Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-11-27

ASof'ASoi III JoliCl, WIlCIC
on the preceding Thurs
day morning he had un-
derqone an operation for the re.
moval of his tonsiIs. Mr.. Hooks
death was entirely unexpected. A
blood clot touching against the brain
is believed to have beeI the cause OF
his sudden passing on.
News of his death reached here at
O7;lO Saturday night in a long distance
phone call to the First National Bank,
where Mr.. Hook served as vice presi-
dent and chief executive officer. The
bank was full OF people at the time,
and tho message travelled with haste
through the business district, leaving
a trail OF sorrow in its wake.
Until an instant before his death Mr..
Hook was thought to be well on the
road to recovery from the operation.
ihe nurse was alone with him as the
end came. Noticing his head drop
slightly the nurse rushed to his side
to find that with that ever so slight
movement OF the head had come
death
At $50 O'Clock Mr. Hook had been
able to partake of his supper at the
/ hospital ana appeared very cheerful
and happy A few moments later
Mrs. Hook left the hospital, where she
| had remained most of the time since
! the operation, for dinner at the Wood
ruff Inn, where she was stopping. Be-
fore she was through dining she was
called back to her husbands side,
reaching there at I O'clock
Blood cot Caused Death.
| 1t is believed that possibly after the
operation Mr.. Hook had slight
bleeding at the throat at a point where
neither-the physicians nor the patient
could detect it. This is thought to
have possibly caused the slight clot
Of blood which passed up to the brain
I AS soon as the news Of the death
reached here, Oscar Haeberle. CASH
ier of the First National bank, and
Mrs. Clara G. Trimble, very close
friend of Mrs. Hook rushed to Joliet
on the 7:16 Rock Island train. Be-
fore they reached the hospital, Lee
Hook of Chicago Heights, brother
of Mr. Hook, had driven to Joliet.
Mrs. Hook returned to Ottawa late
Saturday night in the Lee Hook auto.
The Gladfelter ambulance was dis
patched to Joliet to bring back the
remains, arriving here at 4 o'clock
Sunday morning.
A Good Citizen Gone.
In the passing of Mr.. Hook, Otta-
wa lost one Of her best and most dis
tinguished citizens. He observed his
sixtieth birthday in June, passing
milestone marking sixty years of
right living and of service to his
home town, his friends and his fell
low men
Had he lived until January he would
have celebrated the forty-third an
niversary of the day he entered the
employ of the First National bank
as a messenger. His rise from tho
lowest post ON the banks staff to the
office of vice president and executive
came as the result of close applica-
tion to work and fidelity to his EN-
plOyers. He climbed through the
promotions as bOokkeepers, teller, as.
sistant cashier, cashier and vice pres
ident earning well deserved promo.
tions,
He entered the employ of the bank
as a messenger Jan T. 1880. In 1881
he was appointed a bookkeeper. serv-
ing in that capacity until July, 1887.
Jan. s, 1895, he was appointed a di
rector of the bank. He assumed the
duties of cashier Dec. 81, 1900 He
was elected vice president Jan, s,
1918.
He was also a director of the Utica
State bank
At the time he entered the bank
it was operated by one executive and
two employees. Today twenty-five
men and women constitute the staff
and are on duty at all times in the
institution. This great growth is
said to be largely due to the person
ality and the excellent business man.
agement of Mr. Hook. Under him
he has trained force of assistants
second to none in the state.
Mr.. Hook was elected vice presi-
dent of the First Trust Co of Ottawa
June %, 1920, and has served as an
officers and director of that company
since its organization ON July 5, 1911.
He was for many years director of
the Ottawa Building. Homestead 4
Savings association, and which post
he occupied at the time of his death.
AT one time he served as president
Of this organization for one year.
Served Three Times as Mayor.
For three terms he served as may
or of the city of Ottawa, leaving an
untarnished public record, unrivaled
bv the other public officials Of the
CITY. In public as in private life he
y,,,,-,4cd tho buSinesg brought To his
hands. in an efficient, honest and
willing manner. He was first elected
MAYOR in 1897, having been unani-
mouslv chosen as the republican can.
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