The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-04
MRS. LAURA COOKE
DIES OF DEBILITY
Her Body Will Lie in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
Her Distinguished Social Career in
Georgetown-The Friend of Cen
eral and Mrs. Grant.

Mrs. Laura S. II. Cooke. widow OF the
late Gov. Henry d. Cooke OF the
District of Columbia. died yesterday
morning at Atlantic City.
The body will be brought here for in
terment beside the remains OF Governor
Cooke I'm Oak HIN Cemetery. The
funeral arrangements have not yet been
announced.
Mrs. Cooke was a native OF Sandusky.
phio, her maiden name being Hum
phreys. Her brother. /. w Humphreys,
Is known throughout the country as the
manufacture Of patent medicine.
In washington Mrs. Cooke is known
tcr the brilliant part she played I'm the
social life OF the Capital in the days
Just after the civil war when the home
OF Governor Cooke IN Georgetown. at
s s and Thirtieth Streets, was
famous for the Inequalities dispensed
there and for the gatherings OF men
olstlnZulshed In thS military and civic
lie Of the nation
Mrs. Cookies Parties.
As the wife OF the highesA mcial Of
the District-Governor Cooke was the
first OF the only two governors the Dis
trict ever had-Mrs. Cooke acted as
hostess at receptions and little social
gatherings in which General Grant. then
President was often an active par
ticiDator- And more than that. by her
Wonderful charm and social tact she
made the Cooke home one that not only
attracted the highest officials OF the
hatlon on public occasions. but they
were 10 be met at this hospfta HE
Georgetown mansion on the footing OF
everyday visitors.
The Cooke family and the Grants
were especially intimate. and out OF the
friendship which grew up between Mrs
Grant and Mrs. Cooke the general him
self was 20 be found frequently there.
and being exceedingly democratic IN
bis habits. even as President he would
very often stop in 20 chat with Gov
ernor Cooke on the wide cool veranda
OF an evening and TO smoke a cigar
Brilliant Social Affairs.
Georgetown residents recall to this
day the brilliant %3Cial affairs which
took place I'm these days at the Cooke
home On one occasion so many in
yltatiOns had been issued to a recep-
ton that hurry orders had to be Is
porary ballroom in the yard of the
Cooke home, where the guests could be
accommodated Eleven hundred guests
81 all attended the function. and the
afair was . great success. Dinners
and smaller parties We're held without
end. In all OF these functions Mrs
Cooke, with her distinguished presence
and her charm as an entertainer, shone
respondent, and she enjoyed the adj
miratiOn and respect OF such men as
Chief Justice Chase. General Sherman,
and other leaders.
When Husband Was Governor.
At that time she was thirty-hve years
OF age. Governor Cooke held office
from May. 1SI. to December Is. 1873.
He died IN 1892 and since then Mrs.
Cooke has spent much Of her time in
Sandusky Ohio Governor Coolra gain
ed his prominence through his efforts
during the civil war in fioating loans
abroad for the Government hn carrying
on the war
4 Son he was practically the agent OF
this Government I'm floating the war
toans. He lived In Europe with Mrs
Cooke Tor several years during this
lime. His work gained him the friend
ship Of General Grant
On returning 20 Washington citizens
who were DESTROYS Of CARRYING on The
great scheme Of improvements for the
city planned az that time. desired to
select him as their leader on account ~
HIS well known financial standing and
business ability. He inaugurated the
work which was later carried out bv
Governor Shepherd, the only other man
who ever had the gubernatorial title iu
the District
Three sons survive Mrs. Cooke. They
are Col. Henry -. Cooke. who resides
In New York. and Is engaged IN bust J
ness there; Major Fred C. Cooke. who
ls Ia the army, and Pitt Cooke. who
until recently. lived IN Washington.
The funeral arrangements viii be made
today.
Mrs. Cooke was about seventy-ave
years Of age, and died from senile de- /
baity.