OLD RESIDENT PASSES OVER

EUGENE M. COOK, DIED AT HIS HOME IN BENSON, DEC. 23rd, AT THE AGE OF 79 YEARS.

Eugene M. Cook, for many years a resident of this county between Kennard and Arlington, passed away at his home in Benson on Sunday, December 23rd, following a stroke of apoplexy, suffered about six weeks before his death. The funeral service was held at the Masonic Temple in Omaha last Wednesday.

E. M. Cook was born at National, Ia., May 25th, 1850, so was 78 years of age at his last birthday.

Mr. Cook came to Richardson county in 1871 with a team of oxen and in 1875 he came to Belle Creek, Neb., which is now Arlington and here he lived on a farm with his brother, the late W.S. Cook, until 1878 when he purchased a farm six miles northeast of Arlington on which place he made his home until October 1911, when he moved with his family to Benson.

During the early years in Nebraska, Mr. Cook taught school in the Masters, Belle Creek and Whitford schools and later a short term in the Colby district school. He served for years as county commissioner of Washington county and was a member of the building committee for the present court house in Blair.

The deceased was made a Mason at National, Ia., and demitted to Herman lodge, Arlington. In 1895 he demitted from this lodge to become a charter member in John S. Bowen lodge, Kennard, Neb., and it was this organization which presented him with a 50-year medal for membership in the Masonic fraternity in May 26, 1928.

Surviving are four sons, Al, Myron, Lloyd, of Benson, Clyde, of Arlington, and one daughter, Miss Mabel, of Benson.

Mr. Cook had been a Mason the longest of any man in John S. Bowen lodge of Kennard, which honor now falls upon C.C. VanDeusen, now a resident of Blair, but holding his membership in John S. Bowen lodge.