Bio: Cook, Mr./Mrs. Russell (Century Farm – 1970)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cook, Borden, Trindal, Hallock, Smith, Nichols, Vickery, Mengel, Wooden, Miles, West, Matthiesen, Castner, Williams

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 13 Aug 1970

Not many families can claim a century farm or home. To have a century farm when there is a century celebration is extra special. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cook, Rt. 2, Loyal (Clark Co., Wis.), and family , have just that to be proud of this year.

To think back about 1850 – 1858 is a long time ago. Ebenezer Borden was an adventurous logger in Jackson County in 1849. If he had gotten to the exact spot he later called home is not known, but he did get into Clark County.

Ebenezer Borden was born in the famous region of Vermont known as the Green Mountains. At the age of twenty-five hew as in Dodge County, Wisconsin. After going to Jackson County he met a Canadian girl, Catherine Hallock, who became his bride in 1856. The Hallocks also came to Loyal and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Dorothie Trindal. The relatives often lived in groups, as was common with the early settlers around Loyal.

After moving to Section 21, Town of Loyal, in 1858, Ebenezer Borden went into the maple sugar business. At the price of six cents a pound it doesn't seem like much. He tapped some 800 trees and had the help of other men to man the boiling pot in the woods. It is believed that he could not deal in maple syrup due to the lack of containers in those days, and one could always boil up some syrup from the sugar, the forerunner of our powdered milk, potato flakes, and such foods. Any supplies Borden needed he got from La Crosse, lugging them home on his back.

There were eleven children and to make good his title to the homestead, he built an eight room house. This house was replaced in 1929 when the grandson, Elwin Cook, was living on the farm.

Of the family, William married Eleanor Hallock, Wyatt was the next one to own the homestead. Mrs. Charles (Ruth) Smith moved to South Dakota. The next two were Hubert and Norman, who also went West. Mrs. Jason (Marian) Cook lived across the road. Mrs. Frank (Mira) Nichols moved to Montana. Mrs. Fred (Edna) Vickery lived at Bayfield, Wis. Watson and Lillian both died in infancy. The youngest, Mrs. Albert (Florence) lived in Minnesota.

Ebenezer Borden had taken time out to serve his country as a private in Company I of the Third Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War. In 1870 he had received the final papers with the official signature giving him ownership to his homestead. He and his wife had lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Wyatt Borden had also gone West and claimed a homestead in Brown county, S.D. He also carried dispatches for the Indian Reservation nearby and was a guard so the Indians did not leave the reservation.

Upon his return to the parental homestead he continued the maple sugar business with as much as 2,000 pounds a year. Along with this he also raised cattle and sheep. Wyatt never married and he willed the farm to his nephew, Elwin Cook, who in turn woned it until his death. Since that time his son, in turn, Russell Cook, has owned it.

One requirement for a century farm is that it must be owned by blood relation or legally adopted children. In this case, it has had only four owners – Ebenezer Borden, Wyatt Borden, Elwin Cook and Russell Cook.

Marion Borden married Jason Cook and they raised four children. Belle became Mrs. John Megel and lived in Montana. Elsie became Mrs. William Wooden and also lived in the West. Price claimed Frances Miles for his bride and went West too. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mengel and Mr. and Mrs. Price Cook are living in Montana at the present time.

Edwin Cook married his brother's wife's niece, Katy Miles, and they raised two children, Mrs. Katy Cook lives in the city of Loyal in the house once owned by Marion Cook.

Of their two children, Mrs. Marvin (Wanda) West lives in Madison and Russell has the Century Farm.

Russell and his wife, the former Loretta Matthiesen, have five children: Randy Lee, 13; Karen Marie, 11; Diane Kay, 9; Lori Ann, 7; and Roger Allen, 6.

The Century Farm is 148.76 acres where the present owner farms and also carries on his logging business. There are some maple trees left in the wood lot, but the maple sugar business is no longer a seasonal task like years ago.

On Aug. 19, 1970, all new Century Farm owners will be given recognition at the State Fair Park in a special program, with the Lt. Gov. Jack Olson personally welcoming the families. A special certificate will be issued to the owner at the close of the State Fair.

There have been only nine century farms listed for Clark County. The George Castner farm south of Loyal was given recognition in 1961 and has since been sold. The Williams farm near Granton was given recognition in 1957, but changed hands this year. So Loyal can rightly be proud to have a Century Farm for their centennial celebration.