Obit: Cook, Henry (1861 - 1936)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cook, Pierce, Rener, Washburn, Krohn, Ludovic, Bradbury, Lastofka, Winner, Hahn, Bleiler, Johnosn, Nibbe, Fristad, Lawrence, Eberly, Taylor, Eisberner

----Sources: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) Sat., 25 July 1936

Cook, Henry (2 June 1861 - 16 July 1936)

An auto accident about 9:20, Thursday morning, July 16th, at the crossing of Highway 12 and Main Street, known as the cannery crossing, resulted in the death of Henry Cook, and painful injuries to Asa Washburn and George Pierce.

Asa Washburn, who was driving north on Main Street, failed to stop at the arterial and crashed into a truck. His car was a model T Ford coupe with a small truck box built at the rear. Mr. Pierce was riding as a passenger on the seat, and they came from Mr. Washburn’s home in Hewett on business, going first to the mill dam to see the work. At the dam Mr. Cook was invited to ride, and he sat in the box at the back. When crossing the concrete highway the coupe crashed into a semi-trailer truck owned and driven by Paul Redner, of Minneapolis. The impact wrecked the coupe, injuring Mr. Washburn and Mr. Pierce, and throwing Mr. Cook from his place in the rear to the concrete. He was yet alive and was rushed to the Krohn Hospital, but died before arriving there. Dr. Krohn reported that death resulted from a skull fracture above the left eye.

County coroner, P. C. Ludovic and traffic officer Lewis Bradbury were notified and came at once. An inquest was ordered by the coroner, and a jury composed of Geo. Lastofka, Grant Winner, A. F. Hahn, Ed Bleiler, Gust Johnson and H. H. Nibbe impaneled. The inquest was adjourned until Monday forenoon, when the parties connected with the accident were examined. N. S. Fristad, who was driving a team on highway 12, was the only witness of the crash. Washburn stated he looked watch way on the highway but did not see the truck, and Redner stated he saw the car before it struck and turned out onto the shoulder to try to avoid the accident. An open verdict was returned by the jury.

Traffic officer Bradbury took Washburn and Redner before Justice Lawrence on charges of reckless driving. Upon pleases of guilty, each one was fined $10 and costs, amounting to $13.95, which was paid, the fine being remitted to Redner, he paying only the costs.

The body of Henry Cook was taken to Kretschmer’s undertaking rooms immediately following his death, where burial services were held Friday forenoon, Rev. W. J. Eberly officiating. Interment was in Mentor Cemetery.

Mr. Cook leaves no near relatives. He was born in Ohio, June 2, 1861, and was brought by foster parents to Wisconsin when a young lad. He had lived in these parts for nearly sixty years. He married Mary Taylor, who died thirty years ago. For a few years past he has resided with Mrs. Alvina Eisberner. At the time of his sudden death he had reached the age of 75 years, 1 month and 14 days.