Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-27
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR !
paENRY D. COOKE THE MAN.
An Excellent Appointments

It hardly necessary for US TO say that no APP
pOintmeDt more acceptable 20 this community
Goa possibly have been lie by President
G.aI..
Tie ZANE OF Eenry ID. Cooke is synonymous
with everything that Is honorable, worthy, and
public spirited; and be is so thoroughly identi-
led with the Interests of the District, and so well
informed concerning the needs OF the people
that he is specially adapted to take the helm Of
our new government
twas a matter of great so!ici,Gde TO all inter
ested in the success CT the new plan territorial
government that its organization should he en-
trusted % competent hands, and the Preside ut
in the selection OF Mr.. Cooke has shown a
thoughtful regard for the welfare OF the Dis.
uict that merits the gratitude Of every good
citizen.
The -ears of those who have dreaded the an
pointment Of some outsider, or some mere psrty
hack, are happily dispeled, and the new District
government will fortunately enter upon its e1-
perinental career headed by a man in whom III e
entire community have confidence.
Career Of Henry ID. Cooke.
We are indebted to our neighbors Of tie San
Jny Gozctte for the following interesting psrtic-
ulars OF the life Of Mr. Cooke:
Henry ID. Cooke. of the eminent firm CT jay
Cooke X Co., bankers, and president Of the First
National Bank of Washington, beloved as a
Christian philantbrOpist, respected ~ a valu-
able and worthy citizen, distinguished a. lib
erSl patron of every we'll ised plan for the
moral and intellectual advancement OF the resi-
dents of this District, and ever prominent in
advancing every movement having for it's pnr-
pose the. permaneDce and prosperity OF the Ma
tIOnal Capital, was born November %. ls25 in
the town of Sandusky, Ohio. His distinguished
father, the Hon. Eiutheros Cooke, was one
OF the original settlers of that section OF the
state, and tor many years one OF its most
prominent and influential citizens, and An
early and efficient advocate Of all enter
FrlSes looking to internal improvements e.pe-
orally IN the perfection Of plans and projects
for bulldin = canals and railroads. In connec-
ton with ex President William Henry Harrison
the Hon. Elutheros Cooke organized the frst
railroad company, AMI constructed the first
thirty miles OF railroad ever built west Of Sche-
neCtady, y. y, or the A Allegheny mountains
This was the thir ST ted in the United
States, and II now constitutes a part of a con
tinuous line between Cincinnati and Siudaskv
anu Il known as the Cincinnati! DAYTON and
SaDdDsky railroad.
Mr. Cooke father was also one OF the ablest
lawyers III the State OF Ohio, pre- eminent as an
advocate and remarkable for his uniform sue
cess before jury. His fame was such IN At he
was frequently called to the assistance OF cliene
living III the adjoining States Of Indiana aud
kentucky He also eniOyed the rare anu dis
tlnguished honor OF being admitted to full prac-
lice In the courts OF Montreal and Quebec
During his public Life he was a member of both
branches Of the legislature of the State of Ohio
a member OF Congress Tor Ohio, and as the col
nent men OF Ohio, he held high rank az their
peer. AS gentleman OF ample resources
he afforded TO his children the means of lib
eTal education, of which the subject of this
sketch FULLY availed himself He entered Ale
ghany College, al Meadville, Pennsylvania in
the winter OF lS3g-Iu and remained there two
wears and then finished his collegiate course a.
Pennsylvania University, Kentucky, gradual
ing and taking the degree of Bachelor of Art
ia August, lSii He graduated with the FIRST
honors OF his class, one embracing nam since
distinguished as soldiers and statesmen
MI Cooke, after or aduating, entered the law
once OF his brother, Pitt Cooke Of the fir N OF
Beecher X Cooke. He continued his LEGAL
studies IN the city of Philadelphia. ,Dd while
there lie was a frequent contributor 70 the lit
eTaIy journals and magazines of the day and
a contemporary friend OF the brilliant and
much lsmented Joseph e. Neal, remembered
asthe author OF the celebrated charcoal sketches
and other popular works.
In 1916 Mr. Cookies health being somewhat
impaired 10y severe study and clsse application
he accepted position in the consular Off &c of
hi. brother in-law, the Hon. William q. More
head, then United States Consul, under the ad-
mIListration OF President Polk, at Valparaiso.
Chm. Before sailing from Baltimore, Mr..
Cooke engaged to correspond regularly with the
JRued States Gazette, then edited by Hon. Jos.
<. CE lander, and with the Courier and Ea}uir>r,
then under the editorial management Of the
late Hon. Henry j. Raymond, and owned by
General James Watson Webb. Correspondence
from that quarter OF the world was At that time
very rare, and the pecuniary considerations e1-
nature. In this connection, a. subsel ne mt
events Will show, he was enabled 10 render
the country an important service. While
the barque HOrtensia, in which MIR. Cooke h al
sailed was Oft the Bermudas she encountered a
violent hurricane, was thrown OH her beam
ends, and with her masts carried away aud her
buiw aiks stove ia, WAS in leaky and sinking
cOnuitlon. The buOyant nature OF her cargo
however, saved her from sinking, ard on the
subsistence OF the storm, which had lasted for
Tour or hye days, jury-mast were rugged, and,
he IA hA tr1g oil .tt I'll tl....a
the ship carried sail enough to run before the
trades. which blew the vessel in the direction
OF the WmGward Islands, forming the northern
boundary of the Caribbean Sea. They attempted
to make the island OF Santa Cruz, but the diff
euity OF managing the vessel prevented this
our they succeeded in entering the harbOr OF
the Swedish Island Of st. Thomas. Here Mr.
Cook was detained over a month before secur-
ing vessel in which to leave the island.
But his active and pr ctical mind did not re-
main unemployed. Hon. David Mar OF New
Jersey WIS then our commercial agent at St.
Thomas. To MIR. Cooke he .gested the i5ea
OF a line OF steamers, to run directly from New
aoIk TO Chagres; hence across The Isthmus up
comprehendiDg the value and Importance OF
these suggestions. gathered in their support
many statistics, and through the medium OF
ms correspondence with the United States Ca
Zette and the New York Courier and Enquirer |
he made the idea feasible and att active as to
arrest the attention OF the entire country. AT |
the same time, and subseq uentiy, tbs 50 yalua-
BILE facts and features were embodied in his Of |
fetal dispatches from the Consular ICE OF AR |
Nlorehead, at Valparaiso, to the Department OF |
State. The strong and favorable impression
made by these dispatches upon the 1
mind Of exPresdent Buchanan thcn |
Secretary OF State, secured for the pro. n
ject his unqualified endorsement, and in the
next message OF Mr.. Polk, then President of 1
the United States, To Congress, he mentioned |
this project for favorable Consideration. Con-
gress, entertaining the same views, acted |
promptly IN the matter, and in q little over two |
years from the date Of the original suggestion |
q steam frigate was built and line OF steamer. |
were in actual operation from New York to San |
Francisco, under the auspices of the Pacific /
Mail Steamship Company, of which Rowland /
X Aspinwall were the leading and controlling
spirits.
This, it will be recollected, was during the
war with Mexico.
.. In the summer or 1917. Mr.. Cooke, rs SUPER
cargo, visited California in charge OF = ship
laden with supplies for the United States armv |
and with general mere andise, and during the i
two or three succeeding years he devoted him
-eh entirely TO commercial pursuits, being en- /
gagged In trading between San Francisco Ard
South American ports. The general knowledge
possessed by MIR. Cooke and his power of ao-
Pile alton in turning this knowledge to the b-st
account, is we'll illustrated by the fact that for
one voyage, being unable to procure a compa-
tent ship master, he successfully navigated he
vessel himself.
During the progress OF Mr.. Cookies mercan-
tile businets the Pacific coast, finding d fl
Guilty in procuring transportation for his mer.