George W. Cook | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cook, c. 1907 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromColorado'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907 | |
| Preceded by | Franklin Eli Brooks |
| Succeeded by | Edward Thomas Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Washington Cook (1851-11-10)November 10, 1851 |
| Died | December 18, 1916(1916-12-18) (aged 65) |
| Resting place | Fairmount Cemetery |
| Occupation | Legislator, military officer, miner |
George Washington Cook (November 10, 1851 – December 18, 1916) was aU.S. Representative fromColorado.[1] At eleven years of age, he ran away from home to serve during theCivil War. He was a drummer boy and then a chief regimental clerk. After the war, he completed his public school education and then attendedIndiana University. His varied career included working for railroad and mining companies, and service as a mayor and a legislator. He was department commander for theGrand Army of the Republic.
Born inBedford, Indiana, his parents were Agnes (Dodson) and Samuel Cook. His great-grandfather, George W. Cook, served in the American Revolutionary War from North Carolina. His maternal grandfather served as a major in theWar of 1812.[2]
At the age of eleven Cook ran away from home to enlist during theCivil War.[1][a] His father served in the 13th Indiana Cavalry Regiment as a lieutenant and died of disease during the war[3] or from wounds he received.[2] His only brother was a bugler in his father's regiment and died at age 15 during the war.[3]
He enlisted in the15th Indiana Infantry Regiment, in theUnion Army and served as a drummer boy[1] for a number of regiments in theArmy of the Cumberland.[3] He was transferred to the155th Indiana Infantry Regiment, and served as chief regimental clerk,[1][b] a position he assumed at age 14. He was the youngest chief regimental clerk in the Union Army.[3] He was with GeneralWilliam Tecumseh Sherman onSherman's March to the Sea and served until the end of the war.[4]
At the close of theCivil War, he attended the public schools,Bedford Academy, andIndiana University.[1]
In 1872, he had a job for a railroad in Chicago.[2] He was in Chicago in 1880 when he entered the employ of theLouisville, New Albany, and Chicago Railway. Cook moved toLeadville, Colorado, in 1880 and became division superintendent of theDenver & Rio Grande Railroad.[1] He suspended railroad service and organized a group to save 100 miners who were trapped in the Homestake mine by a snowslide near Leadville. During another winter storm when people began to starve, he hired 1000 miners to clear the railroad tracks so that Leadville could receive food shipments.[2] He served as mayor ofLeadville from 1885 to 1887.[1]
He moved to Denver in 1888 and became general sales agent for theColorado Fuel and Iron and became department commander of theGrand Army of the Republic for Colorado and Wyoming in 1891 and 1892. He became an independent mining operator in 1893 and became senior vice commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1905 and 1906. He also organized and commanded the Cook Drum Corps ofDenver.[1]
Cook was elected as aRepublican to the60th Congress (March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1908.
After leaving office, Cook returned to Colorado and resumed mining operations.[1] He lived in Denver that later part of his life, until about 1914 when his mental state declines and he was admitted into a state asylum inPueblo, Colorado and died there[4] on December 18, 1916.[1][c] He was interred inFairmount Cemetery in Denver.[1]
He married Nina Florence, the daughter of John Boyle, a Canadian merchant.[2] They had one son, George Washington Cook Jr.[4] who was first lieutenant of the 43rd Infantry.[2]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromColorado's at-large congressional district 1907–1909 | Succeeded by |
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