James Hook Genealogy

James Hook (son of James Grant Hook and Sarah Hook), b. in Carroll Co., Ohio. Sept. 30, 1839, d. in Wapello Co., Iowa, June 30, 1905. M. Nov. 21, 1867, in Wapello Co., Iowa, Virginia, dau. of Harvey and Mary Caroline (Vannoy) Eller, b. in Wilkes Co., N. C., Oct. 18, 1845; d. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Oct. 30, 1897. (See Eller Genealogy) Attended country schools in Vinton Co., Ohio, and helped father on farm. At President Lincoln's first call for volunteers he enlisted on Apr. 20, 1861 in the 18th Ohio Vol. Inf. for three months' service. He was honorably discharged Aug. 28, 1861. In the spring of 1862, he visited his brothers Stephen and William in Iowa and shortly after his return home enlisted on Sept. 9, 1862, in the 7th Ohio Vol. Cavalry and served continuously until he was mustered out of the service at Raleigh, N. C., June 22, 1865. In the fall of 1865, he moved with his parents in a prairie schooner to Highland township, Wapello Co., Iowa, where he lived the remainder of his life, a prosperous farmer and fine stock raiser and a prominent and respected citizen. He taught school during the winter for several years after arriving in Iowa. In 1875 he began the purchase of land in Wapello County which later grew to be one of the best and most productive farms in the county. He was a leader in the activities of the community and represented the electorate in many county and state political conventions. He was a staunch Republican. He was a school trustee and justice of the Peace for many years. He was several times commander of the J. M. Hedrick Post, G. A. R and represented that body in many state and national encampments. He was not a member of any church, but supported them all and taught Sunday School for many years. He was a prominent importer and breeder of shorthorn cattle and Morgan horses. In 1901 he m. his second wife, Caroline Ebelsheiser, who d. in July, 1905. There was no issue by this marriage. He is buried beside his first wife in the Hook family plot in Martinsburg Cemetery, Wapello Co., Iowa.

Children of James Hook and Virginia Eller:

(1) Mary Hook, b. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Aug. 27, 1868; d- in Humboldt, Iowa, Mar. 23, 1897. M. Oct. 19, 1892, Henry Edgar Passig of Humboldt, Iowa, b. Mar. 1, 1869. Her early education was obtained in country schools in Wapello Co. In 1890 and 1891, she attended Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. She taught in public schools at Hedrick, Iowa. She was a talented writer and devoted Christian. Issue: one son, b. Aug. 17, 1893; d. immediately.

(2) John Hook, b. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Apr. 18, 1870; m. Nov. 1, 1894, Jennie Lentner, b. Sept. 7, 1873. Her parents were John Jacob Lentner, b. in Athens Co., Ohio, Feb. 5, 1841; d. Dec. 15, 1902, and Almira Kirkpatrick, b. in Madison Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1849. Her grandparents were George M. Lentner, b. in Lewiston, Del., Aug. 22, 1807; d. 1907, and Mary Imes, b. in Ohio, Apr. 16, 1808; d. Nov. 19, 1892. Her mother's parents were-Minor Kirkpatrick, b. in Va., Sept. 16, 1816; d. Dec., 1894, and Hanna Godfrey, b. in Va., Mar. 23, 1819; d. Oct., 1910. The Lentner immigrant ancestor was Conrad who came to America from Germany before the Revolution and joined the Army of General Lafayette. His son. Jacob, was an officer in the War of 1812 and moved to Athens Co., Ohio, in 1816 from Lewiston, Del. Jacob's son, George M. Lentner, m. first in 1829, Sarah Ann McGonagle, and 2d, in 1831, Mary Imes. The latter family moved to Wapello Co., Iowa, in a covered wagon in 1851. John Jacob enlisted in Co. D, 18th Iowa Inf., served throughout the Civil War and was mustered out of the service July 2o, 1865, as a Second Lieut.

The parent of Minor Kirkpatrick was Thomas, a veteran of the War of 1812, and his grandparent was Hugh Kirkpatrick who was one of several brothers who fought in the War for Independence from Virginia.

John Hook always showed an artistic bent. He is a cartoonist and landscape painter of no small ability and some of his work was exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. He is now the California General Sales Representative of the Pitcairn Varnish Company. His home is in Claremont, Calif., where both of his children live. As a side line he has developed a fine lemon ranch which his son manages. He is a member of I. O. O. F. and various clubs and is an accomplished public speaker. Issue, two, as follows:

(1) Mary Louise Hook, b. June 17, 1900; m. George H. Hinshaw. Issue: John Wallace Hinshaw, b. 1919 and Robert Eugene Hinshaw, b. 1922. Resides at Claremont, Calif.

(2) Max Morris Hook, b. Nov. 21, 1902; m. Esther Arnold. Issue: Earle Hook, b. 1922 and Louise Hook, b. Sept. 21, 1924. He was on the destroyer "Fuller" that was wrecked off the coast of California, Sept., 1923. Resides, Claremont, Calif.

(3) Orin Hook. b. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Feb. 13, 1872; m. 1st, Mar. 8, 1905, Pearl Richards, b. July 8, 1884; d. June 20, 1923, dau. of George W. Richards, b. in Ohio in 1851, and wife whose maiden name was Debolt. b. in Illinois, 1856. The Richards family resided for many years in Ottumwa, Iowa. Orin Hook was educated in the country schools near the parental home. He is a great lover of horses and a successful farmer. He left the farm in 1904 and for a few years was part owner with his father-in-law of a grocery store in Ottumwa, Iowa. In 1909 he returned to the farm where he remained until the untimely death of his wife in 1923. During the World War he was appointed by the Governor of Iowa as Food Administrator in his community and received a medal for his work that was made from metal taken from the first cannon captured by American Troops from the Germans. He was also an active worker in all Liberty Loan Campaigns. He is now residing in Pomona, Calif., where on July 19, 1924, he m. Idylmarch Naugle (nee Rockwell), formerly of Galesburg, Ill. Issue:

(1) Warren Mernie Hook, b. I906, who is a private in the 8th Field Artillery, U. S. A.

(4) Wallace Hook, b. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Jan. 12, 1874; m. Dec. 6, 1895, Isis Leota Edwards, b. Aug. 29, 1877. Her parents were Levi Chesterfield Edwards, b. in Hopkinsville, Ky., 1835; d. in Pleasant Plains, Iowa, 1898, and Elizabeth Montgomery, b. 1836 near Pittsburgh, Pa.; d. 1894 near Salina, Iowa. Her grandparents on her mother's side were Andrew Montgomery and Jane Montgomery (nee Courtney), the latter of whom was b. in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1800.

Wallace Hook attended the country schools near home until 1888, when he entered the Normal School in Hedrick, Iowa, graduating with the class of 1889. He again attended this school in 1893 and 1894, as well as the Teachers Institute in Ottumwa, Iowa, and obtained a teacher's certificate for both Wapello and Keokuk Counties. He was a teacher in various schools for several years.

In 1902 he entered Iowa State College and attended for two years, taking the agricultural course. He then became a scientific farmer and tried out many theories that later made him known generally throughout the state as a corn and grain breeder. He wrote a text book for the farmer that won wide distribution and has contributed liberally to farm papers throughout the country. In Feb., 1918, he entered the Federal Service as County Agricultural Agent, devoting his entire time to educating the farmer along lines of scientific farming. Family now resides in Salem, Mo., where they are active as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Issue, six, as follows:

(1) Gladys Marie Hook, b. at Hedrick, Iowa, Dec. 14. 1896; m. Feb. 3, 1915, Bert E. Homer, b. 1890. Family now living in Ottumwa, Iowa. Issue, two children: Edward Eugene Horner, b. July 25, 1916, and Maurice Hook Horner, b. 1918.
(2) Lorena Margaret Hook, b. at Hedrick, Iowa, Nov. 12, 1900; m. Mar. 7, 1918, William S. Oaks, b. 1897. Issue: Donna Jane Oaks, b. June 3, 1919. Family now living near Kirkwood, Ill.
(3) Virginia Rae Hook, b. at Ames, Iowa, Sept. 24, 1902; m. June 14, 1922, George E. Stevens, b. 1901. Family lives, Salem, Mo. Issue: Jack Harlan Stevens, b. Apr. 18, 1924.
(4) James Chesterfield Hook, b. at Ames, Iowa, Jan. 15, 1906.
(5) Marvin Eugene Hook, b. at Packwood, Iowa, Jan. 21, 1910; d. 1913.
(6) Wallace A. Hook, b. at Lockridge, Iowa, Sept. 21, 1916.

(5) Sarah (Sadie) Hook, b. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Feb. 22, 1876; m. Sept. 7, 1904, Henry Edgar Passig, b. Mar. 1, 1869 in Sigourney, Iowa. He was the son of Henry Frederick Passig, a Civil War Veteran, as bugler in Co. F, 5th Iowa Infantry, who was b. in Schleswig Holstein, Denmark, and d. on Mar. 10, 1871 in Sigourney, Iowa. His mother was Katharine Salome Keller, b, in Baden, Germany, Jan. 7, 1842; d. in Sigourney, Iowa, Feb. 4, 1920. His grandparents on his mother's side were John George Keller, b. in Baden, Germany, Sept. 8, 1815; d. by an accident at Sigourney, Iowa, Sept. 22, 1874, and Margaret B. Yaeger, b. in Baden, Germany, Dec. 27, 1816; d. Mar. 20, 1897. The latter were m. in Baden, July 14, 1840, and emigrated to America between 1846 and 1848, and settled in Crawford Co., Ohio. They moved to Keokuk Co., Iowa, about five years later.

Sarah (Hook) Passig attended public schools of Wapello Co., Iowa until 1893, when she spent the winter with her sister in Humboldt, Iowa, and attended High School. Entered Iowa State College 1895, graduated 1898 with degree of B.Sc. After the death of her mother she kept up the home for her father until 1901, when she joined the faculty of Iowa State College as instructor in Public Speaking. She introduced in 1903 and directed the Department of Physical Education for women in the college; was acting head of the Department of Public Speaking in the college in the absence on leave of Professor Adrian M. Newens, 1902-1903. She resigned her position with the College at the time of her marriage in 1904. She at once became active in the affairs of her community and succeeded in obtaining a free public library for her town, 1906190'7. She has been an active member of the Unitarian Church, teacher in its Sunday School, a member of its Board of Trustees, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Association of the State of Iowa. She was chairman of the loth Iowa District Woman's Suffrage Campaign, 1916-1920, also chairman of that same district of the Woman's Division Liberty Loan Campaign, 1917-1919. She was County Chairman of the Finance Committee, Iowa Red Cross, 1917-1919, and Chairman of the County War Savings Stamp Campaign, 1918. At present she is a member of the Board of Governors of the Iowa Division of the English Speaking Union of the U. S., Treasurer and Third VicePresident Iowa League of Women Voters, President of the Iowa State College Alumni Association, Member Iowa State Historical Association, P. E. 0. Sisterhood and W. R. C. and for two years has been on Speaker's Bureau of Federated Woman's Club. She has addressed many audiences and is a monologist and public speaker of much talent. Resides, Humboldt, Iowa No issue.

(6) Jesse Hook, b. June 12, 1878; d. Sept. 8, 1880.

(7) Infant dau., b. Sept. 20, 1880; d. Sept. 22, 1880.

(8) Freddie Hook, b. Jan. 3, 1882; d. Mar. 19, 1883.

(9) James William Hook, b. Jan. 9, 1884 in Wapello Co., Iowa; m. Sept. 17, 1907, Hattie Rosamond Bechtel of Fort Dodge, Iowa; b. Dec. 16, 1885. (For Bechtel Genealogy see forward.) Graduated, 1905, from Iowa State College, in Mechanical Engineering Course. Having edited college paper, went to Cody, Wyo., fall of 1905, became acquainted with Buffalo Bill and bought into and became editor of Cody, Wyo., "Enterprise." Returned to Iowa, 1906. Employed as engineer with Globe Machinery and Supply Company of Des Moines, Iowa, 1907-1909. Sales Manager and General Manager, C. A. Dunham Company of Marshalltown, Iowa, 1909-1916. Awarded a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering by Iowa State College in 1912. Vice-President and President, Allied Machinery Company of America in New York City, 1916-1923, during which time he resided at Tarrytown, N. Y. Was prominently identified with the large war activities of The American International Corporation of New York, 1917-1919. At present, President and Treasurer of The Geometric Tool Company of New Haven, Conn., where he resides. Issue, three, as follows:

(1) James Phillip Hook, b. at Marshalltown, Iowa, Jan. 22, 1911; d. Mar. 15, 1911.
(2) James William Hook, b. at Marshalltown, Iowa, May 30, 1912.
(3) Rose Virginia Hook, b. at Marshalltown, Iowa, May 23, 1914.

(10) Frank Leslie Hook, b. July 4, 1886. He attended the public schools in Wapello Co., Iowa, until 1903 when he entered Iowa State College where he remained for two years. Accompanied his father in 1905 to Park Co., Wyo. Returned after his father's death and turned his attention to cement manufacture. In 1909, he enlisted in the National Army stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Was honorably discharged Aug. of 1910. Re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1911 in Co. I, 3d Battalion Engineers, and was granted furlough Oct. 4, 1911, from which time he has not been heard from. He was a promising youth, a leader in his classes in school and at the time of his disappearance was in line for important advancement in the army. There is little doubt but that he met with foul play and that his assailant left no trace.

(11) Morris Glen Hook, b. May 7, 1889, in Wapello Co., Iowa; m. May 30, 1912, Elizabeth Clark of Toronto, Ont., who was b. June 14, 1888. She is a dau. of John Clark, b. 1856 in the Province of Quebec, and Janet Knox, b. near Stoneman, Quebec, 1856; d. 1892. Parents of John Clark were James Clark and Miriam Berry.

Morris Glen Hook attended public schools in Wapello Co., Iowa, until 1905 when he went to Humboldt, Iowa, to live with his sister Sarah, where he graduated from high school in 1908. Attended Iowa State College for two years. Employed by C. A. Dunham Company of Marshalltown, Iowa, 1910. Sent by that company to its Canadian Factory in Toronto, Ont., same year where he remained until Jan. 1, 1912, when he went to Winnipeg, Man., to become engineer to the Provincial Architect. In 1915 he resigned his position in Winnipeg intending to reenter college. Remained in college but one semester when he accepted position with C. A. Dunham Company as its Eastern Division Engineer with headquarters in New York City. On July 1, 1917, he was advanced to the position of Manager of his company's New York Office, which position he still holds. He is a heating engineer of repute and has published many articles on heating of buildings in Engineering Journals. He is a member of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers and has served upon its Nominating Committee. He is also a Mason and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, the fraternity club of N. Y. and Westchester Biltmore Country Club. He lives in Tuckahoe, N. Y. Issue, one dau.:

(1) Marguerite Hook, b. Apr. 22, 1913.