Howard G. Cook, attorney at law practicing as a member of the firm of Cook & McCauley, well known patent attorneys of St. Louis, was born October 20, 1881, at Harlem, Columbia county, Georgia. His father, Harvey A. Cook, was a native of the state of New York and represented an old family of English origin. He was reared and educated in the Empire state and in the latter ’40s removed to Georgia, where he engaged in the lumber business. During the Civil war he served in the Confederate army with the engineering department, remaining with the southern troops throughout the entire period of hostilities. He died in Harlem, Georgia, in February, 1902, at the age of sixty-seven years. In early manhood he had wedded Sarah Virginia Nimmo, a native of South Carolina and representative of an old southern family of French descent, her ancestors being French Huguenots. Mrs. Cook is still living and makes her home in Athens, Georgia. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and three daughters who yet survive.
Howard G. Cook, the youngest of the family, was educated In the schools of Harlem and Athens, Georgia, and when seventeen years of age went to New York, where he was employed along clerical lines to the age of twenty years. In July, 1905, he came to St. Louis, where he entered the Benton College of Law and after completing the regular course he was graduated with the LL. B. degree in June, 1905, and immediately afterward entered upon the general practice of his profession. He spent a year in that way and has since specialized in patent law, winning notable success in this field. The present firm was organized January 1, 1920. Prior to this time, from 1910 until December 31, 1919, he practiced as a member of the firm of Knight & Cook. The firm of Cook & McCauley has an extensive practice in the field of patent law, its clientage being of a most important character.
On the 27th of July, 1913, in St. Louis, Air. Cook was married to Miss Jennie B. Wells, a native of Indiana and representative of one of the old families of that state. They have become parents of two children: Robert, who was born in St. Louis, September 25, 1914, and died May 27, 1917; and William David, who was born in St. Louis, July 15, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Church of Christ Scientist, and in his political views Mr. Cook is a democrat when national questions and issues are involved. lie belongs to the Missouri Athletic Association and is well known in Masonic circles, having membership in Rose Hill Lodge, No. 550, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He likewise belongs to St.. Louis Chapter, No. 1, Rose Croix, of which he is senior warden, and is a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite for the southern jurisdiction of the United States. He has taken all of the Scottish Rite degrees and is a most worthy and faithful follower of Masonic teachings. Along professional lines he is connected with the St. Louis and National Bar Associations. From the age of seventeen years he has depended upon his own resources, working his way through college and advancing step by step as the result of his perseverance, his capability and his indefatigable efforts until success is now his and he is known as one of the capable patent attorneys of the middle Mississippi valley.