Amos Cook, the popular police judge and one of Quenemo's most public spirited citizens, was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, the descendant of a long line of Revolutionary ancestors. His great-grandfather, Anthony Cook, came to America in the colonial era and later located in Pennsylvania. It is believed that he served in the war of the Revolution, though no record of his service has been preserved. His son, John, was born near Philadelphia, Pa., and when he grew to manhood engaged in farming and at the same time worked as a locksmith. Miles Cook, father of Amos, was born and reared in the Keystone State. He entered the state militia of Pennsylvania and served in the army during the war of 1812. After the war was over he married Mary Fisher and they immigrated to Illinois at an early day; took up land on what was then the frontier and spent the remainder of their lives in the West. Amos' maternal grandfather, Ludley Fisher, was born in the Fatherland. He came from Germany at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania, where he became a farmer. He was not actively engaged as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, but was a member of the home guard and assisted in obtaining supplies or the army.

Amos Cook spent his boyhood in Pennsylvania and Illinois; received his education in the little log school house that was all the pioneers could afford; enlisted in 1864 in Company C, Forty-seventh Illinois infantry, and served under General Canby in the First division, Sixteenth army corps. He was with his regiment at the battles of Nashville and Fort Blakely and served until mustered out of the service in 1865. Believing that there were more opportunities for young men in the West, he came to Kansas in March, 1866, bought land near Ottawa, broke it up and began to farm. Subsequently he preëmpted 160 acres of government land. In 1870 he moved to Quenemo, where he immediately began to take an active part in local affairs and politics, serving as county commissioner from 1876 to 1880. During that time the fight over the location of the county seat occurred, some of the residents wishing it changed from Lyndon to Osage City. Mr. Cook also served as township trustee for several years.

In 1863 he married Louisa, daughter of Mahion and Mary (Beaver) Anderson. Her father was a native of Ohio, where he lived all his life. He invested extensively in land in Nebraska and held it long enough to sell at a big profit, which made him a wealthy man. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook: Owen, who is engaged in farming; Peter; and Essie, wife of Eugene Darling, who lives in Oklahoma. Mr. Cook has been justice of the peace for years and is the present police judge of Quenemo. He is public spirited, contributes liberally toward all town improvements and is one of the most honored citizens.