Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-21

John r. Cook, SeventySiX years of age,
one OF the prominent colored residents of
the National Capital. former member of
the board of school trustees and at one
time collector of taxes. three times dele
gate to republican national conventions a
member of the board of aldermen under
the old city government and also register
of the city, died at his home, 111S 18th
street northwest, this morning at !
o'clock.
Death was due to paralysis. He suffered
a previous attack about one year ago.
Early this morning he was stricken again
and began steadily to sink
Physicians were called. When they ar
rived he was dead.
Family at Bedside.
Gathered about the bedside when the
end came were his wife, Mrs. Helen Apo
Cook: his daughter, Miss Elizabeth A.
Cook. and a son. Charles G. Cook
No arrangements have been made for
the funeral. 1t will probably be held from
the Fifteenth Street Colored Presbyterian
Church. founded by Rev. John F. Cook,
father of the man now dead.
He has three other sons, John F. Cook,
jr., and George r. Cook, both of northern
Idaho. and Ralph v. Cook of Baltimore
All have been communicated with by tel
egraph.
Native of Washington.
John F. Cook was born in this city Sep
TENDER 81, 1893. He was educated partly
In the school taught by his father at Gen.
trail College, New York, and at Oberlin.
He himself taught school here for a
short period. and subsequently, taught a
achool for free colored children in New
Orleans until the approach of the civil
war in 1880, ended that service.
Returning to this city he resumed his
work of educator until 1867, when he ac-
cepted a clerkship in the office of the
collector of taxes for the city OF Wash
ington, being the first .3lored man to
hold such a position.
In 1858 he became a member of the
board of aldermen by which the city was
then governed.
In 1863 he was elected register of the
city.
During the period of his service in
this capacity the country was under
going the great agitation for the enact
ment OF the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution Of The
United States. His position as well as
lis business prominence brought him
into contact with many leading men Of
the country and he eXerted his influ-
ence in favor of this Legislation.
opposed Jim crow Law.
He was also instrumental during thi.
period in having repealed much legisla-
ton affecting the District of Columbia
which was odiops to the negro race
Among this was discrimination in
street cars and other common carriers
On one occasion he entered Il car pla-
carded For Whites with the purpose
of having himself elected so as to have
a case to carry before the courts and to
Congress.
During his early days as tea cher in
the District no appropriation was made
out OF the public funds for the MAIN
tenance of schools for negro children
His almost unaided efforts secured an APP
propria ton of one-third of all the public
school money for negro schools.
In 1874 he was appointed collector of
taxes for the District of Columbia
Until the beginning of his illness he
was a member of the board of children )
guardians and Of the executive commit
tee of Howard University. Up TO his
death he retained his membership on
the board of trustees of Howard Uni
versity, the board of trustees of the
National Association for the Relief of
Destitute colored Women and Children
and the board of trustees for the CO.
lumbar Harmony Society