Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

cated in the public schools of Somerville,
Massachusetts, and then entered the em-
ploy of that well known Bostonian, Curtis
Guild. That was in 1896, and he was in
that position for five years. He then
entered the employ of Boston's famous
hotel man, J. R. Whipple, as cashier of
the Parker House, and later became clerk
in the same hostelry. Altogether he was
there eight years and the experience
gleaned was of great value to him. He
was qualified when leaving to accept the
position of manager of the New York
Athletic Club on Fifty-ninth street, where
he remained for four years. He then
came to Stamford and organized the
Harry S. Morehouse Hotel Company, of
which he is treasurer and principal stock-
holder. The Hotel Davenport was purchased
by the company, and there are few
cities of the size of Stamford that can
boast of such a hotel as the Davenport.
It is one of the comparatively few good
hotels that was not built in the noisiest
location ; it is modern in every respect,
and the comfort and convenience of the
guests is the first consideration of the
management.
Mr. Morehouse is active in the social
life of Stamford, and is a member of sev-
eral fraternal organizations. He is a
member of Union Lodge, No. 5, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons; Rittenhouse
Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Washing-
ton Council, Royal and Select Masters
Clinton Commandery, Knights Templar,
of Norwalk; Lafayette Consistory, of
Bridgeport ; Pyramid Temple, Mystic
Shrine, of Bridgeport ; Kiwanis Club, of
Stamford, of which he is president ; and
the Suburban Club, Stamford, of which
he is a member of the board of directors.
Mr. Morehouse was commissioned major
of the State Guard of Connecticut during
the war, and was a member of Company
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
117
B, National Guard, in North Cambridge,
Massachusetts, in 1899.
Mr. Morehouse married Nella Chand-
ler, daughter of Harry G. Chandler, of
Somerville, Massachusetts.
COOKE, Henry Bennett,
Business Man.
Henry Bennett Cooke, treasurer and
manager of the Ring's End Fuel Com-
pany, of Darien, Connecticut, deserves in
the best sense of the phrase the title of
a self-made man. He has achieved suc-
cess by the application of effort and not
through accident or fortuitous circum-
stances.
Henry B. Cooke was born July 9, 1879,
in Goshen, son of Nicholas and Katherine
(Bennett) Cooke. Nicholas Cooke was
born in Germany, and died in Goshen
the German form of his surname is Koch,
which was changed by him to Cooke.
Koch is a very old name in Germany and
was originally derived through the oc-
cupation of one who was a cook. Before
coming to America, Nicholas Cooke
learned the trade of shoemaker, and after
locating in Goshen, started in business
for himself as a custom shoemaker. He
married Katherine Bennett, who died in
1892, aged fifty-nine years. They were
the parents of thirteen children, eleven of
whom grew to maturity : John H., of Willow
City, North Dakota ; Katherine, wife
of George H. Woodward, of Long Beach,
California ; William B., deceased ; Eliza-
beth, wife of Rev. William Taft, residing
at Salem, Oregon ; George A., of Goshen
Amy, wife of Charles Fennell, resides at
Long Beach ; Edward B., of Alberta,
Canada ; Andrew N., of Oregon ; Mary,
deceased; Henry B., of further mention;
Louise K., resides at Long Beach. Mr.
Cooke and his family were regular at-
tendants of the Congregational church.
Henry Bennett Cooke was educated in
;