The Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society recently received a copy of a “History of Porter, Maine” by Thomas Moulton, from a relative of the Cook family living in California. There was an inscription in the book by its former owner, Ralph Eugene Cook – “If this book is not wanted please send it to the Porter Historical Society, Porter, Maine. Being the last one “Cook” to be born in the Town of Porter, February 3, 1896 to Herbert E. Cook and Clara E. Towle Cook.” Also included was a letter written to Ralph from his cousin, Levi L. Cook, January 15, 1939 with some family genealogy. Knowing a little about Levi Cook, this prompted some research of the Cook family in Porter.
According to Levi’s letter, the first Cooks in the Town of Porter from whom all of the local Cooks descended were three brothers from Farmington, New Hampshire. Jonathan, Abraham and Nathaniel Cook came to the Territory of Porterfield in April 1796 and took up homesteads years before the town was incorporated. They settled on the east side of Colcord Pond. Many are buried in the Porter Village cemetery and are listed in Porter Vital Statistics.
Jonathan Cook – (Born 1763. Died ?) was the line that included both Ralph and Levi.
(He was Ralph’s great great-grandfather and Levi’s great-grandfather.) He married Susan Hayes of Farmington, NH and they had 6 children: Abigail, Louisa, Mary, Jonathan 2nd, William and Spencer.
Jonathan Cook 2nd - Born 5/27/1805 in Porter. Died 11/26/1877. (He was Ralph’s great-grandfather and Levi’s grandfather.) He married Mary Ann Brooks (1809-1891) in Porter. They had 10 children:
Sarah Ann – Born 12/11/1827
Jonathan Woodman (Ralph’s grandfather) – Born 2/4/1830
Horace – Born 3/29/1832. Died 3/4/1909.
George – Born 3/11/1835. Died 11/5/1911.
Rose Ann – Born 6/18/1837. Died 7/26/1854.
Lorenzo D. (Levi’s father) – Born 9/30/1839. Died 8/17/1905.
Arsenath – Born 9/4/1841. Died 3/16/1868.
Eliza Jane – Born 9/24/1843. Died 1/24/1916.
Mary Ann – Born 1848. Died 8/9/1854
Lydia F. – Born ? Died ?
Jonathan Woodman was born in Porter 2/4/1830 and died in North Conway 12/13/1891. He married Margaret-Jane Peary. They had 7 children: Lewis, George, Mary, Emerson, Ada, Charles and Herbert E.
Herbert E. Cook (Ralph’s father) – Born ? in Porter. Died ?
Herbert married Clara E. Towle – Born 2/22/1877. Died in Porter 5/2/1941. The number of children born to them is unknown except for 3 boys: Herbert, Ivan and Ralph – Born in Porter 2/3/1896. Died in California after 1961 but date unknown.
It appears that several of the Cook family moved west. Ralph’s family ended up in California and his Uncle Horace’s family was in South Dakota, Iowa and California. Lorenzo’s family remained in Maine.
Lorenzo D. Cook ( Levi’s father) – Born in Porter 9/30/1839. Died in 1905 in Cornish. He married Elzira Libby. Levi’s obituary states that Levi L. Cook was their only son. No record was found of any daughters. Quite a bit was learned about Levi.
Levi Libby Cook – Born in Porter 8/5/1866. He married Eunice F. Durgin (photo) on 4/6/1886. She was the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Ridlon) Durgin. They had 4 daughters who all died in childhood.
Levi grew up in Porter and was educated here. He attended the Porterfield schools about which he wrote a poem in later years. Levi moved his family to Cornish and his name was listed in the “York County Directory of 1897-1898” as an insurance agent. The family lived in the former Thomas Richardson farm. According to “A History of the Town of Cornish, Maine” published in 1994, the farm was located on outer Maple Street toward Kezar Falls. Later the buildings burned and by 1993 Pumpkinville had been built on that location. His father Lorenzo died in 1905.
The “1905 Town Register for Cornish” listed in the census: Levi L. Cook – carpenter, Eunice F. (Durgin) Cook – [wife], Elzira B. (Libby) Cook – [mother] and Josephine Cook – mill operator [sister or cousin?]
Levi’s wife Eunice died 10/7/1912. His mother Elzira Cook died in 1927. Levi remarried in October of that year to Annie (Pinkham) Crockett.
Levi apparently had several occupations – insurance agent, carpenter and farmer. He wrote articles for the Ossipee Valley Weekly newspaper and he wrote poetry. PPHS has several of his handwritten poems in our collection including the one published in booklet form – “Reminiscences of School Days”.
Mr. Cook was active and held an office in several local organizations; Cornish Townsend Club, Ossipee Valley Oddfellows Lodge No. 54, Greenleaf Masonic Lodge No. 117, Cornish Grange No. 163, Kezar Falls Fish and Game Assn. and was a leader of the Cornish Boy Scouts.
Levi L Cook died from a stroke at his cousin’s home in Cornish on August 3, 1939. He left his widow, Annie (Pinkham) Cook who later moved to Porter and lived until 1977.
Levi and Eunice Cook with a daughter (?)
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