From the obituary of Hendrik Kok (1831-1919).
Henry Cook was born March 9, 1831 near the city of Hardenberg, Province Overijssel, Holland, near Hanover.
In 1845-46 there was a great deal of unrest because of religious oppression and the hard times for the common people to provide for their families, so after correspondence with some descendants of the first Holland settlers of New York, a large company concluded to emigrate to America with Rev. A. C. Van Raalte as leader.
Henry Cook's parents (Harmen Kok 1797-1847 and Janna Dunnewind Kok 1800-1860), Uncle Egbert Dunnewind, H. Oldemeyer and other neighbors, sold their possessions and prepared to leave the fatherland and their friends in the hopes of improving their condition and to give their children a chance in life. The fall of 1846 they started for Rotterdam, going most the way by water, passing through a number of cities and near the Hague. At Rotterdam, the party was joined by about 100 people from all parts of the country. This was the first shipload to make the Holland settlement in western Michigan. It took 47 days to make the ocean trip. The captain of the ship was an American from Baltimore MD.
Five families made the trip from Detroit to Kalamazoo, and then in sleighs to Allegan, finding it a very small and dead town. The first thing Henry noticed in driving into Allegan was the spire of the Presbyterian church. (which he later joined, a faithful member many years, regular attendant, an elder until his death – he loved the church and was a truly good Christian)
After a few days they went to Black Lake to join the Holland colony. After arriving there, the Holland men went out daily in deep snow to locate land for homes. The supplies they received were brought to them by ox teams from Allegan. Henry's father located 40 acres on the Ottawa/Allegan county line (20 each in the townships of Laketown and Holland). Henry helped his father build a shanty in the Holland township parcel in 1847. Sadly, his father died in 1847, along with two little brothers, and an older sister Harmina at age 24 two years later.
At age 16, Henry that spring returned to Allegan to earn money for his widowed mother and siblings to live on. He first worked for Mr. J. R. Kellogg, then for Mr. Wilkes (father of C. R. Wilkes), doing chores and assisting in his hardware store. Later, Henry went to live with Judge Ely, a fine man. In 1852 Henry started working for N. B. West in a sash and door factory, and remained with him until 1890, when Henry and Mr. S. Baker bought him out.
After a time, Hiram and George DeLane bought an interest in the factory, and the firm began the manufacture of furniture. Henry sold his interest to the partners in 1900, and retired from business life. He was naturally a thrifty man, and always managed to be employed in some way if it was possible to do so.
Henry and Miss Althea Cook were united in marriage in Allegan in 1860 and lived a long and happy life together. To their union four children were born: Mrs. Delia (Fred S.) Lamb of Cadillac; Mr. Herman H. Cook of Allegan; Dr. Milton J. Cook, and Mrs. Eva (H. W.) Hardie of Holland – all who survive with their mother, and all were with their father during his last illness, which was due to a general breakdown.
He passed peacefully to the God he loved on Wednesday, April 30, 1919. Burial will be from the family home on Cedar Street at three o'clock Saturday afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Bergstrom. Memorial services will be conducted at the Presbyterian church in honor of Henry Cook next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock by the pastor. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. (published May 2, 1919 – Allegan News)
Henry Cook was born March 9, 1831 near the city of Hardenberg, Province Overijssel, Holland, near Hanover.
In 1845-46 there was a great deal of unrest because of religious oppression and the hard times for the common people to provide for their families, so after correspondence with some descendants of the first Holland settlers of New York, a large company concluded to emigrate to America with Rev. A. C. Van Raalte as leader.
Henry Cook's parents (Harmen Kok 1797-1847 and Janna Dunnewind Kok 1800-1860), Uncle Egbert Dunnewind, H. Oldemeyer and other neighbors, sold their possessions and prepared to leave the fatherland and their friends in the hopes of improving their condition and to give their children a chance in life. The fall of 1846 they started for Rotterdam, going most the way by water, passing through a number of cities and near the Hague. At Rotterdam, the party was joined by about 100 people from all parts of the country. This was the first shipload to make the Holland settlement in western Michigan. It took 47 days to make the ocean trip. The captain of the ship was an American from Baltimore MD.
Five families made the trip from Detroit to Kalamazoo, and then in sleighs to Allegan, finding it a very small and dead town. The first thing Henry noticed in driving into Allegan was the spire of the Presbyterian church. (which he later joined, a faithful member many years, regular attendant, an elder until his death – he loved the church and was a truly good Christian)
After a few days they went to Black Lake to join the Holland colony. After arriving there, the Holland men went out daily in deep snow to locate land for homes. The supplies they received were brought to them by ox teams from Allegan. Henry's father located 40 acres on the Ottawa/Allegan county line (20 each in the townships of Laketown and Holland). Henry helped his father build a shanty in the Holland township parcel in 1847. Sadly, his father died in 1847, along with two little brothers, and an older sister Harmina at age 24 two years later.
At age 16, Henry that spring returned to Allegan to earn money for his widowed mother and siblings to live on. He first worked for Mr. J. R. Kellogg, then for Mr. Wilkes (father of C. R. Wilkes), doing chores and assisting in his hardware store. Later, Henry went to live with Judge Ely, a fine man. In 1852 Henry started working for N. B. West in a sash and door factory, and remained with him until 1890, when Henry and Mr. S. Baker bought him out.
After a time, Hiram and George DeLane bought an interest in the factory, and the firm began the manufacture of furniture. Henry sold his interest to the partners in 1900, and retired from business life. He was naturally a thrifty man, and always managed to be employed in some way if it was possible to do so.
Henry and Miss Althea Cook were united in marriage in Allegan in 1860 and lived a long and happy life together. To their union four children were born: Mrs. Delia (Fred S.) Lamb of Cadillac; Mr. Herman H. Cook of Allegan; Dr. Milton J. Cook, and Mrs. Eva (H. W.) Hardie of Holland – all who survive with their mother, and all were with their father during his last illness, which was due to a general breakdown.
He passed peacefully to the God he loved on Wednesday, April 30, 1919. Burial will be from the family home on Cedar Street at three o'clock Saturday afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Bergstrom. Memorial services will be conducted at the Presbyterian church in honor of Henry Cook next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock by the pastor. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. (published May 2, 1919 – Allegan News)
From the obituary of Hendrik Kok (1831-1919).
Henry Cook was born March 9, 1831 near the city of Hardenberg, Province Overijssel, Holland, near Hanover.
In 1845-46 there was a great deal of unrest because of religious oppression and the hard times for the common people to provide for their families, so after correspondence with some descendants of the first Holland settlers of New York, a large company concluded to emigrate to America with Rev. A. C. Van Raalte as leader.
Henry Cook's parents (Harmen Kok 1797-1847 and Janna Dunnewind Kok 1800-1860), Uncle Egbert Dunnewind, H. Oldemeyer and other neighbors, sold their possessions and prepared to leave the fatherland and their friends in the hopes of improving their condition and to give their children a chance in life. The fall of 1846 they started for Rotterdam, going most the way by water, passing through a number of cities and near the Hague. At Rotterdam, the party was joined by about 100 people from all parts of the country. This was the first shipload to make the Holland settlement in western Michigan. It took 47 days to make the ocean trip. The captain of the ship was an American from Baltimore MD.
Five families made the trip from Detroit to Kalamazoo, and then in sleighs to Allegan, finding it a very small and dead town. The first thing Henry noticed in driving into Allegan was the spire of the Presbyterian church. (which he later joined, a faithful member many years, regular attendant, an elder until his death – he loved the church and was a truly good Christian)
After a few days they went to Black Lake to join the Holland colony. After arriving there, the Holland men went out daily in deep snow to locate land for homes. The supplies they received were brought to them by ox teams from Allegan. Henry's father located 40 acres on the Ottawa/Allegan county line (20 each in the townships of Laketown and Holland). Henry helped his father build a shanty in the Holland township parcel in 1847. Sadly, his father died in 1847, along with two little brothers, and an older sister Harmina at age 24 two years later.
At age 16, Henry that spring returned to Allegan to earn money for his widowed mother and siblings to live on. He first worked for Mr. J. R. Kellogg, then for Mr. Wilkes (father of C. R. Wilkes), doing chores and assisting in his hardware store. Later, Henry went to live with Judge Ely, a fine man. In 1852 Henry started working for N. B. West in a sash and door factory, and remained with him until 1890, when Henry and Mr. S. Baker bought him out.
After a time, Hiram and George DeLane bought an interest in the factory, and the firm began the manufacture of furniture. Henry sold his interest to the partners in 1900, and retired from business life. He was naturally a thrifty man, and always managed to be employed in some way if it was possible to do so.
Henry and Miss Althea Cook were united in marriage in Allegan in 1860 and lived a long and happy life together. To their union four children were born: Mrs. Delia (Fred S.) Lamb of Cadillac; Mr. Herman H. Cook of Allegan; Dr. Milton J. Cook, and Mrs. Eva (H. W.) Hardie of Holland – all who survive with their mother, and all were with their father during his last illness, which was due to a general breakdown.
He passed peacefully to the God he loved on Wednesday, April 30, 1919. Burial will be from the family home on Cedar Street at three o'clock Saturday afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Bergstrom. Memorial services will be conducted at the Presbyterian church in honor of Henry Cook next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock by the pastor. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. (published May 2, 1919 – Allegan News)
Henry Cook was born March 9, 1831 near the city of Hardenberg, Province Overijssel, Holland, near Hanover.
In 1845-46 there was a great deal of unrest because of religious oppression and the hard times for the common people to provide for their families, so after correspondence with some descendants of the first Holland settlers of New York, a large company concluded to emigrate to America with Rev. A. C. Van Raalte as leader.
Henry Cook's parents (Harmen Kok 1797-1847 and Janna Dunnewind Kok 1800-1860), Uncle Egbert Dunnewind, H. Oldemeyer and other neighbors, sold their possessions and prepared to leave the fatherland and their friends in the hopes of improving their condition and to give their children a chance in life. The fall of 1846 they started for Rotterdam, going most the way by water, passing through a number of cities and near the Hague. At Rotterdam, the party was joined by about 100 people from all parts of the country. This was the first shipload to make the Holland settlement in western Michigan. It took 47 days to make the ocean trip. The captain of the ship was an American from Baltimore MD.
Five families made the trip from Detroit to Kalamazoo, and then in sleighs to Allegan, finding it a very small and dead town. The first thing Henry noticed in driving into Allegan was the spire of the Presbyterian church. (which he later joined, a faithful member many years, regular attendant, an elder until his death – he loved the church and was a truly good Christian)
After a few days they went to Black Lake to join the Holland colony. After arriving there, the Holland men went out daily in deep snow to locate land for homes. The supplies they received were brought to them by ox teams from Allegan. Henry's father located 40 acres on the Ottawa/Allegan county line (20 each in the townships of Laketown and Holland). Henry helped his father build a shanty in the Holland township parcel in 1847. Sadly, his father died in 1847, along with two little brothers, and an older sister Harmina at age 24 two years later.
At age 16, Henry that spring returned to Allegan to earn money for his widowed mother and siblings to live on. He first worked for Mr. J. R. Kellogg, then for Mr. Wilkes (father of C. R. Wilkes), doing chores and assisting in his hardware store. Later, Henry went to live with Judge Ely, a fine man. In 1852 Henry started working for N. B. West in a sash and door factory, and remained with him until 1890, when Henry and Mr. S. Baker bought him out.
After a time, Hiram and George DeLane bought an interest in the factory, and the firm began the manufacture of furniture. Henry sold his interest to the partners in 1900, and retired from business life. He was naturally a thrifty man, and always managed to be employed in some way if it was possible to do so.
Henry and Miss Althea Cook were united in marriage in Allegan in 1860 and lived a long and happy life together. To their union four children were born: Mrs. Delia (Fred S.) Lamb of Cadillac; Mr. Herman H. Cook of Allegan; Dr. Milton J. Cook, and Mrs. Eva (H. W.) Hardie of Holland – all who survive with their mother, and all were with their father during his last illness, which was due to a general breakdown.
He passed peacefully to the God he loved on Wednesday, April 30, 1919. Burial will be from the family home on Cedar Street at three o'clock Saturday afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Bergstrom. Memorial services will be conducted at the Presbyterian church in honor of Henry Cook next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock by the pastor. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. (published May 2, 1919 – Allegan News)
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