David S. Cook

             There are few industries more important, especially in connection with the building trades than the manufacture of cement, whose expansion in this county is of recent origin and has been on a gigantic scale. The men who have developed it deserve especial credit as part of the force behind the wonderful growth of the United States, as the work required expert knowledge and all the qualities which make men valuable in the mechanical arts. In this line it is no more than his just to say that David S. Cook has made a record that is creditable to himself and achieved results of great value to his employers as well as the community where he has lived so long and to which he ahs devoted his energies and best abilities. He is of Scotch origin , his parents, William and Margaret Cook, having been natives of the land made famous by Burns and Scott. They married in Scotland, emigrated to America in 1852 and after spending a few years in New York removed to Chillicothe, Ohio. They made their home in this historic city until some time after the Civil war, when they located in Louisville, Kentucky, for permanent abode.

            David S. Cook, son of this worthy couple, was born during their residence at Chillicothe, February 9, 1857, and received his education in the public schools of Louisville. When fourteen years old he secured employment with the Louisville Cement Company and here he obtained his first experience with the line of business which was destined to prove his life work. During the ten or twelve years following his apprenticeship, he was connected with various plants and by taking advantage of his opportunities to learn, advanced rapidly in knowledge concerning every feature of cement manufacture. In the fall of 1883 he temporarily abandoned his chosen calling and spent two years as a locomotive engineer on the Texas & St. Louis Railroad. He soon longed for his old occupation, however, and in the fall of 1885 retuned to Indiana to accept a position as superintendent of the Speed Cement Mill located ten miles north of Louisville, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Speed Station. When Mr. Cook took charge of this mill the capacity was about three hundred barrels of natural hydraulic cement per day, but largely through his instrumentality and energetic supervision, this plant ahs been made the larges of its kind in the United States. When it was found that Portland cement could be manufactured in this country, he immediately began experimenting on the new material and in 1905 entered upon the erection of the Speed Portland cement plant at Speeds. This mill, strictly modern and up-to-date, is at the present time manufacturing two thousand barrels per day and this product has gained wide notoriety throughout the central states as the celebrated Speed brand of Portland cement. Mr. Cook is a fine sample of the American mechanic, to whom the great Republic owes so much of its rapid progress and prosperity. He is entirely self-educated, owing little or nothing to schools, but much to home study, systematically and wisely directed. Beginning in poverty, at the very bottom of the ladder, with no reliance but his own brains, hands and character, he has gained all his promotions by merit and ability. Unassuming in manner, quite and courteous in demeanor, he has the faculty of making friends and thus enjoys the loyal co-operation of the large force of men who work under his direction.

            In 1879 Mr. Cook was married to Ruth, daughter of Samuel Hinton, a native of Indiana, and from this union resulted four children: Harry W., David, Jesse and Scott. The eldest, who gave promise of future usefulness, died in 1902 while in his senior year at Purdue University. David L., and Jesse C. are both students at Purdue University and by their application to their tasks and their general bearing give assurance of eventually becoming useful men. Mr. Cook is domestic in his tastes, proud of his boys and fond of his family, to which he devotes most of his leisure and in whose company he finds his chief enjoyment. As a citizen he is interested in progress and entertains high ideals concerning those things which most benefit a community. His highest ambition is to aid in elevating the moral tone and advancing educational movements of all kinds. As a result of this his name is always mentioned in connection with all kinds of gatherings of social importance in Silver Creek township, where  he has made his residence for many years.

Source: Baird’s History of Clark County, Indiana by Capt. Lewis C. Baird, 1909. Page 722, 723, 724.