Sacramento County
Biographies
THOMAS H. COOK
THOMAS H.
COOK is a native of North Shields, England, and was born October 2, 1824. His
parents, John and Sarah M. Cook, were also natives of England. He grew up with
his father, and during his early boyhood attended school and went to sea, which
he followed for some years, and then came to Quebec in 1847, and thence by
canal to Buffalo. Next he followed the Lakes for a time. When the discovery of
gold was attracting the attention of the civilized world he determined to come
to the Pacific coast, and started from Chicago in March, 1849, and after
braving the dangers of the trip overland across the continent, arrived in
Sacramento in August of the same year. Soon after coming here he engaged in
draying, in which business he continued for several years. He returned to
England in the fall of 1851, and soon after, while there, in March, 1852,
married Miss Hannah Skelton, also a native of England. They came to California
in the fall of the same year, and reached here a few days before the fire. He
engaged in draying for five or six years, and then engaged in the wood
business, which he carried on successfully for some years, until 1867, when he
made another visit to his native country with his wife and two children. This
journey was filled with sorrow. He lost one of his children, a son, in New
York; the death of his wife and remaining child, a little girl, occurred in
England. He also lost two children here. After coming back here and remaining
about two years he returned again to England, and while there married Helen Drydon, a native of Scotland. He remained in England seven
years, and in 1875 came again to California, and engaged in mercantile business
in Sacramento, on the corner of Eighth and J streets, and continued there
fifteen years and built up a large and successful wholesale and retail trade.
In January, 1890, he removed to the large and commodious store on the corner of
Tenth and K streets, to accommodate his large and constantly increasing trade.
Mr. Cook is still in the prime of life, and has established an enviable
reputation for integrity and fair dealing. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have four
children, three of whom survive,--George N., William H. and Thomas H. One son,
Herbert J., was drowned.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 10/16/07.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Page 790.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.