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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Peter
J. Cool The
gentleman to a review of whose honorable career we now call the attention of the
reader is one of the representative citizens of Independence Township, one of
Baxter's substantial men, having maintained his home in this locality for a
period of fifty-eight years or practically all his life, consequently he has
been a witness of the wonderful growth of the same from the wild plains, having
come here with his parents when the period of wolves and Indians was still on.
He has worked hard and his efforts have been rewarded with a large
measure of success all along the line. Peter
J. Cool was born in Freeport, Illinois, July 1, 1852, the son of John and
Catherine Ann Elizabeth (Kline) Cool, the father born in New Jersey and the
mother in Maryland. They grew up in
the East and were married there, and after living for some time in Illinois,
came to Jasper county, Iowa, in October 1853, locating in Clear Creek Township,
spending the rest of their lives on a farm here, both being now deceased. They were the parents of two children, William H., born
January 6, 1850, died at Mt. Pleasant in 1886; and Peter J., of this sketch. Peter
J. Cool grew up on his father's farm and assisted with the general work during
his boyhood, attending the pioneer schools in the wintertime. He has met with
success in a business way and has secured a competency, and today he is the
owner of a number of valuable and desirable residence properties in Baxter
besides two hundred and twenty-six acres of good land in North Dakota.
At present he represents two fire and lightning insurance companies, the
Iowa State, of Keokuk, and the Fidelity Phoenix, of Brooklyn, New York. For
thirty-five years he followed carpentering. Mr.
Cool was married on March 27, 1878, to Lusina B. Stone, who was born in
Wisconsin, on June 16, 1860, the daughter of R. N. and Emma (Carpenter) Stone,
the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio. They
came to Iowa in an early day and both died in Maxwell, having attained an
advanced age, and they passed from earthly scenes only a few hours apart, being
buried in one grave at Collins, their funerals having been held at the same
time. Mrs. Cool has two
half-sisters, Mrs. Emma Scott and Mrs. Alice J. Kline.
The eldest of the second family was Mrs. Cool, of this sketch; Lysander
died in infancy; Mrs. Nettie E. Thompson; Charles is deceased; Mrs. Catherine
Stevens; Mrs. Audra Ferguson, deceased. To
Mr. and Mrs. Cool have been born six children, all living, named as follows:
Mrs. Agnes Workman, born December 15, 1878, is residing in Baxter; Mrs. Leola
Allen, born August 2, 1880, is living near Baxter; Mrs. Jennie Goodwin, born
January 27, 1882, is living in Independence Township, this county; Mrs.
Winnifred Curyea, born December 16, 1883, lives at Parker, South Dakota; Mrs.
Alphonse Gallager, born August 2, 1887, lives at home; Mrs. Ethel Dodd, born
November 30, 1891, is living in Eden Township, Marshall County.
These children were all born and reared in Jasper County. Politically,
Mr. Cool is a Democrat, and he has been active in local affairs, and has been
signally honored by his fellow men. He
has been treasurer of the independent school district of Baxter for twelve
years; he has been Township clerk for six years, also constable for six years,
and he was marshal of Baxter for four years.
Fraternally, he is a member of Unit Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, of Baxter, and he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of
Pythias. He and four of his
daughters belong to the Pythian Sisters of Baxter. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1215. |
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