritual edification she realized in the services. Her place
in God's house was never vacant only when she was compelled to absent
herself on account of failing health. her delight was in the law of
the Lord. The chief subject of her miditations was the life and death
of Jesus christ. The simple and ungarnished history of her Redeemer
always touched her heart and drew tears from her eyes. her christian
character was of a very high type, spoke volumes in behalf of religion
and carried a powerful invluence upon the church and neighborhood. She
felt that her time of departure from this life was rapidly approaching,
talked of this frequently and of the ability of her Redeemer to save
to the uttermost. One had to be but a very short time in her company
to discover that she was a true child of God. The cause of the lord
Jesus Christ was predominant in her mind and the chief subject of her
conversation. Everything else was subordinate to this. Always unassuming,
yet how faithful and efficient she was in the discharge of her religious
duties! She was a God-like woman. It was an easy matter for her to "exercise
godliness" for she prayed much. It could be said of her and her divine
Associate "We twoare a multitude." We state that she was Godlike, yes,
but not perfect, and like all true christians, felt keenly her imperfection.
In the face of sorrow and repeated affliction she walked with God. She
talked a great deal about her Savious'rs love, gave herself to Him in
her youth and continued to love Him until death. Today, she sees Him
as he is. She who was such an inspriation to her pastor in her close
attention to his sermons and her many words of encouragement, who was
such an inspiration to her pastor in her close attention to his sermons
and her many words of encouragement, who was such a silent but efficient
factor in the church, such a tender, wise and good mother, and above
all, such a noble and brilliant christian has gone to her heavenly rest
and to wear the crown of eternal life. Great is our loss, greater her
gain. We moderate our grief in the comforing thought that in her case
we nned not "sorrow as those who have no hope." May God be to the lonely
daughters and to the dear grand-child a refuge and strength in this
their hour of allicaiton, and may they take comfort in the thought that
her departure is only for a season. She has been re-united to those
who have gone before. And may those who are now left behind, when life's
work is done be gathered with them in one unbroken family in that heavely
home. Saturday, Feb. 22nd, 1890, services were held at the house conducted
by Rev. T. P. Morgan, her pastor, assisted by Rev. F. H. Coffran of
the Congregational church. Interment at Maple Grove cemetery.
- New York State Historical Association, Worcester, Otsego Times Newspaper, 27 Jan 1887, Pg. 4, col. 4, Estate of Willis B. Cook, late of Worcester, deceased. Petition for administration. order entered and letters of administration issued to Frances Cook, administratix; W.J. Sloan and Elijah F. Knap, appraisers.
- Maple Grove Cemetery Index , COOK, Emma S. 1859-1931.
- New York Certificate of Death, Registered No. 9, 12550.
- New York State Historical Association, Worcester, Otsego Times Newspaper, February 25, 1931, pg. 1, col. 3, Miss Emma S. Cook, a lifelong and honored resident of our village passed away at her home here at one o'clock last Thursday afternoon after an illness of hardening of the arteries coupled with shock of a broken hip suffered a few days ago at her home. Deceased was the daughter of John and Celenda Fuller and was born in the house where she died on July 27, 1859. Her father was among the prominent residents of this part of the state instrumental in the construction of the Albany & Susquehanna railroad, now the D.& H., and was one of the directors for many years. Miss Cook was a staunch member of the W.C. T.U., a charter member of the Relief Corps, one of the oldest members of the W.R.C., a faithful member of the Baptist church, and for many years a teacher in the Baptist Sunday School. Her kindly ways and upright Christian life won for her the love and respect of all our residents who are deeply grieved that such a useful life must draw to a close. The funeral was held from her late home at four o'clock Saturday afternoon and the body laid at rest in the family plot in Maple Grove cemetery. Services were conducted by Rev. Leslie Jones, assisted by Rev. C.L. Herrick. Surviving are a niece, Mrs. F.D. Whitcomb; a sistern-in-law, Mrs. S.M. Flint, and two grand nephews, Wm. and Leonard Whitcomb, all of Worcester.
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