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William M “Bill” Cook

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Birth	:	30 Aug 1862 Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin, USA
Death	:	14 Sep 1928 Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Saint Marys Cemetery, Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.8153000, -100.7546997
Description	:	WILLIAM COOK, RESIDENT HERE 55 YEARS, DIES William M. Cook, 68, who came to Bismarck 55 years ago behind a yoke of oxen in a covered wagon, died of heart disease at his home at 1:30 a.m. today following an illness of a few hours. The pioneer had farmed in the Bismarck district for 20 years, served as a city police official and deputy sheriff, and was bailiff at the Burleigh county court house for more than 25 years. Physicians were called to the Cook home Tuesday evening when Mr. Cook complained of feeling ill. He recovered and... Read More	WILLIAM COOK, RESIDENT HERE 55 YEARS, DIES William M. Cook, 68, who came to Bismarck 55 years ago behind a yoke of oxen in a covered wagon, died of heart disease at his home at 1:30 a.m. today following an illness of a few hours. The pioneer had farmed in the Bismarck district for 20 years, served as a city police official and deputy sheriff, and was bailiff at the Burleigh county court house for more than 25 years. Physicians were called to the Cook home Tuesday evening when Mr. Cook complained of feeling ill. He recovered and carried out his duties at the court house Wednesday and Thursday. Shortly after 6 p.m. last night he again complained of illness. Physicians were called, but the veteran failed rapidly. He died while asleep. Cook leaves his wife, three sons, one daughter, two sisters, and one brother. Sons are Paul, Irving, and Thodore. The daughter is Katherine. Sisters are Mrs. Alice Stiackbein, Spokane, Wash., and Mrs. Emma Suhr, Bellngham, Wash. The brother is Charley Cook, Spokane, Wash. Funeral arrangements, held up pending word from the out-of-city relatives, are tentatively set for Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian church. Rev. Walter E. Vater, pastor of the McCabe Methodist church will read the services. Cook was born in Green Bay, Wis., Aug. 30, 1862. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to a farm in Goodhue county, Minn. Cook and his close friend, John Sunderland, trudged into Bismarck on the morning of August 3, 1873. Cook was 11 years old then. They walked up a dilapidated staircase back of the Bismarck Tribune building, then on the corner where the Webb building is now, and were promptly "kicked down the stairs by an angry printer." He came to Bismarck with his parents in a covered wagon from Goodhue county, Minn. The group left Minnesota July 4, spending a month on the trip. Families of Charles Nichols, John Nichols, Henry Arnold and Charles Martin accompanied Cook's family in the small group, about 20 in all. Mrs. Charles Pierce and Mrs. Charles Blunt, Bismarck, are children of John Nichols. The veteran bailiff before his death was an authority on events of the pioneer days in Burleigh county. When he first came to the city the block between Main avenue and Broadway avenue on Fourth street was one mass of saloons and dance halls. He called it the "toughest spot in town." In that block were Jack O'Neil's dance hall, Seventh Cavalry saloon, Jack Champion's dance hall, and Pete Brannigan's saloon. Men were shot in those four places almost every night, Cook said. "Antelope and buffalo roamed the hills near here in herds when I came," Cook said. "Buffalo meat was available for every meal." Cook watched Bismarck grow from a small wilderness settlement of a few log cabins to the modern city of 10,000 inhabitants which it is today. The Northern Pacific railroad had reached the city in June, 1873. All the buildings were log structures. People lived in tents until cold weather came. River boat traffic was heavy. There were no buildings at the present site of Mandan. The ferry crossed the river five miles south of Bismarck at the site of old Fort Abraham Lincoln. Indians, who came into the settlement by the hundreds to trade furs for coffee, tea, rice and potatoes, rarely molested inhabitants here, because of the protection afforded by the soldiers at the old fort. Farming of grains on a large scale hadn't been started here when the bailiff arrived. Cook began farming and ranching on 160 acres four miles north of the city when he was 19 years old. He farmed for 20 years. He said North Dakota raised its biggest crop in 1882. He raised 100 bushels of oats and 22 bushels of wheat to the acre. Wheat sold for 40 cents a bushel, butter for 12 cents a pound, and spring chickens for 15 cents each in those days. Cook was 14 years old when Custer's army was massacred by the Sioux Indians in Montana in 1876. He trained, fed, and took care of Comanche, Colonel Keogh's saddle horse, before and after the massacre. Comanche, wounded, was the only survivor of Custer's last stand. Cook took care of the horse when it was brought back to Bismarck wounded, and he nursed it back to health, riding it every morning to exercise it. Cook left his farm after 20 years to become a city police official, and later a deputy sheriff. He had been bailiff at the Burleigh county court house for more than 25 years. Bill's smile each morning and his happiness-inspiring "Good morning, folks," will be missed greatly in the local court house, for Bill was respected and loved by the court house ilk. Everyone who visited the court house knew the bailiff, all looking for him and his sunshiny personality when they visited the county building. He was ever cheerful, interested in everybody, and willing to do everything in his power to make other people comfortable. Bismarck persons every day could see Bill sitting out on the wicker bench on the court house porch, whittling away at a stick, and talking merrily with everyone that came through the doors of the building. He was always intensely interested in his children, how they would progress in the world, what would become of them, were they happy, wondering how he could do more for them. Without his children and family, his life would have been hollow. County officials looked forward to visits, short but inspiring, from the bailiff. He was acquainted with every plank, nail and brick in the building. Many are the stories that have arisen concerning Cook and his duties at the court house. Any county official can tell half a dozen humorous incidents in which the aged man figured. **The Bismarck Tribune, Friday, September 14, 1928, Page 1 and 2.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William M “Bill” Cook's memorial?
William M “Bill” Cook's memorial is located at: Saint Marys Cemetery, Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA.
When did William M “Bill” Cook death?
William M “Bill” Cook death on 14 Sep 1928 in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William M “Bill” Cook's memorial?
Latitude: 46.8153000
Longitude: -100.7546997

Family Members:

Spouse

Julia E O'Leary Cook

(1877 - 1939)

Children

Dr Paul Thomas Cook

(1909 - 1994)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Marys Cemetery
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8153000, -100.7546997

2. Summerfield Pet Memorial Park
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8350400, -100.7486700

3. Saint George's Episcopal Memorial Church Columbarium
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8109560, -100.7854140

4. Bismarck Jewish Cemetery
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8363900, -100.7468600

5. Fairview Cemetery
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8372002, -100.7466965

6. Sunset Memorial Gardens
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8372002, -100.7703018

7. Lt Beaver Masonic Memorial
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7401900, -100.7627000

8. McDowell Dam Pet Cemetery
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8262000, -100.6420000

9. Greenwood Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7978400, -100.8662000

10. Saint Josephs–Greenwood Catholic Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7968087, -100.8666528

11. Mandan Union Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8398590, -100.8717880

12. Fort Lincoln Military Cemetery
Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7685280, -100.8581390

13. North Dakota Veterans Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7494125, -100.8481293

14. Saint Josephs Catholic Church Crypt
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8297200, -100.8900800

15. Annunciation Monastery Cemetery
Bismarck, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7210000, -100.7550000

16. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8360000, -100.9240000

17. Stewartsdale Cemetery
Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7078018, -100.6303024

18. Menoken Cemetery
Menoken, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8226204, -100.5410690

19. Saint Johns Cemetery
Mandan, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6983500, -100.8906300

20. Groveview Cemetery
Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9533005, -100.6007996

21. Heart River Cemetery
Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7952995, -101.0289001

22. Saint Martins Cemetery
Huff, Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6250300, -100.6561500

23. Harmon Cemetery
Morton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9697250, -100.9651600

24. Baldwin Cemetery
Baldwin, Burleigh County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0261002, -100.7285995