F. W. Cook (also written Koch)

    F. W. Cook, Lawrenceburgh, one of the older business men of that city (now retired), is a native of Bremen, German, born April 30, 1816. His parents, Frederick William and Margaret Cook, were highly connected in the old country, some of his relatives possessing large fortunes. He learned the tinner's trade in his native country, and followed the same there until 1851, when he immigrated to the United States to seek his fortune in "the land of Uncle Sam." He landed at New Orleans, where he resided not quite one year, working at his trade for a Frenchman, who defrauded him of most of his earnings. He then went into business for himself at Carleton, Louisiana, but about one year later sold out and moved to Lawrenceburgh, where he has ever since resided. He conducted a successful hardware and tinware business up to 1877, when he turned the stock over to the management of his son, and retired from active business life.

    Mr. Cook was married in his native country to Anna Bottier, by whom he had six children, five of whom are still living: John, August, Henry, William and Margaret. Mrs. Cook was a daughter of Henry Bottier, a farmer in Germany. She and Mr. Cook have always labored hard and honestly, and are wholly entitled to the comfortable circumstances in which their life long labors have placed them.

Source: History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana by F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885.