George H. Cook
Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
George H. Cook, manager at Kenosha for Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, was
born in Waynesville, Ohio, July 22, 1887, a son of Seth and Hannah (Robinson)
Cook. The father is identified with retail coal interests. The son obtained a
good public school education and afterward spent two years as a student in the
Ohio Wesleyan University, after which he entered the employ of John I. Beggs,
the president of the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company. He entered that
service in December, 1908, in a very humble capacity, receiving a salary of but
twenty dollars per month. He worked his way upward through the electrical
engineering department and the meter and testing department, was advanced to the
power plant, construction and operating departments and later became connected
with the construction and operation of high voltage transmission systems. In
July, 1910, he became connected with the firm of Vaughn & Meyer, consulting
engineers of Milwaukee, in the capacity of electrical engineer, and remained
with them until September, 1912, when he went to Panama, spending six months on
the Isthmus in the employ of the government. Following his return he was again
associated with the firm of Vaughn & Meyer from April, 1913, until September,
1913, and at the latter date was made manager of the Kenosha division of
Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company. Under his direction this business has greatly
iincreased, its patronage having grown many-fold, and his work has been highly
satisfactory to the corporation which he represents.
On the 15th of May, 1913, Mr. Cook was married to Miss Edna Nickols, of
Milwaukee. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting without regard
to party affiliation, his ballot being determined largely by his belief in the
capability of the candidate. He belongs to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Greek letter
society, and fraternally is identified with the Masons and with the Elks, while
in the line of his chosen vocation he has connection with the National Electric
Light Association and with the Illuminating Engineering Society. He studies
along lines leading to the further development of his powers and capability, and
his efficiency is widely acknowledge[d] by those in whose service he has been
retained.
Typed by: Marilyn Allis