The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-24
DEATH CLAIMS
 CHARLES COOK
Former State Senator, 03, Succunibs in Sleep Yes-
 terday at Hartford

Hartford. Aug. Charles c. Cook, ss, retired building contractor and architect and q former state senator and civic leader in Hartford and West Hartford, died Friday morning at his home, II Highland street, West Hartford. He was the last surviving member of the coun- mission which supervised erection of the State Library and Supreme Court Building. ~
 He had retired Thursday night apparently in good health and when he failed tc appear for breakfast Friday morning his housekeeper and chauffeur investigated to find he had died while in bed. Medical Exam- iner IT. J. Onderd0nk of East Hart- ford, who was summoned, said death had occurred from natural causes during the morning.
 While MT. Cook pursued a build. ing career that took him and the Hartford workers he always ern- ployed, as far west as Denver, Colo, working on some of the largest building jobs in the country, his greatest venture that of supervising details of the State Library Build. ing, came after he retired from ac- tive business in 1879 at the age of 40. He was recognized as an author ity on Mark Twain and frequently lectured about the author before the Ex-Libris Club, an organization of State Library employees which elect- ed him to honorary membership.
 James Brewster, state librarian, said Friday that the death of MT. Cook had deprived the library of a good friend. He paid high tribute to the former senator, who was also one of the staunch supporters of preservation of the Old State House.
 Former Senator Cook had lived in West Hartford since 1893. He was the first assessor of the town in 1898. A West Hartford Republican convention later nominated him to the General Assembly. He was elected to the Lower House in 1901 and in 1903 he was elected state senator from the Fourth District. He was frequent newspaper con- tributor commenting on pressing civic issues.
 Born in Middletown, May 2, 1857, he was brought to Hartford as 6 child by his parents, John and Lucy Pratt Cook. He left high school as a sophomore to work and while still young man became head of the John c. Mead construction firm. Among the structures he built was the Town and County Club and many large residences in Hartford. He rebuilt the North College at wesleyan and the Old Tombs Prison in New York City.
 In 1925 MT. Cook became the first incumbent president of the Hart ford Chamber of Commerce to be reelected. Many were his other civic activities after retirement from business as Q wealthy and young man. In November, 1920, he was appointed receiver of the Hartford Home Building Association when 1t became necessary to raise $700, 900 to complete the associations $2.O00,- 600 home building completed.
 He leaves 6 son. Attorney Robin son Cook of Manchester, and two grandchildren. Robinson Cook IT and Stanley Galpin Cook. His wife, the former Harriet Slocum of Hart ford, died in March. 1939. The fu- neral will be held Monday at 2 p. m. at the Newkirk and Whitney Funeral Home, 776 Pennington ave- nue, West Hartford. Rev. Ellis Gil- bert, pastor of the First Baptist Church in West Hartford, will offi- ciate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford.