John Cook and Catharine "Katie" Ritter

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Husband John Cook ^{1 2}

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           Born: Abt 1778 - Centre Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 1858 - ? Clarion Co, PA 3
         Buried:  - Cooksburg Cemetery, Clarion Co, PA

       Marriage: 1832 - Clarion Co, PA 3

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   Other Spouse: Susan Helpman (      -1830) 2 3 - Clarion Co, PA

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Wife Catharine "Katie" Ritter ^{2 4}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1872 4
         Buried:  - Cooksburg Cemetery, Clarion Co, PA

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   Other Spouse: William Mayes (      -      ) 2

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Children

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1 F Mary J. Cook ^{3 5}

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           Born:  - Cooksburg, Clarion Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: William Henry (      -      ) 3

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2 M Sebastian Cook ^{3 5}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1898
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah Morgan (      -      ) 3

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3 F Sarah Cook ^{3 5}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1898
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Lindsey (      -      ) 3

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4 F Martha Cook ^{3 5}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Levi Snyder (      -      ) 3

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5 F Levanca Cook ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1898
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Wilford Slocum (      -      ) 3

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6 M Squire S. H. Cook ^{3 5 6}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Emma Mays (      -      ) 3 6

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7 M Elijah Cook ^{3 5}

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           Born: 19 Apr 1835 - Cooksburg, Clarion Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1898
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Violet Phipps (1846-      ) 3
           Marr: 1862 3

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General Notes: Husband - John Cook

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He was of German descent, and became an early settler of Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

He was born east of the Alleghany Mountains, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, and when a young man came to Clarion County. He first located in Beaver township, where he cleared and improved a farm, making it his home for some years, but in 1826 removed to what was known as Cooksburg, and purchased a large tract of land, lying partly in Forest and partly in Clarion counties. He owned two mills on Toms run, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of sawed lumber, which he floated down the Clarion river to the Pittsburgh and Allegheny markets. He also cleared and improved a farm, which he made his home until life's labors were ended. He was a progressive, energetic and reliable businessman, who gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.

He came from east of the Alleghany Mountains, and first settled in what is now Beaver township, Clarion County. About the year 1826 he entered a tract of land at Cooksburg-the nearest settlement to him being five miles, now Scotch Hill-and at once began to clear up the unbroken forest. In the year 1828, having some land cleared and in wheat, and a house or shanty built, he moved his family into it, having to follow a trail or path and make his own road ahead of him through the dense forests of pine and hemlock. He then built a sawmill at the mouth of Tom's run and began the lumber and boat business, floating his lumber and boats to market down the Clarion and Allegheny rivers, often returning in a canoe with groceries and necessaries for his family. His education was very limited, but he was a man of the great industry and the perseverance required to raise and support a large family in the midst of an unbroken wilderness.

He had nine children with his first wife, and seven with the second.

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General Notes: Wife - Catharine "Katie" Ritter

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Another source refers to her as "Mrs. Ritter", suggesting that she had been married previous to her union with Mr. Cook.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1500.

2 Editor, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Company, 1917), Pg 53.

3 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1507.

4 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1388.

5 Editor, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Company, 1917), Pg 54.

6 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 336.