WESLEY J. COOK, FORMER POSTAL HEAD, DEAD

Former County Clerk. Postmaster 16 Years. Dies At 88 Years

Wesley J. Cook of Omaha passed away at his home Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. at the age of 88 years.

He was a member of an early family in Blair dating back to 1873. His father and brothers were prominent businessmen here at that time and operated what was then known as the O.V. Palmer and Co. General Merchandise Store located where the Ben Franklin store now stands.

W. J. was at that time employed by the Sioux City and Pacific railroad and continued in their employ until 1882. He served as county clerk for one term from 1886 to 1888 and later he served as postmaster for Blair for sixteen years from 1897 to 1914.

On September 18, 1879 he was married to Miss Emma Boggs whose father, John Boggs, was at that time postmaster. She died in 1886.

On Feb. 14, 1889 he was married to Louie J. Pound, a sister of Mrs. D. Z. Mummert, Sr. One son, Raymond, was born to them and resides in Sioux City, Iowa where he holds a responsible position with the Western Union Newspaper Co., and he and his mother will feel deeply the loss of the husband and father.

W. J. as he was commonly known by his friends, was always popular, but the change of a political administration lost him the postmastership and in 1915 he moved to Omaha.

He was an active member of the I.O.O.F. lodge, being a member since 1883. He is the last of the original Cook family. A family prominent in the early history of Blair and always active in civic affairs. A typical early day family who were scrupulously honest in business and held the respect of the public.

Funeral rites will be held at the Episcopal church in Blair at 11 o’clock Saturday morning.

#2 Printed in the April 18, 1946 Pilot Tribune

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W.J. COOK IS DEAD, AGE 88; RITES HERE

EX-BLAIR POSTMASTER, EDITOR, COUNTY OFFICIAL DIES; RITES SET

Wesley J. Cook, 88, onetime Blair postmaster, editor and Washington county official died yesterday morning at his home, 3100 Reynolds St., Omaha. He had been in failing health six months.

The body was brought to the Bendorf Funeral Home here. Funeral rites will be conducted at St. Mary’s Episcopal church at 11 a.m. Saturday by the Rev. E.J. Secker of Norfolk, and interment will follow in Blair cemetery. Mr. Cook, born Sept. 14, 1857 in Kentucky, went to Ohio in 1863 with his parents, Edwin and Julia Cook. In 1865 the family trekked to western Iowa by covered wagon, making the 900-mile trip in 52 days. They came to Blair in 1873.

HELD MANY POSITIONS

Mr. Cook, as a young man, worked for the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Co. until 1882, and was the first agent at Oakland.

Coming to Blair, he was county clerk from 1886 to 1888. He served as Blair’s postmaster from 1897 to 1914, and in 1915 moved to Omaha, where he was associated with the Nebraska-Iowa Grain Co. until his retirement in 1935. While in Blair, Mr. Cook edited The Weekly Leader before becoming postmaster.

Mr. Cook and Emma Boggs were married Sept. 18, 1879. She died in 1886, and on Feb. 14, 1889, Mr. Cook and Louie J. Pound were married in Blair.

He was a member of I.O.O.F lodge No. 14 in Blair since 1883.

Surviving Mr. Cook are his wife, Louie; and one son, Raymond C. Cook of Sioux City; also two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. D.Z. Mummert of Blair is a sister-in-law.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #114310599