Charles Cook’s biography, Akron Township, Tuscola County, Michigan

Copyright © 2000 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the MIGenWeb Archives.  

 

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CHARLES D. COOK, farmer, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., February 22, 1830.  
He was reared and educated in his native State, and came to Eaton County, Mich., 
in the spring of 1852.  He had been married to Miss Lucinda J. Ferren, also of 
Orleans, on May 6, 1850.  On September 19, 1853, Mr. Cook was bereaved of his 
beloved wife, and eleven days later he lost an infant son.  Shortly after this he 
returned to his native place, and on November 12, 1854, he and Miss Philena 
Hammond, also of Orleans, were united in marriage. She was born in St. 
Lawrence County, N. Y., May 6, 1833.  He has now two children, Philena J., 
(now Mrs. George W. Davis) and Charles R., also two adopted children, Lettie, 
(now Mrs. A. Loucks) and Frankie M.  In November, 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Cook 
came to Oakland County, Mich., and about one year later they settled in section 
27, in Akron, where he had bought eighty acres of land on which they still reside.  
His land was 50 cents per acre.  There was then no township organization, and 
they had to underbrush a trail some distance among the trees to reach their chosen 
spot.  Mrs. Cook remained five miles from their place while he made a small 
opening in the woods and prepared a dwelling, then she came and joined her 
husband in the pioneer experience of those early days.  Their nearest postoffice 
was Vassar; but the waving forest has disappeared, and they have in their farm 
home 120 acres of land with eighty acres improved, and with ample supplies of 
large and small fruits and inviting home comforts.  Mr. Cook also owns eighty 
acres of other lands, and property in Caro, and at Akron Station.  In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in the twenty-third Michigan Infantry, Company D., and in a few 
months received a personal injury and was honorably discharged and returned 
home.  Some time after he recovered, and again enlisted in the Twenty-ninth 
Michigan Infantry, Company A, and served until liberty and the Union triumphed 
over slavery and rebellion.  Religiously Mr. Cook belongs to the Seventh Day 
Adventist Church.  Politically he is a straight Republican.