“Mack” Cook Answers Call
George B. McClellen Cook passed away at the Enterprise hospital Feb. 1 after a short illness.
“Mack” Cook was born Feb. 27, 1862, near Dallas, Polk County, Oregon to Thomas l. and Harriet Cook who crossed the plains by ox team in 1854.
He was one of ten children born to this union. The family resided in Polk County until 1878 when the father and his sons, Jerile, William, Tom (Dick) and N.J. came to Wallowa County and all located homesteads on the South fork of the Wallowa River except N.J. who was too young. He later homesteaded on part of of what is known as the Crossler farm.
Later their mother and the other children followed. The father died at Lostine in 1879 and was buried in the West Side cemetery. (This cemetery is located close to the Lostine cemetery but is on private property, there are some McCubbins and their families buried there too)
“Mack” was married in 1896 to Effie Hammack and the resided on the farm on which he filed in 1890, and is now owned by Mr. Cherry. To their union were born three children, Grace, Roy and Charles. Grace married Earl Whitely and gave birth to one son Harold Whitely. She died in a short time, leaving her husband and baby.
Later, “Mack” and family moved to town and had resided in the north end until his death.
Surviving him are his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and many other relatives. Funeral services were held in the Christian church Monday at 2 p.m. Burial was in the Lostine cemetery.
Mr. cook belonged to one of the pioneer families of Wallowa county and will always be remembered for his honesty and cheerfulness.
Old-timers coming to Wallowa county never fail to inquire about “the Cook brothers” as they were all outstanding in having many friends.
Those of this outstanding family who have passed on were Jerile, William, John, Milton, “Mack,” “Dick”, Frank, Mary, Jane and a half-brother, Walter Clingham, N.J. Cook who resides in Lostine.
Contributed by: Gary Jaensch