From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1605
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

S. C. COOK

   In the subject of this review we have one who has attained distinction in the line of his profession, who has been an earnest and discriminating student and who holds a position of due relative precedence among the medical practitioners of Lyons.  He came to Kansas a number of years ago, locating at Holyrood, but is now numbered among the successful practitioners of Lyons.

   The Doctor was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, near Youngstown, May 23, 1854, and is a son of Andrew and Martha (Tidville) Cook.  The father was a native of Somersetshire, England, where he was reared to manhood, and there he was married, the lady of his choice being a native of Wales, in which country she spent her girlhood days.  Soon after their marriage they came to the United States, first taking up their abode in Youngstown, Ohio, while later they resided upon a farm in Mahoning county.  In 1855 they emigrated westward to Iowa, settling upon a farm in Jefferson county, where they made their home until 1864, when they went to Union county, Iowa.  Near Creston, that county, the father is still living, at the age of seventy-six years.  Throughout his active business career he has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits.  He holds membership in the Evangelical church and his religious faith has permeated his life, making him a man of honor, and at all times he is found true to principle and to duty.  His wife passed away in 1860, at the age of thirty years, leaving six children, four of whom are yet living, namely:  Mrs Anna White, of Oklahoma; Mrs Eliza Troyer, of Creston, Iowa; Mrs Sarah Vincent, of Afton, Iowa; S C, of this review; and Mrs Harriet Pugh, of Lamar, Missouri; and one who died in infancy.

   Dr Cook was quite young when his parents went to Iowa, and there upon a farm he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, finding in the rural life excellent opportunity for the development of a strong constitution.  He was also taught the value of honesty in the affairs of life, and in the public schools of Afton he acquired a good literary education, completing the high school course.  He afterward engaged in teaching for two years and then took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr D C Baldwin, a well known and capable physician of Cedarvale, Kansas.  His later studies were pursued in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in St Louis, where he was graduated with the class of 1884.  In 1879, however, he began practice in Moline, Kansas, where he remained for seven months, and in 1880 he located in Holyrood, Ellsworth county, Kansas, where he remained until 1882, when he went to Warren county, Missouri.  After his graduation he opened an office in McCracken, Rush county, Kansas, and after four years there passed removed to Bushton, Rice county, where he remained for seven years.  On the expiration of that period he came to Lyons, and from the beginning has occupied an enviable place as a representative of the medical fraternity of this city.

   Dr Cook was married in St Charles county, Missouri, at Wentzville, in August, 1880, to Elizabeth Darnell, a daughter of Jesse and Susan (Sullivan) Darnell.  Her father is now deceased, but her mother is living in Adams, Oregon.  They had nine children, of whom seven yet survive, namely:  J C, of Kalama, Washington; Mrs Susan Baldwin, who is living in Independence, Oregon; R E, who makes his home in Toldeo, Oregon; C B, a resident of Adams, that state; Mrs Hattie Holdman, of Pendleton, Oregon; Mrs Mattie Brewer, of Adams, Oregon; Jesse, who is living in Kelso, Washington; and two who have passed away.  The marriage of Dr and Mrs Cook has been blessed with two children,  - Madie and Jessie.

   The Doctor votes with the Democracy and is now serving as president of the board of health of Lyons.  He belongs to the Christian church and his wife to the Methodist Episcopal church.  He is an advocate of temperance movements, and is a friend of education, religion and all general improvement and progress.  His life work has been a benefit to his fellow men and undoubtedly there is still before him a successful future, wherein his influence and labor will prove of value to the community with which he is associated.