The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-13

visitor of the town and in 1864 was made first selectman. In 1869 he was urged to leave CoIebrook and become manager of the Eagle Scythe company at Riverton, in the town of Barkham- sted, and he filled that position until 1889, when the company discontinued business. He found the company much embarrassed by debt, but by shrewd management and capable business di- rection established it solidly. During his incumbency of the position of mana ger of the company he was for many years postmaster at Riverton. While a resident of Barkhamsted MT. Cooke was early prevented from occupying official station as his republican principles pre- cluded his serving a strongly democrat ic town.
 As candidate for senator in 1881 in the reconstructed Eighteenth district he was elected by a majority of BPS, car rying every town in the district but Colebrook. His senatorial record was so satisfactory to his constituents that he was reelected, against an unusually strong competitor, by a majority of Ill, in a hard luck year for the republicans of the state. During his first term in the senate he was chairman of the com nlittee on education, making an envia- ble record in that position. In his sec ond term he was elected president pro tenn of tie senate, presiding over the body with fairness and dignity. He was also chairman of the committee on engrossed bills in his second term and was on special committee for the in- vestigation of certain matters connected with the Connecticut Agricultural col- lege.
 In 1886 he was chosen lieutenant-gov- ernor on the ticket with Hon. Henry B. Harrison, who was elected governor, serving with dignity and credit. In 1892
 he was delegate to the republican na-
 tional convention in Minneapolis, which
 renominated President Benjamin liar
 rison. In the succeeding election of 1894 he was again chosen lieutenant goverIior.
 His two terms of service as lieuten- ant-governor made him the natural and the logical candidate of the republican
 party for governor, and in 1896 he was
 nominated and elected by majority of
 over fifty-two thousand, the largest in
 the history of the party. He was a trustee of the Industrial School for Girls at Middletown, a director of the Connecticut Humane society and a
 trustee of the, Hartford Theological seminary.
 Ex-Governor Cooke's business ability
 was widely recognized. In 1887 he was appointed receiver with Hon. John R.
 Buck of the Continental Life Insurance company, it's affairs having become | greatly embarrassed by the conduct of | it's chief ocers. He was a Congregation | alist and prominent in the councils of | that church in the state and in the
 country, having been president of the | Congregational Triennial Council in ! Chicago in 1888.
 | Governor Cooke. married in 1858, Ma | tilda E. Webster of Sandisfield, Mass, l who died in 1868 without issue. In 1870 he married Josephine E. Ward, of Riv- erton. Two sons were born to them, l both of whom are dead. His wife and
 one daughter, Miss Edna Cooke, survive him. During his incumbency of the
 governorship he removed from Riverton
 to Winsted, where he had since made
 his home, although he had lived at
 times in Hartford. .. :.