Judge Orsell Cook was born in Wells, Rutland
county, Vt., Feb. 23, 1807, and died in Jamestown, July
I, 1895. He was the son of Benjamin and Eunice
(Goodspeed) Cook. In 1812 his parents moved to
Danby, Tioga county, N. V., and remained there until
the spring of 1817. From Danby the family moved to
Silver Lake, then to Perry, N. Y., and in 1829 came
to Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Orsell Cook did
not accompany them to this county but followed in
company with his sister a year later, coming down
Chautauqua Lake from Mayville and landing at a dock
some distance above what is now known as Goose
Creek, whence they followed the path through the
forest to the family home.
In 1832 Judge Cook taught school at Lakewood, and
in 1833 he commenced the study of law with Judge
Richard P. Marvin and Samuel A. Brown, in James-
town, and from that day until the time of his demise,
he was actively identified with the Chautauqua county
bar. During his sixty years of legal practice he had
only been associated as a law partner with four men;
Lorenzo P. Morris, Clark R. Lockwood, Jerome B.
Fisher, and Arthur C. Wade. At the time of his death
he was at the head of the law firm of Cook, Fisher &
Wade, which was at that time one of the best and well
known firms throughout the county of Chautauqua.
The last few years of his life he did not often appear
at court, but was daily at his office. He kept abreast
of the times in his law studies, and active in consulta-
tion with his legal associates, when his advice was
always considered invaluable. In 1844 he was appointed
surrogate of Chautauqua county by Governor Bouck,
which position he held for three years. He was elected
county judge in 1862 and was reelected in 1866.
Judge Cook married (first) in 1839, Ann M. Tew,
and to this union was born three children: Mrs. John
T. Wilson, who died April 18, 1903; Mrs. Henry C.
Price, of Jamestown; and Mrs. Charles A. Breed, of
Albany, N. Y. Judge Cook married (second) in 1849,
Eliza R. Dexter, who died in 1903. Of this union one
son was born, Willis O., who died at the age of fifty-
four years, unmarried. In professional life there was always
deliberate judgement, calm action, clear thinking and
unswerving devotion to every trust. Broad souled,
he was tolerant of the political or religious opinions of
others. Men, irrespective of party, loved him for what
he was, a simple, kindly man, devoted to his home,
loving and loved by his friends.