Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

killed. After this engagement, Mr. Cook
was promoted to the office of sergeant,
and continued with his company, participating
in numerous skirmishes and
accompanying General Banks' forces on
their Red River Expedition. He was also
with Banks at Port Hudson, where he
was in the fight that continued for six
weeks, and was at the surrender of Port
Hudson, July 8, 1863. His command then
moved to the Mississippi river, where
they had an engagement at Fort Donaldson.
During his entire service, Mr. Cook
was fortunate enough to escape being
wounded or being taken prisoner, but was
in many a hot fight where a large num-
ber of his comrades were killed by his
side. He was a good soldier and officer,
and at the time of his discharge was
offered a commission in a colored regi-
ment, but not being in robust health, he
decided not to enter the service again.
Upon his return home, Mr. Cook
entered the machine shop connected with
the mills at Manchester Green, where he
served his time as an apprentice, learning
the machinist's trade. For the ensuing
year, he was engaged as a machinist by
the Hartford Electric Company, Colt's
Factory and the Mather Company of
Manchester. Later he was employed by
the Asa Cook Company of Hartford,
which firm was engaged in the making of
machinery for the manufacture of wood
screws. Mr. Cook retired from the mechanical
work to live on the old home-
stead where his grandfather and father
had lived before him. There he has spent
the latter years of his life, managing the
farm and acting as land surveyor, also
engaged in the settling of many estates.
For some years, until he was seventy
years of age, Mr. Cook was justice of the
peace. He is a member of Manchester
Lodge, No. 73, Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, and was for three years
master of the lodge.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
181
Mr. Cook married, September 17, 1867,
in East Hartford, Hattie Jewett Richard-
son, who died in 1884. She was the
mother of four children: 1. Edith Louise,
who is a teacher in the Hartford public
school. 2. Frank Aaron, who lives in
Hartford, where he is employed as foreman
by the Underwood Typewriter Company;
he married Posta Markum, and
they have two children, Mary and Edith
Cook. 3. Richard George, who is a resident
of the State of Washington, and
employed as a mechanic at the Benning-
ton Navy Yard ;
he married Minnie Aus-
tin, and they have one daughter, Ruth
Cook. 4. Arthur, who lives at home with
his father, one of the leading business
men of Manchester; he deals in real
estate and is a successful builder, having
erected a large number of houses which
he sells to those desiring homes ; he also
manages a cider mill which makes apple
cider and vinegar ; a very successful man
of affairs ; he is a Republican in politics,
taking an active part, and served his town
in the State Legislature in the session of
1912; Mr. Cook is also a Mason and a
member of the same lodge as his father
he married, November 20, 1895, Jennie
May Luce, and they have three children,
Jennie May, Florence E. and Aaron Cook.
ROBERTSON, William Post,
Successful Business Man.
The name of Robertson is undoubtedly
of Scotch origin. Although various members
of the branch of the family of whom
Mr. Robertson of this review is a repre-
sentative have made considerable re-
search, the name of the immigrant ancestor
of the family has not been found up
to the present time. The first of the line
of whom we have definite information is
Daniel Robertson, who, it is supposed,
was the son of John and Susanna Robertson.
Among the early settlers of New-
;