The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-21
Death of Professor Cook.

it schools, which took place at bis residenc'
II on Garden street, on Tuesday evening
a After leaving the school building Mr.
q Cook went to his home and worked in hi
;. garden. About half past four Mrs. Cool
g went into the garden and told her hus
/ band she was going down town for few
: moments, and he then appeared to be IL
n good health. A few minutes later hs
) went into the house and laid down on the
s lounge. His daughter, Marion, was in
: the house, and noticing something wal
q wrong, she went to her fathers side and
: inquired if she could aid him.
e The only response given was pressure
of the hand and a few unintelligible re-
+ marks Marion at once went to the tele-
' phone and summoned Doctors Melcher,
s Darlington and Parsons, who responded
1 promptly. They discovered that Mr..
|, Cook was seriously ill and at once began
e heroic treatment but to no avail, and at
half past ten the sick man died without
regaining consciousness.
For long time, known to but few,
MI. OOOh udQ OCCn ouACAAAS WIN o
disease, which caused his death. Four
years ago he had fall on the ice which
threatened conclusion of the brain, and
+ it was several weeks before he was able to
resume his position in the school Whether
this accident was responsible for later
developments is not clear, but it is GER
tain that it had depressing influence
upon the man.
Mr.. Cook was elected Supervising Prin
cipal of the Mount Holly schools in 1896,
entering upon his duties on the Goth of
March of that year. He had been teach
ing at Clayton, and was chosen from 26
applicants. His character, demeanor, and
the reputation he had in school matters,
commended him to those who had charge
of the selection of Principal. He was a
modest man, an illustration of which may
be given in a single incident. He noticed
there was a vacancy at Mount Holly, and
he remarked to his wife that he had mo-
tion of putting in an application, although
he did not feel very confident of securing
the place as there were so many others
more competent for the position. In the
visits of the committee to Mr.. Cook and
on the two visits he made to Mount Holly
on the subject his actions were far re-
moved from what are generally noticed in
one seeking position.
! To assume the duties of the office to
which he was elected was not an easy
10 oh oFf aaL0 Il J.. ~,
middle of the term, coming from a school
with one fourth the enrolment of the
Mount Holly school. and stepped into the
vacancy caused by the withdrawal of |
Principal who left but little record Of his |
methods. But Mr.. Cook was undaunted |
by the condition which confronted him |
and entered upon his work with a spirit |
that dominated him during the entire |
period he was engaged here, spirit that |
elevated the schools which stand as |
living monument to his lifes energies.
Faithful unto death, is the best epitaph |
that can be placed to his memory First
in his mind were the schools over which
he presided. From early morning until
late at night he gave his time for the adj
vancement of the cause of education and
of the pupils under his care As gen.
tleman who lived near the school for a
long time has often remarked, 81 never
sat up late enough to see Professor
Cook leave the school house." Be-
cause of his tireless efforts and his con
scientious devotion the Mount Holly
schools to-day occupy an enviable position
in the states system and the words of
regret at the death of this worthy man,
coupled with the commendatory remarks
of his value as an educator, are sufficient
evidence of the esteem in which he was
held.
Mr.. Cook was 81 years Of age He
leaves widow, and three children, Edith
Marion, and William, Jr., the first named |
being engaged in teaching at Irvington, a |
suburb of Newark
The funeral took place Saturday after.
noon, services being held at the home of |
deceased, on Garden street. conducted by
Rev. r 81. Baker, pastor of the First
Baptist church. Interment was made in
the Mount Holly cemetery. The remains
were carried to their last resting place by
Eckard p. Budd, Thomas ]. Alcott, Harry
L. Walters, of the Elks' Lodge, and
Frank s. Davis, Frank O. Durand and
Joseph S. Shreve, of the Mount Holly
Lodge of Masons. The Masonic services
were held at the grave. The honorary
A. r
of Northampton township. The funeral
was largely attended. The pupils of the
Mount Holly schools, numbering $50, as
sembled at the Brainard street school
building and, in company with the
teachers, went to the home of their dead
friend and viewed his remains. 1t was an
affecting sight, nearly every child, even
to the smallest, being moved to tears.
There were quite number of members
of the educational fraternity present.
Among them were County Superintendent
Stees; John Glaspell, County Superinten-
dent of Cumberland county; Wilbur
Watts, Principal of Burlington schools;
Mr.. Davis, Principal of Riverton schools;
George N. Megarge, Principal of the
Moorestown schools; the Principal of the
Haddonfeld schools; George W. Ekings,
of the Northeast Manual Training school,
Philadelphia, and others.
The floral tributes were numerous and
beautiful, including a scroll, several
wreaths. and pieces made In red and
white, the colors of the high school AS
the funeral cortege left the house, the bell
on the schoolhouse was tolled 81 times
And thus ended the life of man whose
name will be a household memory for
years to come. When death comes sud |
denly it causes vacancy, not merely in
the affections and relations of home and |
friendship and acquaintance. but III all |
the activities of life. One moment the |
man is in his place apparently vigorous; !
the next he is gone and it is hard to real |
ize he has left US, yet his voice and his
look will seem to greet those who knew
him best Perhaps it is not surprising
that we wonder why such life must be
closed, but it is useless to try and reason
cause for an apparently futile ending Of
useful career. Some day we may know.
but now we must accept the DEGREES of
Providence as they come to US.
Columbus.