Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-24

AtN6 tOu vvHCiC AlC HAS ouiSC
More than so years ago, q young :
teacher Of Vermont heard with thou
sands Of others the famous words of
Horace Greeley, Go west young
man. and grow up with the country"
George w. Cook of Lewistown Was
that young man and since 1889, when
in needing the call of Greeley, he
came to Montana, he has grown
up with the country" He has seen
the gradual development of all Of
Montana's industries as a rancher,
public official, merchant and since
1908, a member of the Cook Reynolds
company, central Montana real estate
firm.
Mr.. Cook was born at Malone, N. Y,
Aug. 80, 1853, the son of Chauncey and
Lucretia Cook. He attended public
schools of Malone and later the acade-
my at Barre, VT. When he was 10 he
taught his first term of winter school.
For several years he alternated be-
tween teaching school during the VIM
ter and assisting on the farm during
the summer until 1880 when he came
west by railroad to Sioux City, Ia, by
river steamer to Fort Benton and by
stage to Helena and Fort Logan.
During his first period as q resident
of the territory of Montana, he was
employed on a sheep ranch neal Fort
Logan, where he gained experience that
assisted him In later years. Later he
vas employed by William Gaddes and
in 1883 he engaged in the sheep bust
ness with DR.. w. Parberry their ranch
being on Dog creek, then In Meagher
but now in Fergus county.
In 1890 he was appointed receiver of
the United States land Office at Lew
iStoWn and held that position until
July, 1894. He was later elected
treasurer of Fergus county and con-
Quoted affairs of that Office until 1898
when he retired to enter the firm OF
Cook and Hilger, Lewistown realtors
David Hilger. now state historical IL
brarian, wa his associate In that firm
In 1903 he retired from the firm and
for a short period was q grocery mer-
chant. In 1908 he organized the Cook
Reynolds real estate firm. with which
he has been connected since. He was
elected mayor of LeWistoWn in 1895
and in 1900, when the town was in
~corpOrated, he was chosen first mayor
Of the city. Mr.. Cook also served a.
state land agent from March Is, 1922
to March Is, 1926.
Oct. 81, 1929, at a family reunion a
the Cook residence in LewistoWn, Mr.
and Mrs. Cook, with their children
grandchildren and great grandchildren
celebrated their SIS wedding anniver.
sary. Two of the three children, whit
with Mrs. Cook made the trip across
the continent in 1881 to join MI. Cook
were present at that celebration
Chauncey Cook, now affiliated with hi
father in the Cook-Reynolds company
and Mrs. j. H. Stephens of Great Falls
The third, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellis, is nov
a resident of San Diego, Calf.
Other children of Mr.. and Mrs. Cool
are Mrs. Frank Doran, Mrs. Tom Baker
Fanny S. Cook and Mrs. j. M. Shaver
all of LeWistoWn, and Mrs. S. P. Viii
liams and William H. Cook of Cali
fornia. There are 81 grandchildren
and 6 great-grandchildren, the fourth
generation being represented by tn
grandchildren of DR.. and Mrs. Stephen
and Mrs. Ellis.
Probably among the more interesting
of the memories Mr.. Cook treasures o
his early days in Montana is his frs
trip to Montana territory in 1889, par
~ticularly the long, slow trip up tn
Missouri on the old paddle whee
steamers. 1t required six weeks to ge
to Fort Benton from Sioux City, tina
time being spent on two steamers,
change being made at Bismarck, N. D
The last part Of the journey was mad'
on the Helena and Mr.. Cook vividl
remembers difficulties the captain en-
countered with numerous Sandbar
that seemingly accumulated in tn
river bed at night.
One sandbar in particular was to-
difficult even after the ingenuity O
the crew had been taxed to the ut
most. SparS placed on both sides o
the fore part of the boat that hat
grounded, together with an intricat
system of windlasses and hoists, sup
plemented by the paddle wheel, was tn
usual method of overcoming sandbars
but after two days of futile effort tn
captain was forced to accept the ale
Of another river boat captain. For on
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