JOHN COOK was born October 1, 1787, in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., a son of Robert and Mary (Brown) Cook, who were born, reared and married in Ireland. In 1785 they emigrated to America, first locating in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., and in 1787 crossed the country to Washington county, locating on the farm where their descendants are yet living. They passed their lives on the old place, making many improvements on it. Robert and Mary Cook were members of the Associate Reformed Church, and both died many years ago. Their children were Jane, Martha, Archibald, John and Margaret. John Cook, at the age of ten years, came with his parents to Cecil township, this county, where he passed the rest of his days in agricultural pursuits. On April 7, 1814, he was united in marriage with Olevia Coulter, a native of Allegheny county, Penn., who bore him six children, namely: Robert (deceased), Moses C. (a widower, living in Bridgeville, Allegheny Co., Penn.), John (married, residing in Belmont county, Ohio), Jane, Mary and Margaret, all three deceased. The mother died August 22, 1824, having been fatally injured by an accident while returning from church, and February 16, 1826, Mr. Cook married Ursula Herriott, a native of Allegheny county, Penn., by which union five children were born viz.: George H. (married, a physician and surgeon of McDonald, Penn.), Archibald (deceased), Samuel H. (of whom special mention is made further on), Elizabeth and Hester (both deceased). This wife died July 7, 1838, and on March 10, 1840, Mr. Cook made a third choice in the person of Nancy Grier, who was born in 1802, in Allegheny county, Penn., and one son, N. G., came by this marriage. The father, in his political affiliations, voted with the Democratic party, and served as supervisor of Cecil township. He and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Robinson's Run, in which he was an elder. He died August 4, 1861, and March 2, 1864, his widow was laid to rest. SAMUEL H. COOK, son of John and Ursula (Herriott) Cook, was reared on the home place, and received his education in the common schools. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age, meanwhile working on the farm. In 1868 he moved to McDonald, where he embarked in the undertaking business, and in 1882 he opened a general store, which he conducted eight months; then engaged iu the furniture business, which, in connection with undertaking, he still conducts; he also does embalming. Mr. Cook has made his own success, and deservedly enjoys the confidence of the public. In April, 1857, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of James Donaldson, by which union was born one child that died in infancy, its mother following it to the grave in 1858. On June 5, 1861, Mr. Cook married Mary A., daughter of Andrew Gilfillan, of Allegheny county, Penn., and three children were born to them: Nancy Grier (wife of Prof. J. M. Shaffer, of Slippery Rock), Dora (deceased at the age of eighteen) and Mary E., at home. The mother of these children dying December 22, 1884, Mr. Cook married, for his third wife, March 14, 1892, Amanda C. Smith, of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the U. P. Church and for the past twenty-five years has been an elder in same about ten years at Robinson's Run, the remainder of the time at McDonald. He was a substantial donator toward the building of the present U. P. church at McDonald. N. G. COOK, only son of John and Nancy (Grier) Cook, was born July 8, 1842, on the home farm in Cecil township, where he was reared, receiving his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood. On March 28, 1872, he was united in marriage with N. Isabella Gladden, a native of Smith township, daughter of William and Nancy (Brown) Gladden, and granddaughter of William and Mary Ann (Woods) Gladden, the former born in eastern Pennsylvania, the latter in England. William Gladden (a son of this couple) was born in 1797, in Cecil township and in early manhood was married to Nancy Brown, who was born in 1806, in Allegheny county, Penn., a daughter of John and Mary (Acheson) Brown, natives of Lancaster county, Penn., who migrated to Noblestown, Allegheny county, in 1792, and in 1800 moved to a farm in South Fayette township, same county. He died in 1848, having been preceded to the "long home" several years by his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Gladden resided on a farm in Smith township, this county, until 1855, when they moved to a place in Allegheny county, where the rest of their lives was passed. They were the parents of three children: Mary Ann (who married Joseph McConnell, and died in 1863), William (married, died in 1872) and N. Isabella (wife of N. G. Cook). The father died in 1871, the mother on December 31, 1884; they were members of the Robinson Run U. P. Church. N. G. and N. Isabella (Gladden) Cook located on the farm where they are now living, containing 212 acres of good land, which has been in the possession of the family over one hundred years. Four children have blessed their union: Nannie B. (deceased in March, 1888, at the age of fourteen years and six months), John L., William G. and Isabella Haddessa. Mr. Cook votes with the Democratic party, and has served as a member of the school board. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Robinson's Run.

Text taken from page 1226 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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