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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCook, Helga and WarrenRowers dock near Sylvan Beach. ZU.4AALL- t,yL-go /kr/ arr6 &A.e-mac- , U6 ^y✓"> V o • C,i D 1ego' f Lope' A gee tit s4-r ak! LA ai sg-F. PokiOr It44cq /OA Ce-a� AAJIY � This is the story of Helga Meri.e Cook (n' ee-eterson) end Wa.rren. Cook, as recalled by her daughter Yrs. Filth McRae. Interpolated into the interesting and humorous everts as told by young Yrs. Cook. John Suen Peterson, his wife Caroline and 2 small da.ugl-tors, Tina and Francis bod?ed an ocen liner in late Oct. 1884 enroute from Sweden to .America. T'..n9_r des- tination was whitehell, Michigan, where they would be at home among people of their own nationality who were a so imigrants. The ocean tri- was rough and Mrs. Peterson was in her eight month of pregnancy. Before the ship docked in New York near mi_d- nite )ct. 31 R: Nov, 1st. Resp., she was delivered of twins a. girland a boy. I.ustly and redheaded. Their names were Helga larie and Henry Peter. Helga was born minutes before Henry arrived, making Helga' s birthday on Halloween , while Henry's b I.rthday is Nov. 1st. Four more children joined the family during the neat 10 years, 2 boys F 2 girls. Fa.rly schooling .for the children consisted of regu.ler classes in the puplic school followed by specialclasses after school and on Sat. in swedish. The language spoken in the home. Yrs. Peterson was a very devout christi.ar: a congregationel.ist almost nu.ritan in her beliefs. Dancing watt forbidder, a. Ceck of Bards was a device of the devi.' which when discovered in the Lome was promptly swept up into the dust-nan and burned. But accompanying this old country discipline was an abundance of , ove: the children were well adjusted and successful in school. Helga won special honors in ma.them: ties, which talent would serve her well in later life. She had also acquired en under- standing and appreciation of children having served as built in baby --sitter for four younger brothers and sisters. At the suggestich of her high-school principal she entered Teachers College at Upsilanty, Mich. Specializing in Primary grade sub, ects a.nd taking Mk the math courses offered for her own pleasure and satisfaction. The obtained her teaching certificate and her first tee.ching position was in Iron Mountain, --2_ Mich, Her primary- students included children from newly arrived rnd d _sadventaged Polish families whose .fathers had b311" brought from Europe to �•-ork in t,I-e iron mines. Head lice and bed bugs were among the problems confronting her intte class• -room as she struggled to teach chi'dren who understand little or no eng'i_sh. But her sense of humor and love of children proved invaluable and her year was crowned with surcess. The spirit of adventure that had drawn her twin brother Henry to a ,job in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, brought her in 1905 to Nampa, Idaho, Where she had obtained a teaching position at Lakeview School. Another young teacher at Lakeview was Ennis McGee (later Mrs. Doss MCCall.) whose family were pioneer Nampa.ns. Helga and Ennis spent 2 summer vacations at Payette Lakes, staying in the old I:akevi.ew hotel, boating in the lake, and riding blooded race horses -owned by a half Indian hotel owner and stockman named Clem Blacl^yell. On one memorable occasion Helga was riding- a spirted horse on the old rase track east of McCall when the animal shied. She was thrown and found unconscious, by the horseman sent, out to locate her. Her puri.tantical upbringing had precluded any acquaintance with acbM1 so when anxious .friends used it to bring her to, she responded ruickly but vra.s .into,kYpted and tipsy for several hours afterwards, much to the del.igl-t of hotel_ When-Aahigher salary was offered for a, tacker at the mining town. of '.arren 50 miles north, she accepted the position. And it was there in the winter of 1907 that she meet the young forest ranger Warren E. Cook. Enroute to her new teaching position which was reached by a. horse drawn stage or on horseback. She spept the night at the Squaw Meadows State Station in this isolated mining region of central Idaho. The station was owned and operated by Yr. and t'rs. Hendricks and their three stalwart sons. The men were in a nearby meadow harvesting the wild hay for winter use. Helga and Z'rs, Hendricks were enjoying the sunshine just outside the low log house when a dapper New York mining man arrived on horseback. He waa dressed in .fashionable ridi.nF habit with boots, ruirt and -3- gauntlets. Quickly dismounting he strode over to hrs. Hendricks and ordered curtly "I want dinner tonite, a good bed and an early breakfast for myself in the 7rorrin.g. I also Grant my horse curried, fed oatse& ha,y.and bedded in str'aw." Mrs. Hendricks, a tall, guant woman of sixty, stared blankly. Then she cupped - her hands to her mouth and yelled loudly to her son, "Claude, C�a.ude, come Quick Jetsus Christ is here, and he's brought his horse." Warren Cook was born Feb. 26, 1876 to John Barnnister Cook at Dayton, Wash. When Warren was 2 the family moved to Gra.n_gvill..e, Idaho, where his father had a blacksmith shop. This was his home until he came to Warren, Idaho in 1904. In 1898-99 he served in the Spanish American. War and the Phillipine Insurraction as quarter -master sergent of the comissary of Volunteer Company C. When the forest service was created. in 1905 under the Dept. of Interior, he became a. .forest ranger stationed at Warren, Idaho.. At one time he had under his supervision the ertire Warren areas the primitive area, Chamberlain Basin, Rig Creek snd. 71k Summit, one half of the forest area created at that time. On Oct. 23, 1908, Warren t Helga were married in Warren, Tdaho by G. W. Luck surveyor - preacher from Weiser, Idaho. Warren was known as tough little mining tom and the town salon, tl-e Tony Saloon was the western style gathering place for all the sour-doughs and town drunks. 'adhere all discussions ended in wagers or fights. The ranger station was detached from the town, on the outskirts. Warren was away on forest business and Helga was buitly catching up on housework after weeks of teaching. Looking out of the window she was terrified to see staggering up the kitchen path "Boston" Brown and Ira McGa.ry, two of the towns worst drunks ---guns and bottles protuding from their pockets. They came to the kitchen door and knocked. Ira, a, redheard Irishman, was spokesman, "excuse us, Ladd- Coo!:, for troubling you but you're a teacher. Me and "Boston" have a, stake of twent-five dollars at the saloon and we call on you to settle the wager. "Boston" says its Xy-loph-a; oUs, _4— says he; and I says it Xylo--phogous, says I. Now which is after being correct? Sure and itts all right we've been waiting to settle this bet." Though she had never heard or seen this word before in a desperate, frightened voice she chanced Xylophagous. Ira accepted it with a look of dismay but "Boston" was beaming. As soon as they were out of sight Helga hurried over to the TTebster Unabridged at the school house and there glory be it was "Yy-loph--agous"I As a matter of interest the word refers to an insect or -mollusk larves which. bores holes in wood. In 1909 a daughter Dorothy was born and Helga was striker with Sciatic Rheu- matism which kept her bed -fast for many. months. In spite of this infi.rimy she taught a number of pupils from families who lived on ranches on the South Fork of the Salmon River. Also living on a ranch on the South Fork at that time were Carl and Ida Brown and small daughter, Elizabeth (now MTS. Ted Harwood of McCall). The Browns had come from New Hampshire on a disappointing mining venture and stayed to make their home, Mr Brown was carrying mail for the Govt. into the back country and Mrs. Brown's ranch home served as stopping place for prospectors and sourdoughs passing thru to Big Creek, Thunder Mtn. and Chamberlain .Basin. .forest service employees. She and Helga began warm friendship which lasted until my mothers death in the fall of 1955. Dads next forest job took him to faddy Fiat Ranger Station in the summer, which is over the hill east of Roseberry (ghost town). They built a home in Roseberr5 and spent their winters there. In 1911 a son John was born and a. year 'titer the family moved to a new assignment in McCall at the Lake Fork Ranger Station near Slick Rock_. Winters were spent in McCall and there in Feb. 1913, a daughter Ruth was born. I can remember Mom's story of the wagon trip to McCall from Roseberry. All their earthly belongings were eith them. Doctor bills had depleated away savings the-- had. As mom said "we were poor as church ,.rice with 2 babies, and h-d .'list discovered a thridone on the -may. I bawled all. the way to McCall." I :Wie.faNays felt that be-' -5- cause sho so frankly and openly resented my coming, guilt feelings were later trans- lated to indulance to atone as I grew up. In McCall the post -office came ,.in for examinetion and Helga took the test out- doing al.lher opponents with ease. She was aprointed post --mister in 191h b- "resident Wilson, when I was only a year old. he held this position for ^%' rears, serving under 5 presidents, in as many different McCall locatl_ons to accomoratc the growing community. Beside local mail also passing thru her office was r,ai 1. for the br ek country Warren, Burgdorf, Edwa.rdsburg and regularly pole bricks from ?Jarrers ::: nes came thru as registered mail. These areas were served by horse drawn stapes in summer, sleds tobaggans in winter pulled by horses mumer mail for the back country was transported. by Fisher Station to be picked up there by stages thus equipped with snow -shoes. In boat to the head of the L:ake- elemina.ting the long trip around the lake. Way stations for overnite stops were necessary. Halfway ind Squaw Meadows offered. Lodging, home cooked meals, hay and pasture for horses. The next, stop was Burgdorf Hot Springs owned, developed and operated by Fritz and Jeannette Purgdorf unique colorful early day characters who played an 1_mportant role in both refrea,shi_ng and entertaining the weary traveller. DR. ROBIN S. McRAE 1307 W. JEFFERSON BOISE, IDAHO 83702 /1'297 ,,LeLe447 ,eted/pe elzAz Ot4(n_4,,1 _JR-v ,7eez-a „e ozae, of,a, /ij ��. 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A izA e.r 0 - (5Y-2- -44 r%-t--‹-e- ce,,,„ ,sL,„ -/ CL- )-r-o 461.41-r; »1,44it _.I'vr.A04541 4-1 " °).114•"10:101.0A; .• . 4 4 4 0 4 | i ��- . �� E 1 �� �� ` �� �� r ;, .; �� �� �� �� �� ������, , -. _.____ _ - i 1J 4 azt, ,t3LL , rvi 1-ciat _"44f14?•-•-•_ ./14 )91i, kEa, -6.44 4 ttkA-L-4,, ata ''itt-44 -f-71t3t rV14-t it;j- 6-3-J wai,N. kzevi - ?-c-0-3'. »51; ra----44. „mu-44. po-krOtlf4 ° AztA.../ -A5s- a-410- HELGA M. COOK Mrs. Helga M. Cook, 71 of McCall a retired school teacher and postmistress, died Monday noon in a Boise hospital after a. long illness. Mrs. Cook was born Nov.1,1883 in Whitehall, Mich. She came to Idaho in 1905 to teach school at Nampa rnd then moved to Warren, Idaho to teach in 7.907, She was married in 1908 to Marren Cook and they moved to Rose -- berry, Idaho in 1910 and to McCall in 1912. She became postmistress at McCall in 1915 and served until her re- tirement in 1936. She had been living in Boise with her daughter recently befause of ill health. She was a member of the McCall Congregational Church and Valeria Chapter No. 76, Order of Eastern Star, of McCall. Surviving are a son, John Cook of WhiteBird, Idaho a daughter; Mrs. Ruth McRae of Boise; a brother, Oscar Peterson of Whitehall; two sisters; Mrs. Ruth Larsen of Chicago, and Mrs. Esther Hile of Benton Harbor, Mich. and four grandchildren McBratney-Alden chapel of Boise is arrangeing services, which be held Thurdda.y at 2:p.m. from the Congregational Church. OBITUARY - sir RS . HELGA M. COOK hrs. Helga =j_r. Cook was born November 1st, 1883 in Whitehall, hichigab and passed away at Boise, Idaho September 26th, 1955, at the age of 71 years, ten months and 25 days. She came to Idaho in 1905 to teach school at Nampa, then in 1907 took a teaching position at Warren. That was rugged and pioneer country in those days, She was married to Warren Cook in 1908 and they moved to Roseberry in 1910, In 1912 they established their dome in McCall and that town on Payette Lakes has remained her home ever since. In her early yea s in kcCall she entered into the real estate and insurance business which she continued until her death. In 1915 she was appointed post -mistress at McCall, a position which she held for 21 years until 1936. Those early years were rather hard ones for people living in McCall being shut in most of the winter, having few conveniences,### far from a hospital and seeing few peo- ple outside their few neighbors for many months, 1rs. Cook carried her share of the responsibility of creating a warn and friendly com- munity and serving those in need. Through the years she helped McUall to develop into a modern, friendly and attractive town. In 1941 her husband began the development of a home and fruit ranch in the Salmon River canyon. This came to be a real show place where the family spent many happy days and to which many friends were attracted by its rare beauty tucked away in the ru ged canyon. hrs. Cook is survived by one son, John of White Bird, one daughter, Irs; Ruth keRae of Boise, one brother, Oscar Peterson of Whitehall, Michigan; two sisters, hrs. Ruth Larsen of Chicage and Mrs. Esther Hile of Benton Harbor, Michigan and four grandchildren. hrs. Cook was a member of the LcCall Congregational church and of Valeria chaper No. 76, Order of Eastern Star, of 1,cCall. 1 bf.4 E,eIA.1 d ,i.1,601 Grp aertfSf/ 46/1: o ,i Ca ilc c411-1- JAI / 13 % -z/, Jitr ceps ��---- - - - OBITUARY Helga M. Cook Mrs. Helga M. Cooke, 71, of Mc- Call, a retired school teacher and postmistress, died Monday noon in a Boise hospital after a long illness. Mrs. Cook was born Nov. 1, 1883, in Whitehall, Mich. She came to Idaho in 1905 to teach school at Nampa and then moved to Warren, Idaho, to teach in 1907. She was i married in 1903 to Warren Cook and they moved to Roseberry, Ida., in 1910 and to McCall in 1912. �he became postmistress at McCall in 1915 and served until her retire- ment in 1936. She had been living in Boise with her daughter recent- ly because of ill health. She was a member of the Mc- Call Congregational church and Valeria chapter No. 76, Order of Eastern Star, of McCall. Surviving are a son, John Cook y 1 of White Bird; a daughter, Mrs. ��- 1 Ruth McRae of Boise; a brother, Oscar Peterson of Whitehall; two J\ sisters, Mrs. Ruth Larsen of Chi- ;, cago and Mrs. Esther Hile of Ben- I��" ton Harbor, Mich., and four grand- 11 children. . McBratney-Alden chapel, Boise, is arranging services, which will be held Thursday at 2I:00 p. m. from the Congregational church. i 0v.) (01114c 5 .,)3 a \\ SINGLE COPY TEN CENTS Funeral Services Held Sunday For ifiarreri E. Cook® Area Pioneer Swimmers Cross Lake Sunday Three local swimmers, Ann Lloyd Williams, Bob Vassar and Don Luce, swam Payette Lake Sun- day afternoon crossing -from the Williams dack to the public beach near the Graves cabin. Time for Vassar was one hour and 10 minutes, and Miss Williams and Luce made the swim in one hour and 25 minutes. The swim- mers were accompanied by a row- boat for safety's sake with Dave Ulmer rowing. -* Funeral services were held Sun- day at 2 p. m. in the Masonic Temple for Warren E. Cook, pion- eer resident of Idaho since 1878, who died last Thursday, August 9, in a Boise hospital. Officiating at the service was the Rev. Silas Hag- ler of Boise, an old friend- and Army comrade of Mr. Cook's. Masons of Payette Lake Lodge No.. 91 gave their impressive ceremony before the flag -draped coffin in the Temple and at the graveside. Mrs. Bruce Groves sang "The Perfect Day," and Mrs. Don S. Numbers was at the piano. Active pall bearers were Warren Brown, Les Ulmer, Blair Arm- strong, Fred Williams, Ted Har- wood and Kenneth Johnson. Hon- 3 Aary pall bearers were Carl Brown, gd R. B. Halferty, Bert Armstrong, snoiBen Johnson and Austin Goodman. i uinterment was in McCall cemetery. Warren E. Cook was born Feb - fir uary 26, 1876, at Dayton, Wash• hen he was two years old, the amily moved to Grangeville, here Mr. Cook lived until coming o McCall in 1904. In 1898-99 he served in the Span <' sh American war and the Phil- lipine Insurrection as quarter- master sergeant of the commissary in Company C. He was the last liv- ing of the volunteers from Grange- ville who helped to make up Com- >'pany C. He was a forestranger under the department of interior and entered qi the forest service when it was cre- ated in 1905. At one time he had under his supervision the ' entire Warren area, the Primitive area, s Big Creek, and Elk Summit, one .o half of the forest area created at L that time. Before leaving Warren he mar- ried on October 23, 1908, Helga M. Peterson, who was a school teacher there. A daughter, Dorothy, born to them in Warren, lived to be five years old. In 1910 the Cooks moved to Rose - berry, where Mr. Cook was forest ranger for Paddy Flat. A son, .John, a rive years obi. In 1910 the Cooks moved to Rose - berry, where Mr. Cook was forest ranger for Paddy Flat. A son, John was born t lei . - - . - - In 1912 they moved to McCall to take charge of the Lake Fork,ijan- ger station. A daughter, Ruth,'*was born in McCall on the present site of the village postoffice. Mr. Cook left the forest service in 1915 and became assistant post- master of McCall in addition to owning andmanaging several large farms outside of town. For a number of years he dealt in real estate in this area, buying and selling extensively lake shore property. He owned and rebuilt Sylvan Beach. One of Mr. Cook's outstanding accomplishments, begun when he was 65 years of age, was the carv- ing ,of a beautiful and productive fruit ranch from a spot of rocks and dry soil in the Salmon river canyon. Here with the aid of irri- gation he developed one of the best orchards in the canyon and built a garden spot, and a home that drew his friends to him for enjoyment of the beauty and peace he had created. Here he enjoyed summers with his four grandchil- dren, entering into youth with them by building swings and pools for their enjoyment. Warren E. Cook had no enemies and he made faithful friends in McCall and up and down the Sal- mon river canyon. He retained his sense of humor until his death. A sign hung on the porch of the Salmon River home was typical of the man, for his friends always were welcome: "Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man." ,* ,kzeetr-6-kir/g-(461.1)-acr , ez- Zrk., ce.- Y Gc_ RUTH N1CRAE DUNBAR BOISE — Services for former McCall and Stibnite resident Ruth McRae Dun- bar, 62, who died March 17th in a Boise hospital, were conducted Friday in Boise by Canon Marvin Blake of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Interment followed at Morris Hill Cemetery. Born on February 27, 1913 at McCall to Warren E. and Helga Cook, she attended schools in McCall and Boise and graduated from the University of Idaho. She was married to Robert J. McRae in 1934 at McCall and they lived at Stibnite, Boise and Osburn, where he was a mining engineer. Mr. McRae died in 1969 and she moved to Boise, where she married Earl Dunbar in 1973. He died on November 2, 1973. She was a member of the Episcopal Church and Valeria Chapter No. 76, Order, of Eastern Star, in McCall. Survivors are one daughter, Mrs. James Tracy of Boise; one son, Dr. Robin McRae, Boise; a brother, John Cook of Riggins; two stepsons and two grand- children. Memorials to a favorite charity were suggested by the . family. G� t Additions to the Warren Cook Biography By grandson, Sandy McRae 2008 The family recently was surprised to learn that Cuisineros had been this family's name. Before the Civil War, Warren's father was to be found surviving by selling slaves in Louisiana and Texas. He was Spanish and had "jumped ship" from a Spanish vessel while in the port of New Orleans. He, himself, might have been enslaved, his hold in this country was so tenuous. There is not word of him during the Civil War, but, after the Civil War, there is record of him with his wife having moved to Dayton, Washington where Warren was born. They moved in 1878 to Grangeville, Idaho where his mother and sister, Addie, left the family. His father hired Nez Perce women to raise Warren, and it was they who provided him with native lore and medical knowledge that he often needed later in his life. Warren enlisted in the army and was sent to the Philippine Islands during the Spanish American War. After this war he moved to Elk City, where he served as Postmaster. In 1903 he bought William Campbell's homestead and ferry, built in 1900, and operated the ferry until the death of his wife, Rose, in 1905. She and her stillborn baby are buried on a slope above the garden of the homestead whose house the Cooks had rebuilt. The Three Blaze Trail crosses Campbell's Ferry coming south from the mines at Dixie. It continues south from the Ferry crossing up Trout Creek to Burnt Knob, across Chamberlain Creek to the top of Ramey Ridge, then down Ramey and Big Creeks and up Monumental Creek to the Thunder Mountain mining district. The trail and ferry were heavily used by men, mules and horses and supplies moving between the mines. Warren joined the USFS in 1906 and was named the first deputy ranger to Daws McCall in the Big Creek -Chamberlain Basin Area. They were stationed in Warren, with instructions to survey the Idaho Primitive Area using a Brunton compass. In Warren he met Helga Peterson who was there teaching. Helga was a dear friend of Ennis McCall, Daws' wife, from earlier days when she and Ennis had taught together at a school in Nampa. He went on to serve at Hays Station on the brow of the Salmon River, and, when the station burned, he helped with its rebuilding. Warren and J D McCall assessed homesteads all along the Salmon River. Early in 1908 while he was surveying in the Chamberlain Basin he built a washhouse, which is still standing and is the oldest remaining building. He returned to Warren in 1908 to marry Helga in a wedding officiated by Charles Luck. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born in Warren. Their son, John, was born at Roseberry, where they lived after they had been transferred to the Paddy Flat Station. In 1912 they were transferred to Lick Creek Station for the summers and McCall in winters; their second daughter, Ruth, was born in February of 1913 in their i McCall apartment above the Post Office. In 1920, they bought the house now owned by Mountain Monkey Business. This house had been built by Jacob Johnson who had bought the property from the McCall's after "proving up" his homestead in Long Valley. Ruth later married Bob McRae of McCall and the McRae family mines, begun by his father, Dan McRae. Bob had been raised in McCall in the winters and the back country mines in the summer. He was educated in mining engineering at the University of Idaho. His and Ruth's lives continued to alternate between McCall and the back country until they moved to Stibnite during the 1940s and 1950s. Warren and Helga continued to live in McCall, where they served as co -Postmasters, bought many properties, including Sylvan Beach Resort and Cook's Beach Resort. Warren's last years were spent at their ranch on the Salmon River, which he turned into beautiful orchards and gardens. i DANIEL CARRUS AURAE, who came to Idaho prior to the turn of the century, was an active figure in the develop- ment of its mining resources. A native of Devil's Lake, North Dakota, he was born on February 16, i876, son of James and Eliza (Fletcher) McRae. His formal schooling consisted of a few terms in the rural elementary school. Yet through his own initiative, as his life progressed, he became a well-read man, taking advantage of each opportunity to further his education. This included study with a college professor who was one of his outdoor companions. At the time of his death he was recognized as an authority on mining. As a boy, he moved with his parents from Devil's Lake, North Dakota, to Minnesota. Early in life, he came to Idaho, and turned his attention first to mining in Valley County, becoming a mine operator. His first experience was at Warren, Idaho, where he engaged in placer mining in 1895. He later took part in the Thunder Mountain gold rush. It was in 1897 that Daniel McRae first saw Thunder Mountain. He drove a wagon train from Weiser to War- ren, then took a pack string to the mountain. From that time on his life was identified with the development of the area, and the mountain seemed by turns to be his friend and his enemy. On his first trip there, lie went from War- ren to Yellow Pine over Profile Gap, and down Big Creek to Lick Creek ; over Lick Creek and down the west Ltd fork of Monumental Mountain, and finally up Monumental ice to Mule Creek, which bounds Thunder Mountain. The &a trip took seven days. While at the mountain he located .gh claims adjoining what is now known as Dewey, but was ere then the Caswell property. On his return trip to Warren, ivc he located the Independence Group Claims near Elk Creek. ice In 1902 he sold these claims to a group of Kansas people. me. A cut wrist caused him to miss the Klondike gold rush, and ted instead he webbed from Council to Buffalo Hump, "getting oir. nothing but the trip." Later, in the course of a steamer and ' trip from San Francisco to Seattle, "The Queen," on which he was traveling, caught fire off Columbia Bar. Sixteen azel lives were lost, but Mr. McRae escaped with injuries. 922, i He had met and knew all the men who made Thtmder 940, Mountain history, and was familiar with all the roads and .hen trails into the mountains in that area. He was still active at :were the age of seventy-five. In fact, he became interested in r II tungsten production at Big Creek in 1950, and this phase of ; to mining held his attention until his death in June, 1954. if. a On May 24, 1906, at Meadows, Idaho, Daniel Carrus as a McRae married Grace Carrie Turner. She was born at the Hailey on November 8, 1886. Her father was one of the :nnel discoverers of the mineral resources of the Hailey area, and olds, was a pioneer, settler there. He was Alonzo P. Turner. adu- From about 1875 to about 1885, he owned and operated the ;ding Idahoan Mine near Hailey. He later became probate judge, !s to and held office until his death, about 1903. Grace Turner 1952. graduated from Lewiston Normal College, and attended the .s an University of Idaho. She taught school for many years at y the Meadows, McCall, and Stibnite. In 1950 she was voted Ilion, mother of the year. The couple were the parents of two n his children: 1. Robert James, whose biography also appears pined in this history. 2. Marjorie Grace, who was born February rving 27, 1912. She attended the College of Idaho and graduated Life from Links Business College. She married James Elton ter of Collord, a native of Idaho who is active in the mining in- istrict dustry. They have two children: i. Grace Kay, born Oc- s also tober 9, 1938. jig James Elton, Jr., born on May 8, 1946. it and The death of the pioneer Thunder Mountain settler oc- nunic- cnrred on June 2, 1954. deck s k & e. �y�u� /Y a / G�o�,c ( .54,e:f,iO4-70 t t x e n 1. d us a ►g :e. til til he as Iis cvoK HISTORY ( �'r •:'ROBERT JAMBS McRA&—With long experience in the ining industry to his credit, Robert James M e is now project manager with the Camagra Mineral Exploration, a :division of Grace and Company, C. A., and the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mineral Company, of Kellogg, Idaho, on a joint project. Of late he has also been active in the development of tungsten properties. He has had long ex- perience in mining in Idaho, which is his native state. He was born at Meadows on August 11, 1908, son of Daniel Carrus and Grace Carrie (Turner) McRae. His . father, a pioneer settler in the Thunder Mountain region and a miner there, is the subject of a separate biographical :sketch. Robert J. McRae attended the public elementary °�'Sehools of McCall, and the high schools there and at z �lj eWiston, graduating from the latter in 1927. In 1929 he "'entered the University of Idaho, where he took his degree - 'f:Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering in 1933. ii'that year he began his career operating the Sunnyside na gold -mining operation in Valley County, a venture V i!eh he was associated with his father. In the course of Rears 1939-1941, he worked part-time for Laurance and Herbert Hoover, Jr., as field engineer for their Id -wide mining interests. In 1942 he joined the Bradley wig Company at Stibnite, Idaho, in the capacity of mill �upertntendent, and held that position until 1948, when he 'a° 18k on additional duties as smelting superintendent. From 1950 until 1957 he was chief metallurgist with the firm at Boise. He has also been retained as a consulting metal- lurgist by the Utah Construction Company, and in this capacity spent some time rehabilitating the largest tungsten mine in the world, located in South Korea. He was also consultant for Molybdenum Corporation of America. In addition, he has been developing his own tungsten proper - ,;:ties since 1951, these holdings being located at Big Creek. :,1411957 he became project manager on a joint project 4 1estaken by Camagra Mineral Exploration, a division of "'Ice and Company, Ltd., and The Bunker Hill Company llogg. This project has its headquarters in Guatemala Guatemala, and Mr. McRae is currently spending a _.deal of time there. e is a member of the American Institute of Mining g_<Rnd ;Metallurgical Engineers, the Idaho Alining Associa- lio% Sigma Gamma Epsilon honorary mining and geologi- rl fraternity, and Sigma Tau. He is also a member of the II;Ari erican Club in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He takes ?Ylittle interest in organizations of a civic or purely social ture, but is active in the First Methodist Church of Boise. lkfiMcCall, on December 25, 1934, Robert James McRae marled Ruth Carolyn Cook. Born at McCall on February . ,1913, she is a daughter of Warren Edgar and Helga 'are (Peterson) Cook. Her father was born at Dayton, Washington, on February 26,-1876, descendant of a family i`'tvWch had been among the pioneer Idaho settlers. They -i_u?ated in the Grangeville—Camas Prairie region. Warren r.`F.' Cook served with the First Idaho Volunteers in the 1,';Philippines during the Spanish-American War, and after- ;2.ivgrds mined and ranched in central Idaho until about `� 190& He then settled in McCall, where he continued his 'cultural and mining activities. His wife, the former eiga Marie Peterson, was postmaster at McCall for -twenty-one years. She was a native of Whitehall, Michigan, and was born on November 1, 1883. She died in 1955, :'_:surviving her husband by five years. Airs. McRae gradu- ated from the University of Idaho with the degree of `t $achelor of Arts in 1934. She was a member of Delta i Delta Delta sorority. , 1ilr. and Mrs. McRae are the parents of two children: Ytobin Stuart, who was born on December 4, 1939. 2. .eirie Jeanne, born June 16, 1944. Air. McRae's business *dress is 1704 Gourley Street, Boise. / T, �•�- / gd / 96-0 7y zr• jp,dQ C DO/' J Orangeville, Idaho. COO& • gei Am.) Sou-r{ tfil-r ev ST, Ntiki i4frobtS4J P14 bf .e e-gi l ,�.c�,d adss� ,gUrL/ 0,6 C6aek 19440,1 /Ai ,� z� / q3 3 -17,- DR. ROBIN S. McRAE 1307 W. JEFFERSON BOISE, IDAHO 83702 /y 70 -6 ? 7 7 l,U d 76 6- C3,.� 44`e d.,e/o&42 G(J6w1A,,� aeLal 64,a 6L,&f a 3 / _ -1/7- e 4 /6e9a L ,LL/ge G�' yc.„ 0, 6 6. aLaefffr --44-444 ztiLa p4 . rJcL7-2-`� 4 This is the story of Helga Earie Cook (n'ee reterson) and Warren Cook, as recalled by her daughter Mrs. FuthMcRae. Interpolated into the interesting and humorous events Ps told by young Mrs. Cook. John Su.en Peterson, his wife Caroline and 2 small dau,-lAers, Tina a.rd Francis boded an ocen liner in late Oct. 1534 enroute from Sweden to America. Their des- tination was whitehe.11, Michigan, where they would be at home among people of their own nationality who were also imigrants. The ocean trig, was rough and Mrs. Peterson was in her eight month of pregnancy. Before the ship docked in New York near mid- nite )ct. 31 8- Nov. ist, Resp., she was delivered of twins a girl and a boy. Lustly and redheaded. Their names were Helga Marie and Henry Peer. Helga was born minutes before Henry arrived, making Helga's birthday on Halloween , while Henry's birthday is Nov. 1st. Four more children joined the family during the next 10 years, 2 boys 8 2 girls. Early schooling for the children consisted of regular classes in the puplic school followed by special classes after school ,and on Sat. in Swedish. The lanpuage spoken in the home. Mrs. Peterson was a very devout christian: a congregationelist almost nurita.n in her beliefs. Lancing was forbidder_, a deck of cards was a. device of the dev;.' which when discovered in the home was promptly swept up into the dust --pan and burned. But accompanying this old country discipline was an abundance of 'ove: the children were well adjusted and successful in school. Helga won special honors in mathematics, which talent would serve her well in later life. She had also acquired en under- standing and appreciation of children having served as built in baby-sitter for four younger brothers and sisters. At the suggestion of her high-school principal she entered Teachers College at Upsilanty, Mich. Specializing in Primary grade subjects ��. and taking OL the math courses offered for her own pleasure and satisfaction. She obtained her'teaactling certificate and her first teaching position was in Iron ?fountain, _2_ Mich, Her primary students included children from newly arrived and disa.dvantnfed Polish families whose fathers had beta brought from Europe to 7,ork in the Aron mines, Head lice and bed. hugs were among the problems confronting her in th= class -room as she struggled to teach children who understand little or no enCish, But her sense of humor and love of children proved invaluable and her year was crowned with success, The spirit of adventure that had drawn her twin. brother Henry to a. job in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, brought her in 1905 to Nampa, Idaho, ',There she had obtained a teaching position at Lakeview School. Another young teacher at Lakeview was :;nnis McGee (later Mrs. Doss MC4411) whose family were pioneer Nampa.ns. Helga and Ennis spent 2 summer vacations at Payette Lakes, staying in the old Lakeview Hotel, boating in the lake, and riding blooded race horses owned by a half Indian hotel owner and stockman named Clem Blackwell. On one memorable occasion Helga was riding- a spirted horse on the old rase track east of YcCal1 when the animal shied. She was thrown and found unconscious, by the horseman sent out to locate her. Her puritantical upbringing had precluded any acquaintance with acbh 1 so when anxious friends used it to bring her to, she responded cuickly but wRs intolt ated and tipsy for several hours afterwards, much to the d.el,i,g-t of hotel. guest. When,A higher salary was offered for a tacker at the mining tomm. of `:!arren 50 miles north, she accented the position. And it was there in the winter of 1907 that she meet the young forest ranger Warren E. Cook. Enroute to her new teaching position which was reached by a. horse drawn stage or on horseback. She spent the night at the Squaw Meadows State Station in this isolated mining region of central Idaho. The station was owned and operated by Kr. and Ers. Hendricks and their three stalwart sons. The men were in a nearby meadow harvesting the wild hay for winter use. Helga and Ilrs, Hendricks were enjoying the sunshine just outside the low log house when a dapper New York mining man arrived t on horseback. He was dressed in fashionable riding habit with boots, quirt and ' --3- gauntlets. (quickly dismounting he strode over to 1"'rs. Hendricks and ordered curt'y "I want dinner tonite, a good bed and an early breakfast for myself in. the -a)rninf. I also want my horse curried, fed oats& hay.and bedded. in straw." Mrs. Hendricks, a. tall, gua.nt woman of sixty, stared blankly. Then she cup^ed her hands to her mouth and yelled loudly to her son, "Claude, T rude, come cuick Jetsus Christ is here, and he's brought his horse." Warren Cook was born Feb. 26, 1876 to John Barnnister Cook at Dayton, ''Ash. When Warren was 2 the family moved to Gra.ngville, Idaho, where his father had a blacksmith shop. This was his home until he came to Warren, Idaho in 1904. In 1898-99 he served in the Spanish American. War and the nhill.inire Insurraction as quarter -master sergent of the comissary of Volunteer Company C. When the forest service was created. in 1905 under the Dept. of Interior, he became a forest ranger stationed at Warren, Idaho.. At one time he had under his sunervisi.on the entire Warren areas the Primitive area, Chamberlain Basin, Big Creek and 71k Summit, one half of the forest area, created at that time. On Oct. 23, 1908, Warren F Belga were married in Warren, Idaho by C. ', Luck married surveyor - preacher from Weiser, Idaho. Warren was known as tough little mining town and the town salon. tl e Tong Saloon was the western style gathering place for n71 the sour-doughs and town drunks. Where all discussions ended in wagers or fights. The ranger station was detached from the town, on the outskirts. Wa.rreh was away on forest business and reign v.TS buitly catching up on housework after weeks of teaching. Looking out of the window she was terrified to see staggering up the kitchen path "Boston" Brown and Ira McGary, two of the towns worst drunks ---guns and bottles protuding from their pockets. They came to the kitchen door and knocked. Ira, a. redheard Irishman, was spokesman, "excuse us, Lady Coo',:, for troubling you but""you're a teacher. Pe and "Boston' have a stake of twent-five dollars at the saloon and we call on you to settle the wager. "Boston' saes its vy-loph-agous, says he; and I sa„-s it Xylo-phogous, says I. Now which is after being correct? Sure and its all night we've been waiting to settle this bet." Though she had never beard or seer_ this word before in a desperate, frightened voice she chanced Xylophagous. Ira accepted it with a look of dismay but "Poston" was beaming. As soon. as they were out of sight Helga hurried over to the T:.'ebster Unabridged at the school house and there glory be it was "Y_,;T--loph--agous" ! As a matter of interest the i.rord refers to an insect or -mollusk larves which. bores holes in wood. In 1909 a daughter Dorothy was born and Helga was striker. with Sciatic Rheu-- matism which kept her bed -fast for many months. In spite of this infi.rimy she; taught a number of pupils from families who lived on ranches on t1-e :South Fork of the Salmon river. Also living on a ranch on the South Fork at that time were Carl and Ida. Brown and small daughter, Elizabeth (now tars. Ted Harwood of McCall). The Browns had come from New Hampshire on a disappointing mining venture and stared to make their home, Mr Brown was carrying mail for the Govt. into the back country and Ers. Brown's ranch home served as stov2ing place for prospectors and sourdoughs passing thru to Big Creek, Thunder Mtn. and Chamberlain Basin forest service employees. She and Helga began warm friendship which lasted until my mothers death in the fall of 1955. Dads next forest job took him to Paddy Flat Ranger Station in the summer, which is over the hill east of Roseberry (ghost town). They built a home in Roseberry and spent their winters there. In. 1911 a son John was born and a_ year later the family moved to a new assignment in McCall at the Fake Fork Ranger Station near Slick Rock_. Winters were spent in McCall and there in Feb. 1913, a daughter Ruth vre born. I can remember Yom's story of the wagon tri.n to Mall from Roseberry. All their earthly belongings were e:ith then. Doctor bills had deplcated away savings thee- had, As mom. said "we were poor as church mice with 2 babies, anal 17 d. .'past discovered a thrid one on the way. I bawled all. the way to McCall." I :. ikirefarWay_s felt that be-- • -5- cause sho so frankly and openly resented my coming, guilt feelings were later trans- lated to indulance to atone as I grew up. In McCall the post -office came up for examination and Helga took the test out- doing all her opponents with ease. She was appointed post -master in 1914 b7 President Wilson, when I was only a year old. She held this position for 22 -cars, serving under 5 presidents, in as many different McCall Locations to acc.omodate the growing community. Beside local mail also passing thru her office was ;nail. for the ba•ok country Warren, Burgdorf, Fdward.sburg and regularly gold bricks from Warrens mines came thru as registered mail. These areas were served by horse drawn stages in summer, sleds.; tobaggans in winter pulled by horses equipped with snow -shoes. In summer mail for the back country was transported by boat to the head of the Lake - Fisher Station to be picked up there by stages thus eleminating the long trip around the lake. Way stations for overnite stops were necessary. Halfway and Squaw Meadows offered lodging, home cooked meals, hay and pasture for horses. The next stop was Burgdorf Hot Springs owned, developed and operated by Fritz and Jeannette Burgdorf unique colorful early day characters who played an important role in both refreashing and entertaining the weary traveller. OBITUARY - MRS. HELGA hi. C00K Mrs. Helga M. Cook was born November 1st, 1883 in Whitehall, Michigab and passed away at Boise, Idaho September 26th, 1955, at the age of 71 years, ten months and 25 days. She came to Idaho in 1905 to teach school at Nampa, then in 1907 took a teaching position at Warren. That was rugged and pioneer country in those days. She was married to Warren Cook in 1908 and they moved to Roseberry in 1910. In 1912 they established their 4ome in McCall and that town on Payette Lakes has remained her home ever since. In her early yea s in McCall she entered into the real estate and insurance business which she continued until her death. In 1915 she was appointed post -mistress at McCall, a position which she held for 21 years until 1936. Those early years were rather hard ones for people living in McCall being shut in most of the winter, having few conveniences,€## far from a hospital and seeing few peo- ple outside their few neighbors for many months. Mrs. Cook carried her share of the responsibility of creating a warm and friendly com- munity and serving those in need. Through the years she helped McCall to develop into a modern, friendly and attractive town. In 1941 her husband began the development of a home and fruit ranch in the Salmon River canyon. This came to be a real show place where the family spent many happy days and to which many friends were attracted by its rare beauty tucked away in the rugged canyon. Mrs. Cook is survived by one son, John of White Bird, one daughter, Mrs: Ruth McRae of Boise, one brother, Oscar Peterson of Whitehall, Michigan; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Larsen of Chicage and Mrs. Esther Hile of Benton Harbor, Michigan and four grandchildren. Mrs. Cook was a member of the McCall Congregational church and of Valeria chaper No. 76, Order of Eastern Star, of McCall. if£7- (--51 DR. ROBIN S. McRAE 1307 W. JEFFERSON BOISE, IDAHO 83702 ,SLe5t..) n-,-77 _&i,,/o o -1-2/-4L /V (7s" _f_19 _z)-47q -)6-4‘. ±-6e"`--, ,f-A14,0 Cl-ar fr 1 cZZZl- / 9 a'bdi *--'47‘7/ 4-74 /et)6 ,2-cLteel Z-22- --'et-te 4 ;0-6tue4-c � „8 -at -14 .ti_de/&-4-7/ eLzern z_sz.„k e;(6.44.e; /1„.„6„../ s--1,061 F30„1_ e „ede_te-,- —,642 ,?-71a_.7z,. fit"."": PO DR. ROBIN S. McRAE 1307 W. JEFFERSON BOISE, IDAHO 83702 a� 7 t `-ram the 5 _ te.) /c".� (R) °--t- *c.e, ,x44o aL,:a -644,) eel74.seee. z c%-c/ a 3 / a e. w c,-e-c,c, 4 �Rr%;��E�� cy= "A/1. cf2A0 ,3649 ,f6-LaS - /- .� mac. 4i-e0-7Lo-d 0„A„,, 6 6 dza/46-1 V yA_e,(7/ 9 Notes on the Warren and Helga Cook Family From a grandson, Dr. Robin McRae When the Cooks had half interest in Sylvan Beach with Jim Harris, they used a larger cabin there for making reservations and meeting guests. They never lived in it, but did use it for luncheons and dinner parties with friends and family. When Helga was Postmistress, tickets for the stage to Meadows could be bought at the Post Office in McCall. One day a Basque man, with a strong accent, asked her for "a tomato". She told him that she was sorry, but she did not have any. He insisted that Harry Solon had told him to come there. She finally understood that he had meant a ticket "to Meadows". Helga bought a rooming house (Abbot's Hotel) on the lake that was a bordello. She evicted the "ladies" and made it into a regular boarding house. Helga bought the Cook's Beach property in 1934, using funds from the sale of her interest in Sylvan Beach. John Cook, their son, cut logs on the west side of the lake and floated them across to the property to use in building the first cabin. He began to build that first cabin for himself and then was away for three months. Sometime during that period, Warren and Helga had it finished and moved into it from the house at 501 Pine Street. They built six cabins. One cabin was built for their daughter, Ruth, and her husband Bob McRae. They lived there after their marriage, off and on from 1934 to 1943 while Bob worked at Thunder Mountain in the summers and for Brown Tie and Lumber in the winter and then at Stibnite. It was a red cabin set next to the main house. During the early part of the war, Bob worked for Herbert Hoover; he went to Stibnite in 1942. Five other cabins were built for vacation rentals. From childhood in McCall, Bob McRae and Irwin Hoff were best friends, as were John Cook and Warren Brown. John Cook's rifle and his shooting were in one of the scenes in "Northwest Passage"; he was considered one of the best marksmen in McCall. He gathered one the largest collections of Winchester rifles in the country, beginning in the 1960s. These are in a vault on the Howard Ranch. After Helga's death in September 1955, the Military Air Transport (MATS) used Cook's Beach for R&R for their service personnel. Helga lived with Ruth's family in Boise for the last year of her life. In 1954, Warren Brown traded John Cook a half interest in the Brown's cattle ranch on the Doumak for Cook's Beach. Warren owned the land and John owned the cattle. An employee of Brown's lived in Warren and Helga's house until it was moved back of the Brundage Inn. John Cook had split the logs to make a flat surface on the inside. Helga had lined the walls with plywood and painted it a robin's egg blue. The man employed by the Brown's removed all of this plywood. Frank Brown had also lived in the house 1 briefly when it was still at Cook's Beach. It was moved, the cabins cleared and the Brown Palace Condos began to be built in 1956. The Doumak Ranch is on a ridge and steep hillside between the Salmon and Snake Rivers. There is no landing strip there, so they landed planes in the hay fields in 1954-8. Warren Brown used his logging trucks to bring in hay and build 850 miles of fences. John Cook managed the ranch until he had a heart attack in 1959 and could no longer work at the ranch. Warren gave him $400.00 per month for the rest of his life in exchange for John's half interest in the Doumak Ranch. The Allison Ranch on the Salmon River was bought by John and June Cook in 1960. They lived there, adding to the house and planting trees and gardens until 1967. They sold it to Red Thomas, the co-owner of Trustjoice. Hansberger at French Creek (Mackay Bar) facilitated a trade of ranches. John and June acquired the Howard Ranch in this trade. Shearer's Ferry is nearby, named after a Civil War officer, who developed a vineyard there. Miners en route to Florence crossed this ranch, which is 3.1 miles from French Creek and includes Elkhorn Creek. John and June Cook then lived at the Howard ranch until 1977, when John had a debilitating stroke. Warren had a lot in Riggins near the Salmon River Lodge property. He gave them that, and they brought in a modular house from Boise Cascade to set over a basement. They moved there until John's death in 1979. June continued to live there until her death in 2004. Their sons, Dan and Dave, both retired military officers, and their wives now live on a piece of the Howard Ranch. Each son was given 25 acres. The remaining 90 acres was sold to a wealthy Californian after John's death. He began building a 75,000 sq ft house that was not complete when he lost it in a bankruptcy. It was sold at Sheriff's auction to Ron Yonqui, Jim Nelson, and McIlvain, who completed the house. It is now in escrow to a Texan. The Brown's ranch on the Salmon River is at Yellow Pine Bar. Boards from the Sunnyside Mill are the paneling over the fireplace. MRS H. M. COOK, Agent MC CALL, IDAHO LOYALTY GROUP PACIFIC DEPARTMENT 220 BUSH STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. LIE EAgTER HAT.' JOHN R. COONEY. PRESIDENT WM. B. REARDEN. EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT W. W. POTTER, VICE-PRESIDENT FRED W. SULLIVAN, VICE-PRESIDENT F. E. CHADWICK, 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT R. W. WALBEY, SECRETARY A. A. M I LHAU PT. SECRETARY It vas the year after the last World War when Eaeter hats might %.ell have been weighed in balances with gold dust. The town of MaCall, Idaho, though small, did not lack for pioneer humoriatWe gave dinners and parties in burlesque of Metopolitan Washington and New York. Invitations were given t..rt year for a No -Hoot Sister Dluner at Hotel Lakeview. They were i;iaued a month in advance requesting full Easter regalia , especially stressing Easter bonnets. The postoffice vas then the center of things, social, civic, and pulitical and I was the postmaster. The strict retlilations of Washington here became flexible, bent to the needs and hum,rs'of the community. Minn Chitwood, wife of a local Forest Ranger, a woman in late forties, attractive, resourceful, with an ever lurking challenge in her mischievous brown eyes immediately sent torBellas Hees & Co., N.Y for a new hat , the catalog termed "alluring" It came on the Friday predbding Easter, but let.s. Agee, another not-so4 young funster, persuaded me to hold baat, delivery. We ten went to the N. 7. Williams Store bargained for the blek, black muahroom creation that had taken up space in the show case since 1890. We carefully opened the hat box and made the substitut,on.(For this breach of postal regulations I should have served I-, term at 11bNeil's Island) Minn got her box Saturday. On Easter Sunday the dining room as reiplendant. We were really a good looking crowd thuugh some of our finery was of re -made pre -marital spendor. Gay hats, large and zviall, liltd and tilted like fresh leaves in a epring breeze. Dinner 1,,ae ready to be served..All tables were filled 1-,ith the exception of the Chitwood table. We waited. Mk.s. Agee -nd I were fidgety and a bit anxious. Then Minn came in - dolled up like a duchess vith the blr.ck satin hat turned up here and bent down her- acrovn of red roses and with fur- ther decorations of Czecko-Slavokian pears and cherries i she had snatched from her synthetic fruit bowl. She responder: to the cheers and applause with regal dignity. As she passed my table with a supercilious "Thank you , Cook!", I felt myself Shrinking to the minute dimensions of an unsfattadidift. If wishes were horses all beggars would ride. If we had the magic touch of Aladin or the golden touch of King Midas we would grant everyone all the things tiey would like to have. In particular we would give to: Grace Allison a very interesting, handsome and romantic man; Holiday guests from Twin Falls for Zelma Anderson; To Mae Boncher all the baths she wants at Buckhorn hot springs; Plenty of good bridge partners for Helga Cook; And for Mayme Deinhard a whole winter in Arizona with Bertha; To Norma Engen we would assure years and years of happiness in her new home. To Selma Farrell we give a very wonderful trip to Europe next summer; We think more and more grandchildren would be nice for Gladys Fickle; To Bess Freeman a dance band of her own; To Elizabeth Freeman a nice vacation with her daughter-in-law in Boise; Aida And a super -wonderful trip to California for Florence Freeman; To Lulu Goodman controlling interest in National. Distilleries; More and better business for Blanche Gibbs and more beach parties; For Lucia Gillespie we would give a trip to Hawaii; For Mary Haldeman health, wealth and happiness; And for Gladys Heter we would build that new fireplace; To Ethel Hickman we would give time to do all the tix things she would like to do. For Grace Hoff we would get a larger kiln and days with 36 hours each; We think Blanche Johnson would like to be at home for Christmas; For Sue Kerr we would get a perpetual plane ticket to her favorite hunting and fishing haunts; Avacation in Portland for Faye Kelley; For Lillian Lane a vacation -period. A dress shop all her own we would get for Fern McBride; And for Alice AcCallum health, wealth and an interesting job to do. A cabin in the pines for Lucille McConnel close to her favorite fishing hole. For Mary Mende clothes, jewels, trips and a Cadillac; For Ethel Putnam we would give restaurant fame rivaling Antoine; And for Gladys Shelton a baby girl all her own. A charge account that never comes due for Nelle Tobias at her favorite book store. For Beulah Waggoner rocks from all over the world; For Marie White the fame of Schiaparelli as the Designer of the West; And for Virginia Zachary a month of two of travel - her choice of destination. Most men go all through life with heavy responsibilities for home and family. To all the men we would grant as much time as they desire to pursue their favorite hobby - be it golf, fishing, hunting writing a book or whatever - free from financial and business worries. To any other guests we would grant your hearts desire whatever it may be. To Santa we would give a sleigh full of gifts every day of the year. rive years oia. In 1910 the Cooks moved to Rose - berry, -where Mr. Cook was forest ranger for Paddy Flat. A_son _John _ was born, ' In 1912 they moved'to McCall to take charge of the Lake Fork fan- ger station._ A daughter, Ruthrwas born in McCall on the present site of . the village postoffice. Mr. Cook left the forest service in 1915 and.. became assistant post- master of McCall in addition to owning and managing several large farms outside of town. For a number of years he dealt in real estate inthisarea, buying and selling extensively lake shore property. He owned and rebuilt Sylvan Beach. One of Mr. Cook's outstanding accomplishments, begun'' when he was 65 years- of age, was, the carv- ing of ,a beautiful and productive fruit ranch from a spot of rocks and dry soil in the Salmon river canyon.- Here with the ` aid of irri- gation he developed one of the best orchards in the canyon and built a garden spot- and a home that drew .his friends to him for enjoyment of the beauty and peace he had created. Here he enjoyed summerswith his four grandchil- dren, entering into youth with them by building swings and pools' for their ..enjoyment. Warren E. Cook had no enemies and he made faithful friends in ` McCall and up and down the Sal- mon .river canyon._ He retained his sense of humor until his death. A sign hung on the porch of the Salmon River home was typical of the man, for his friends always were welcome: "Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man. 0 1-1�0 U • 1"--- b H P-1 co al cd 0 •rl w 0 •ri 0 G • Zi rd as co d 0 Z co co S-i O • cd .-+ F.-1 -P v] r-I -P • cd ta '• O F., cd 0 cad •0 0 u) _ a) 400 ,0 g_i a) Q) o a)0 I� zf *1--1 rd U �4A 0�•� 0 O iD -P OD 1--1 � cd H r h 0ct-1 Q F., •H -I-3 V) M w U Q) N 0 Ord co 0 4_, 4-t 4-)CO ',s,' 0 cd 0 W P• cd cd • cd 0L H+CtN-0cd w 4D r-1 • 40 •rl a) -I-) .O 'ems', 0 0 ed a) Z 40 P-1 •ri N F-. •r-1 0 -P -U g4 0 W p.,c0 0 �' U -P cd rt 0 cd to al co r-I yr 0i S'.i � 0 4D (1) 0 F.-I r-I 4 •o- •4.0,0 O cd 0 O 4-4 E-a cd M 0 V) N 40 a) • • cd •rl o ui as �- ai o N cd N 000b0 cn Z 0 PO`P 0r--I Si•Ha-. 040 �!•rirOrlGa 0:) •ri 4 co 4>7 0 Z-'S w 0 0-�va.�0 �a) g-lcdg-irti fil (d rd 0 r-1 � • rrccdd �� P cd b.0 cd r-I -I 1 Wti,.XcdPrtiaw Z .,d� 0cd rd00��`-)• �H -P ;-1 P"1 a) rCi Y cd H tY Pc-) PQ Cd _. • -� 0 a) P (1) 0 U ,�,•U 0 > rd O ca rci cd cd 0 Funeral'' Services Held Sunday For Warren E. Co®, Area Pioneer Swimmers Cross Lake Sunday Three local swimmers, Ann Lloyd Williams, Bob Vassar and Don Luce, swam Payette Lake Sun- day afternoon crossing from the Williams dock to the public beach near the Graves cabin. Time for Vaasar was one hour._ and 10 minutes, and Miss Williams and Luce made the swim in one hour and 25 minutes. The swim- mers were accompanied by a row- boat for safety's sake with Dave Ulmer rowing. -* Funeral services were held Sun- day at 2 p. m. in the Masonic Temple for_Warren E. Cook, pion- eer resident of 'Idaho since':1878, who died last .Thursday, August 9, in a Boise hospital. Officiating at the service was the -Rev. Silas Hag- ler of .Boise, an .old friend and Army comrade of Mr. Cook's. Masons of -Payette Lake Lodge No.. 91 gave their impressive ceremony ; before the flag -draped coffin in the Temple and at the graveside. Mrs. Bruce Groves sang "The - Perfect Day," ` and. Mrs Don S. Numbers was at the piano. Active pallbearers were Warren , Brown, Les _ Ulmer; Blair Arm- strong, Fred Williams, . Ted Har- , wood and Kenneth Johnson. Hon pall bearers were Carl Brown, gd B. Halferty, Bert Armstrong, sno en Johnson and Austin Goodman. umEnterment was in McCall cemetery.' Warren E. Cook :was born Feb- ary 26, 1876,, at Dayton, :_Wash. -en he was two 'years. old, the amity moved to Grangeville, here, Mr. Cook lived until coming o McCall. in 1904. In 1898-99 he served in the Span- sh American war and - the. Phil- ine Insurrection _as ., quarter aster sergeant of the: commissary in. Company C. He`was 'the last liv- ing of .the volunteers, from': Grange- ville who helped to make upCom- pany C. - -- He was a forestranger under the 3; department of interior and entered: of the forest service when it was- cre- ated in 1905. Atone time he had under his supervision the entire' Warren area, the: Primitive area, Big Creek, and Elk".' Summit, one half of the forest areacreatedat; that time '' -Before leaving : Warren he mar- 1 j ried on October 23, 1908, Helga M. i Peterson, who was a school teacher_ there. A daughter, Dorothy, born to them in - Warren, lived to be five years :old: ` - In 1920 the Cooks moved to: Rose - berry, . where : Mr. Cook was forest ranger for Paddy Flat A so>r John Additions to the Warren Cook Biography By grandson, Sandy McRae 2008 The family recently was surprised to learn that Cuisineros had been this family's name. Before the Civil War, Warren's father was to be found surviving by selling slaves in Louisiana and Texas. He was Spanish and had "jumped ship" from a Spanish vessel while in the port of New Orleans. He, himself, might have been enslaved, his hold in this country was so tenuous. There is not word of him during the Civil War, but, after the Civil War, there is record of him with his wife having moved to Dayton, Washington where Warren was born. They moved in 1878 to Grangeville, Idaho where his mother and sister, Addie, left the family. His father hired Nez Perce women to raise Warren, and it was they who provided him with native lore and medical knowledge that he often needed later in his life. Warren enlisted in the army and was sent to the Philippine Islands during the Spanish American War. After this war he moved to Elk City, where he served as Postmaster. In 1903 he bought William Campbell's homestead and ferry, built in 1900, and operated the ferry until the death of his wife, Rose, in 1905. She and her stillborn baby are buried on a slope above the garden of the homestead whose house the Cooks had rebuilt. The Three Blaze Trail crosses Campbell's Ferry coming south from the mines at Dixie. It continues south from the Ferry crossing up Trout Creek to Burnt Knob, across Chamberlain Creek to the top of Ramey Ridge, then down Ramey and Big Creeks and up Monumental Creek to the Thunder Mountain mining district. The trail and ferry were heavily used by men, mules and horses and supplies moving between the mines. Warren joined the USFS in 1906 and was named the first deputy ranger to Daws McCall in the Big Creek -Chamberlain Basin Area. They were stationed in Warren, with instructions to survey the Idaho Primitive Area using a Brunton compass. In Warren he met Helga Peterson who was there teaching. Helga was a dear friend of Ennis McCall, Daws' wife, from earlier days when she and Ennis had taught together at a school in Nampa. He went on to serve at Hays Station on the brow of the Salmon River, and, when the station burned, he helped with its rebuilding. Warren and J D McCall assessed homesteads all along the Salmon River. Early in 1908 while he was surveying in the Chamberlain Basin he built a washhouse, which is still standing and is the oldest remaining building. He returned to Warren in 1908 to marry Helga in a wedding officiated by Charles Luck. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born in Warren. Their son, John, was born at Roseberry, where they lived after they had been transferred to the Paddy Flat Station. In 1912 they were transferred to Lick Creek Station for the summers and McCall in winters; their second daughter, Ruth, was born in February of 1913 in their McCall apartment above the Post Office. In 1920, they bought the house now owned by Mountain Monkey Business. This house had been built by Jacob Johnson who had bought the property from the McCall's after "proving up" his homestead in Long Valley. Ruth later married Bob McRae of McCall and the McRae family mines, begun by his father, Dan McRae. Bob had been raised in McCall in the winters and the back country mines in the summer. He was educated in mining engineering at the University of Idaho. His and Ruth's lives continued to alternate between McCall and the back country until they moved to Stibnite during the 1940s and 1950s. Warren and Helga continued to live in McCall, where they served as co -Postmasters, bought many properties, including Sylvan Beach Resort and Cook's Beach Resort. Warren's last years were spent at their ranch on the Salmon River, which he turned into beautiful orchards and gardens.