Born in Huntsville, Madison County, Indiana, to Francis and Lucy (Tillson) Cook, (It has been suggested that he was born in Darke Co, OH) Ira Cook was the founding publisher of what is now the Putnam County Record in Putnam County, Illinois (today the smallest county in the state).
In his 20th year, he visited his older brother in Anderson, Indiana, who was operated a printing shop and published the Anderson Indiana Democrat; this was his initiation into the printing business. After a few years in Missouri and Indiana as a shoemaker, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin in May of 1864, where he resided for 10 months working as a compositor on the Janesville Gazette. In 1865, at the age of 42, he moved to Hennepin, Illinois, the seat of Puntam County.
For a time he worked at painting and paperhanging. As no publishing of any kind was was being done at Hennepin, and believing this was an advantageous opening, he went to Peoria and purchased a small used army press. From there he started his business of 'small job printing' in the city hall building. As his work was well received, he was encouraged by local businessmen to begin publishing a newspaper. On June 25, 1868, the first number of The Putnam Record was printed and sold.
Upon his demise, several of his professional colleagues wrote tributes in testament of his life and work:
C. W. Pool, a man whom he employed, wrote, "... [Mr. Cook] was one of the most companionable of men, a true friend and good newspaper man."
W. E. Hawthorne, Editor of the Granville Echo noted, "...a man who for forty years edited a local paper and lost very few, if any, subscribers on account of offensive matter published therein."
And, finally, F. C. Sorrel of the Lacon Democrat, "...one of the old school of journalists, a gentleman and a scholar, who added honor and standing to the newspaper profession."
Ira cook was married to Miss Sophia Hengsteller, a native of Pennsylvania, on April 4, 1857, at the age of 21. They had four children, two who survived; one son passing at age four and one in infancy. They were married 52 years - he died days after their anniversary. He was survived by his wife and daughter, Mary, and his son, Charles, who was in the printing trade with him.
In his 20th year, he visited his older brother in Anderson, Indiana, who was operated a printing shop and published the Anderson Indiana Democrat; this was his initiation into the printing business. After a few years in Missouri and Indiana as a shoemaker, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin in May of 1864, where he resided for 10 months working as a compositor on the Janesville Gazette. In 1865, at the age of 42, he moved to Hennepin, Illinois, the seat of Puntam County.
For a time he worked at painting and paperhanging. As no publishing of any kind was was being done at Hennepin, and believing this was an advantageous opening, he went to Peoria and purchased a small used army press. From there he started his business of 'small job printing' in the city hall building. As his work was well received, he was encouraged by local businessmen to begin publishing a newspaper. On June 25, 1868, the first number of The Putnam Record was printed and sold.
Upon his demise, several of his professional colleagues wrote tributes in testament of his life and work:
C. W. Pool, a man whom he employed, wrote, "... [Mr. Cook] was one of the most companionable of men, a true friend and good newspaper man."
W. E. Hawthorne, Editor of the Granville Echo noted, "...a man who for forty years edited a local paper and lost very few, if any, subscribers on account of offensive matter published therein."
And, finally, F. C. Sorrel of the Lacon Democrat, "...one of the old school of journalists, a gentleman and a scholar, who added honor and standing to the newspaper profession."
Ira cook was married to Miss Sophia Hengsteller, a native of Pennsylvania, on April 4, 1857, at the age of 21. They had four children, two who survived; one son passing at age four and one in infancy. They were married 52 years - he died days after their anniversary. He was survived by his wife and daughter, Mary, and his son, Charles, who was in the printing trade with him.
Born in Huntsville, Madison County, Indiana, to Francis and Lucy (Tillson) Cook, (It has been suggested that he was born in Darke Co, OH) Ira Cook was the founding publisher of what is now the Putnam County Record in Putnam County, Illinois (today the smallest county in the state).
In his 20th year, he visited his older brother in Anderson, Indiana, who was operated a printing shop and published the Anderson Indiana Democrat; this was his initiation into the printing business. After a few years in Missouri and Indiana as a shoemaker, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin in May of 1864, where he resided for 10 months working as a compositor on the Janesville Gazette. In 1865, at the age of 42, he moved to Hennepin, Illinois, the seat of Puntam County.
For a time he worked at painting and paperhanging. As no publishing of any kind was was being done at Hennepin, and believing this was an advantageous opening, he went to Peoria and purchased a small used army press. From there he started his business of 'small job printing' in the city hall building. As his work was well received, he was encouraged by local businessmen to begin publishing a newspaper. On June 25, 1868, the first number of The Putnam Record was printed and sold.
Upon his demise, several of his professional colleagues wrote tributes in testament of his life and work:
C. W. Pool, a man whom he employed, wrote, "... [Mr. Cook] was one of the most companionable of men, a true friend and good newspaper man."
W. E. Hawthorne, Editor of the Granville Echo noted, "...a man who for forty years edited a local paper and lost very few, if any, subscribers on account of offensive matter published therein."
And, finally, F. C. Sorrel of the Lacon Democrat, "...one of the old school of journalists, a gentleman and a scholar, who added honor and standing to the newspaper profession."
Ira cook was married to Miss Sophia Hengsteller, a native of Pennsylvania, on April 4, 1857, at the age of 21. They had four children, two who survived; one son passing at age four and one in infancy. They were married 52 years - he died days after their anniversary. He was survived by his wife and daughter, Mary, and his son, Charles, who was in the printing trade with him.
In his 20th year, he visited his older brother in Anderson, Indiana, who was operated a printing shop and published the Anderson Indiana Democrat; this was his initiation into the printing business. After a few years in Missouri and Indiana as a shoemaker, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin in May of 1864, where he resided for 10 months working as a compositor on the Janesville Gazette. In 1865, at the age of 42, he moved to Hennepin, Illinois, the seat of Puntam County.
For a time he worked at painting and paperhanging. As no publishing of any kind was was being done at Hennepin, and believing this was an advantageous opening, he went to Peoria and purchased a small used army press. From there he started his business of 'small job printing' in the city hall building. As his work was well received, he was encouraged by local businessmen to begin publishing a newspaper. On June 25, 1868, the first number of The Putnam Record was printed and sold.
Upon his demise, several of his professional colleagues wrote tributes in testament of his life and work:
C. W. Pool, a man whom he employed, wrote, "... [Mr. Cook] was one of the most companionable of men, a true friend and good newspaper man."
W. E. Hawthorne, Editor of the Granville Echo noted, "...a man who for forty years edited a local paper and lost very few, if any, subscribers on account of offensive matter published therein."
And, finally, F. C. Sorrel of the Lacon Democrat, "...one of the old school of journalists, a gentleman and a scholar, who added honor and standing to the newspaper profession."
Ira cook was married to Miss Sophia Hengsteller, a native of Pennsylvania, on April 4, 1857, at the age of 21. They had four children, two who survived; one son passing at age four and one in infancy. They were married 52 years - he died days after their anniversary. He was survived by his wife and daughter, Mary, and his son, Charles, who was in the printing trade with him.
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