Mr. Jack Cook, an old settler of Butler Co. died Friday, May 16th at his home in Ulysses. The funeral services were held at the Christian church, Sunday morning. The remains were brought to the Garrison cemetery for interment.
Garrison Argus, Garrison Nebraska
May 22, 1902 Pg. 8, Column 2

RICHARD J. COOK, one of the early settlers and a widely known and honored citizen of Butler county, Nebraska, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 18, 1827. His present home is on section 32, in Center township, near Garrison.
Our subject's grandfather was a native of Maryland, but in an early day settled in Ohio, where John Cook, the father of our subject was born. The son followed his father's occupation, that of farming, and was married to Hattie Halloway, a daughter of Armel Showell Halloway, of Maryland.
Richard J. Cook was the oldest child and had three brothers and four sisters. One brother, Armel Cook, lived and died in Knox county, Illinois; one brother is now living in Hillsdale, Illinois; of the sisters, Ann Meredith married Jefferson Wright and settled in Oregon; Sarah Ellen married Harvey Onderkirk and lives in Knox county, Illinois, as does also the sister Nancy J. Potts; Derinda E. Elwell lives near Ottawa, Kansas.
Our subject was reared in his native state and county, and during his twenty-first year moved with his parents to Illinois, settling in Knox county, about fifteen miles southeast of Galesburg. Here Mr. Cook was married in 1852, to Nancy Godfrey, a daughter of Enock Godfrey, a native of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio when a young boy, afterward going to Knox county, Illinois, in 1833. Mrs. Cook has two sisters and one brother, all of whom are living in Nebraska; John W. Godfrey, living in Syracuse; Caroline Sharp, in Boyd county, and Elizabeth Simpkins, living in Butler county. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of nine children, born in Illinois, and are named as follows: Benjamin A., Mary Elizabeth, Rufus B., Charles M., Hattie M., Rhoda B., Owen D., Thomas M. and Hettie. Benjamin A. Cook lives in Illinois and has a son, Fred A., and a daughter, Kittie. Mary Elizabeth Henderson lives in Polk county, Nebraska, and has four children, Lulu, Frank, Albert and Elsie. Rufus B. Cook is in Garrison, Nebraska, and has five children, Effie, Myrl, Clyde, Nina and Laura. Charles M. Cook is in David City, Nebraska, and has two children, Clem K. and Fay. Hattie M. Roberts is living in Butler county, and is the mother of three children, Charles A., Katie and Jackson G. Rhoda B. Beeson has settled in Indian Territory and is the mother of six children, Florence, Francis, Rufus, Arnold, Frank and Katie. Three children remain with their parents at home, Owen D., Thomas M. and Hettie.
Mr. Cook is a man of sterling qualities and highly esteemed in the county in which he lives. He is well informed and strong in his political convictions, and, although formerly a Democrat, he now affiliates with the Populists.
Memorial and Biographical RECORD and Illustrated COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY containing a Compendium of Local Biography.
Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. 1899