COOK FAMILY LETTERS 1841 to 1913 collected by FAYE E. HANSEN edited by KENNETH R. COIN 1981 EXPLANATION and CREDIT The majority of the following letters were written by three generations of the Cook family of Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan. After the death of Maud Randall Cutler in 1956, the letters came into the possession of Faye E. Hansen who added to the collection letters in the possession of Mrs. Cutler's son, Neil, and some in the possession of her nephew, Gerald Pike. In the editing of these letters, strict attention has been given to retaining the original spelling of words. The only changes in this regard have been the correcting of misspelled family names and place names. Cook Family Joseph Cook (1790-1863) and Charlotte (Herrick) Cook (1795-1860) were the parents of the following known children: George H., Joseph W., Addison U., Charlotte, Abigail, Amori Benson, Sally Ann, and William H. H. Charlotte is buried in the DeWitt Cemetery while Joseph is in the Hemlock Lake Cemetery, Hemlock, New York with his son George H. George H. Cook (1815-1909) married Sarah Ganoung and after her death, Sarah Swan. He lived in Livingston County, New York. Joseph W. Cook (1816-1858) Addison U. Cook (1817-1897) married Antoinette E. Alexander and lived in Olive Township. Charlotte (1824-1864) married Moses S. Newman. Abigail Cook (18247-1903) married Phineas R. Freeman. William H. H. Cook (1837-1862). Company B 3rd Michigan Cavalry in Civil War. Died of disease on September 24, 1862, New Madrid, Missouri. Burial National Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. Sally Ann died in her teens. Amori Benson Cook (1831-1919) married Amina L. Simmons (1836-1910) and had three daughters: Estella, Ida Ophelia, and Maud (died as an infant). Amina was the daughter of Atwell (1806-1881) and Lovina (Knapp) Simmons (1805-1891). Ida Ophelia Cook (1856-1928) married William B. Randall on October 23, 1880, in Riley Twp. They had two daughters: Edna Amina (1881-1936) who married George Simmons Pike, and Maud D. (1883-1956) who married Marcus DeLafayette Cutler. William B. Randall married second Josephine (VanRiper) Walters on January 9, 1889, at Petoskey, Michigan. Their son, LeRoy Randall, was born August 3, 1889, at Pellston, Michigan. He served in the Navy during World War I and died June 25, 1961. No additional information or death record for William B. Randall has been found. Photos of many of these people are in the DeWitt District Library local history collection. April 17, 1840, Wm. M. Anthony & M. M. Avery Dr to 113 lbs of flour at 20/- $2.83. By Joseph Cook I. H. Gillett [or J. H. Gillett] To George Cook, Milford, Oakland Co., Mi. DeWitt, Dec. 13th, 1841 Dear Brother and sister, As I have an opportunity to send a few lines to you by our cousin. We are at Uncle's yet. We have heard from Joseph twice. Addison received a letter from him a few days before we got here. Uncle's folks have had a letter from Mark and James. They were well. The last time we heard from Joseph he was in Landgrove but he calculated to spend the winter in Manchester. He wrote that Uncle Ebnezer Cook was dead. Died the second of Oct. I have been to see Altie twice since I have been here and to school a few days and to a quilting bee meeting twice. Father has not got his house done yet, he has been quite unwell and has been so ever since we started from Milford. Amori and Henry was quite unwell last week, they have got some better. Mother is troubled with the head a great deal. Aunt has the ague some and I have a dreadful time with my teeth but Doctor Marvin looked at them the other morning so I don't think they will ache any more. I had forgot to tell you how my face swelled. Give my best respects to enquiring friends. I have nothing more to write. It will take you more than one day to find out what I have written. Sally Ann sends her love to all, especially little Mary Abigail Cook, George, and Sarah, and Charlotte. Give my love to Sarah and kiss Mary forty times for Charlotte. (Abigail Cook) Well, George, as Abigail is done writing I will try to write you a few lines to let you know a little about our health which is not very good at present. Your father's health has been very poor since he left Milford. He has not been able to labor any of the time. He has tried to do a little to his house, he has had some help and got it up and the lower part mostly chinked. If he has good luck in getting boards for the floor a few more days work would make it comfortable to live in. We have all been here at Uncle's ever since Lorenzo left here, which makes it very inconvenient for them as your Aunt's health is rather poor. She has had the ague some since we have been here. Your Uncle's health is not very good, the rest of the family are well. Page 1 Amori and Henry have been very unwell for about a week but are some better today. I do not know yet whether I am homesick or not. I think I could tell better if I could have a good cup of tea. We have not had any this two weeks. Uncle's folks received a letter from Mark dated the 18th of November. He and James were well. He wrote that he received a letter from Joseph dated the 5th of the same month. He was then in Landgrove. Your father, myself, Uncle Woodbury and Aunt Nancy visited David and Altie Scott about two weeks ago, had a very good visit; helped them eat a roasted pig and a rice pudding. Your father wants to have you send him one dollars worth of nails, 2 pounds ten pennys, 2 pounds shingle nails, the rest eight pennys, a few awls and tax and a pound or two of rosin. There is no tea in this place at present, if you can send us a pound of good tea your father will pay you for it. We all join in sending our love to you all. Uncle Moses' family included. This from your mother, Charlotte Cook Once I had a true love, I loved her as my life. I'd freely give my heart and hand if she had been my wife. She oft times looked on me, with scorn and disdain. The answer that she gave me, you can't come again. I cannot tell the reason why she should use me so I'll sing her fair praises, where ener I do go. Her teeth is white as ivory, her cheeks is red as wine, And her sollesing black eye doth my heart so confine. It was last Sunday evening, she freely give me o'er. She took me by the hand and led me to the door. To be a woman's slave sir, is something I disdain So now I tell plainly, you can't come again. When twelve months was over, over and above Cupid sent an arrow and wounded my love. Wounded my love, which caused her to complain. She wrote me a letter that I might come again. Page 2 I wrote her a letter all for to let her know That love would create where I never should go And whilst I am single and on this earth remain, I'll remember you old madam, but I shant come again. John Gillet Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y. 1842 I then killed my old cat and, She made me an elegant stew I then bid adieu to all women All women I then bid adieu. J. W. Cook To George Cook, Milford, Oakland Co., Mich. Riley, July 15th 1842 George, I now sit down to pen a few lines to you in answer to yours which we received the 10th and were very much pleased to hear from you but very sorry to hear of your ill health. I hope you will be very careful and try to regain your former health which is one of the greatest blessings we can enjoy on this world. We were pleased to hear that Charlotte's health was improving. I expect she was disappointed but not more so than we were by her losing the chance of coming home. Mr. Gould did not go as was expected when you left your father and myself. Went to Esquire Utley's Saturday the 2nd to visit Deacon Thayer and his wife and your father was calculating to see Mr. Gould but they told us that Mr. Ingersoll was going to Detroit after a load of merchandise for the merchant at Grand River and they were going to ride home with him and you may suppose that we were disappointed indeed. O, Charlotte keep up good courage and be careful of your health and I trust it will not be long before an oppertunity will present for you to return home once more and I think it will be a joyful day to us all for we want to see you more than pen can describe. We received a letter from Joseph dated the 26th the same day that we received yours. Father and myself were at Uncle Pike's. David and Altie came there and brought them both and you may guess we were pleased to hear from you all.