Rufus M. Cook, senior member of the banking firm of Sherwood & Cook, of Shannon, has also officiated as Supervisor of Cherry Grove Township four years, and held the same office in Rock Creek Township for six years. He is of New England birth and parentage, his native place being Hoderness, N. H., where he first opened his eyes to the light in March, 1834. He lived there until reaching his majority, and completed a good education at Northfield Seminary.

Upon finishing his studies young Cook started for the West, and taking up his abode at Dixon, Ill., lived there three years, engaged in teaching and farming, alternately, until 1858. In that year he came to this county, and purchased a tract of wild land on section 16, in Rock Creek Township, 160 acres of which he transformed from its primitive state into one of the best farms of this region, finally selling it at $92 per acre. About 1869, leaving the farm, he assisted in the organization of the First National Bank at Shannon, and was elected it first cashier, which position he held until the fall of 1872. In the meantime he retained possession of his land, superintending its operations, and making a specialty of live-stock.

In the year 1875 the Sherwood & Cook banking house was established, and has been fortunate in building up a good business, which is steadily increasing, and receiving the patronage of the best business men in this part of the county. In addition to the property already mentioned, Mr. Cook owns land in Iowa and Nebraska.

Miss Rhoda Sherwood, of Lanark, became the wife of our subject on the 18th of December, 1862; the wedding taking place at the bride’s home. Of this union there have been born three daughters and two sons, the eldest of whom, Hattie E., is married, and lives in Racine, Wis.; Emma is the wife of G. A. Bunker, proprietor of the Clifton House, of Freeport; they have one child, Archie. Alice G., Harry S., and Herbert J. are at home with their parents, and are being given the training and education suitable to their position in life.

Mrs. Rhoda (Sherwood) Cook was born in New York City, and was the daughter of George Sherwood, of Lanark. Mr. Sherwood came to the West in 1855, settling first in Polo [IL] as a business man, but in 1858 removed to this county, where he has since lived. Mr. Cook has traveled over a large portion of the Western country, and attended a Mardi Gras at New Orleans.

The father of our subject was Josiah Cook, a native of Sandwich, N. H., and born April 24, 1801. He came to this county in 1857, settling in Rock Creek Township, where he carried on farming. His first wife was Miss Jane Cox, and to them were born four children. She died in 1851, and Mr. Cook was then married to Miss Elizabeth W. Hayes, who is still living. The father of our subject departed this life at his home in Rock Creek Township, April 24, 1883. He was for many years one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Joel Cook, who was born in Carroll County, N. H., about 1783. He carried on farming all his life, and reared a family of eight children, all of whom lived to mature years, and the youngest died at the age of fifty-five. All the others lived until past eighty years of age, and from that to ninety-two. Joel Cook was married to Miss Elizabeth Maxwell, and died in his native county at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His farm property laid in Carroll County, N. H.; most of it near the Sandwich line. He was a member of the militia in the War of 1812, and belonged to the Baptist Church. He had been reared strictly as a Puritan, and trained his children with much of the austerity which had been practice in his own bringing-up. His wife, Elizabeth, was two years younger than himself, and died about three months later.

The children of Josiah Cook are recorded as follows: Mary F. is the wife of Isaac S. Bunker; Hattie J. has been engaged as a teacher in the college at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, since 1857; Susan E. married Mr. O. C. Hanson, and is living in the city of Boston, Mass.; Rufus M., our subject, is the youngest born; he has held the various local offices in the county, where he has sojourned since reaching manhood, and is numbered among the most prominent and reliable citizens of this community, amply worthy of representation in a work designed to perpetuate the names of those who were mainly instrumental in the growth and development of this county.

Transcribed & Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits and Biographical Album Jo Daviess & Carroll Counties, IL (1889) pg 929