THOMAS H. COOK

Sacramento County

Biographies

THOMAS H. COOK

THOMAS H. COOK. A successful merchant and one who has won the esteem and confidence of all who have had business dealings with him, is named in the person of Thomas H. Cook, whose mercantile enterprise has been located at the corner of Tenth and K streets for fifteen years. He is a native of North Shields, England born October 2, 1824, a son of John and Sarah M. Cook also natives of that country. He was reared to young manhood in the paternal home receiving his education in the common schools. Deciding to follow the sea he shipped before the mast at an early age and remained in this occupation for several years. In 1847 he landed in Quebec, Canada, thence traveling by canal to Buffalo, where he found employment upon the lakes. When the discovery of gold was attracting the attention of the civilized world he determined to come to the Pacific, and accordingly started from Chicago. Ill., in March, 1849, and after braving the dangers of the trip overland, arrived in Sacramento in the same year. Soon after his arrival he engaged in draying , in which business he continued for several years.

Returning to England in the fall of 1851, Mr. Cook was there married the following year to Hannah Skelton, also a native of England. They came to California in the fall of the same year and reached this city a few days before the memorable fire of 1852. Again becoming interested in the draying business he followed it for five or six years, when he engaged in the wood business. This latter endeavor proved remunerative and he followed it until 1867, when he made another visit to his native country accompanied by his wife and two children. This journey was filled with sorrow. His son died in New York, while the death of his wife and remaining child, a little girl, occurred in England, while he had previously lost two children in Sacramento. He once more located in Sacramento where he made his home for two years, when he again returned to England, and while there married Helen Drydon, a native of Scotland. They became the parents of four children, George N., William H., Thomas H. Jr., and Herbert J., the later meeting an accidental death by drowning. Mr. Cook remained in England seven years, and in 1875 came again to California and engaged in the mercantile business in Sacramento. Being located on the corner of Eighth and J streets, where he continued for fifteen years, building up a large and successful wholesale and retail trade. In January, 1890, he removed to the commodious store at the corner of Tenth and K streets in order to accommodate his constantly increasing business. Mr. Cook is still in the prime of life and has established an enviable reputation for integrity and fair dealing. He has always proven himself public-spirited and interested in the upbuilding of the welfare of the city, as an evidence of his faith in the future of the community becoming the owner of considerable valuable property.

Louise E. Shoemaker, transcriber October 18^th 2007.

Source: “History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California” by J. M. Guinn. Pages 717-718. Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.