John Collin Cooper Cook. John Collin Cooper Cook. John Collin Cooper Cook. John Collin Cooper Cook.
John Collin Cooper COOK and Mary Ann ROWLANDS became married on the 2nd June, 1884 at All Saint’s Church, Durham, England. The couple emigrated to Albany, Western Australia where John took up a position as an engine driver on the Great Southern Railway.
Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Cook, late of Katanning and Northam, who last Saturday celebrated their Golden Wedding. They have been nearly 50 years in this state , and came from England.
From the Western Mail, Perth – Thursday 7 June 1934
Their children were:
Florence Beatrice Cook (born on 28th, August, 1890 Albany) who married Captain Albert McLeod (son of George McLeod) on the 3rd March, 1916 at the Garrison Chapel at Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.
Claude Lorraine Collin Cook (Bob) (b.1893 Albany) – WW1: Dvr 161, 10th LH – died 7th February, 1942 as the result of an accident (buried Karrakatta)
Frederick Rowland Cook (b.1897 Katanning) – WW1: L/Cpl 406, 28th Bn.
In 1895, John Cook left his job as an engine driver and took over as Licensee of F. & C. Piesse’s Katanning Hotel, which was a timber structure located where the remains of the current Katanning Hotel now stand.
On Saturday, 23rd January, 1897, the building was razed by fire which blazed fiercely and was soon destroyed. Lodgers narrowly escaped with their lives and one child, an infant of a servant of the family named Maggie Keenan, perished in the fire.
The hotel was later rebuilt as a two-storey brick building by George McLeod, who became a prominent member of the Katanning community. The hotel was extended several times over the years however, except for the facade, the rest of the building has been demolished to make way for car parking for a new Katanning Shire office complex.
Mr. Cook then became Licensee of the Katanning Railway Refreshment Rooms in December 1897 followed by Proprietor of the Royal Exchange Hotel in 1899; Licensee of the Katanning Coffee Palace from June 1904 (an eating and boarding house); and Licensee of the Federal Hotel in Katanning in mid-1905.
He sold up this business in December, 1907 with intentions of working the land. He later took over as Licensee of the Moojebing Hotel from 1914 to 1915. John died 29th May, 1943 at his home in Cottesloe, WA, age 79. His wife Mary died 19th November,1954, age 89. They are interred together in Karrakatta Cemetery.
In the news
The West Australian
Mon 25 January, 1897 (p.4):
SUMMARY OF NEWS: A disastrous fire occurred on Saturday night at Katanning, when Mr. Cook’s Katanning Hotel was completely demolished. Mr. and Mrs. Cook and family, with the lodgers narrowly escaped with their lives, and one child, an infant of a servant of the family, was burned to death. The premises, which belonged to Messrs F. and C. Piesse, were insured, but the stock and furniture represent a total loss.
Kalgoorlie Western Argus
28 January, 1897
Katanning – January 24
A great fire occurred here on Saturday night, Cook’s Katanning Hotel being totally destroyed and one life lost. Shortly after the arrival of the Albany train at about 11.30, passengers were at supper when the alarm was given, and the back of the hotel was found to be in flames. Mrs. Cook, the wife of the landlord, and three children were asleep at the time, but were quickly roused and brought from the burning building.
Messrs Moody and Dartnell, surveyors, and Mr J. E. Chipper, boarders, were asleep in the front bedrooms, but escaped just in time, the latter narrowly and losing all his possessions. Three children were in the room where the fire originated. The eldest rushed out and gave the alarm. A man named Dimant rushed in and pulled out one child, but a baby six months old, a child of a servant named Maggie Keenan, perished, the remains being afterwards found burnt to cinders. The mother frantically endeavoured to rush into the room to save the child and was only restrained by force. She was only restrained by force. She was removed to the telephone room, and her screams were stated to have been heard by telephone at Wagin, 47 miles distant, giving that station almost the first news of the tragedy. The hotel, which was a wooden building, blazed fiercely and was soon destroyed. Little was saved. There was an insurance of £1000 on the stock, furniture, and valuable property. The lessee has lost to the value of £700.
Katanning News.
A SOCIAL GATHERING.
(From a Correspondent.)
Albany Advertiser
25 May, 1899
In the Katanning Hotel on Friday night a farewell social was tendered by a number of the residents of this district to Mr. J. C. Cook, who quite recently bought the premises known as the Exchange Hotel, situated in Austral Terrace. This building is to undergo a thorough renovation and will be furnished with every convenience necessary for the comfort and entertainment of his customers.
The Rev. J. Flood occupied the chair, and after the Royal Toast had been honoured, he proposed the health of the guests of the evening – Mr. and Mrs. Cook. In the course of his remarks, he referred in the most eulogistic terms to the ability and willingness of Mr. and Mrs. Cook to oblige and assist the people of this district. He moreover felt confident that in their new home they would receive a fair share of public patronage.
Mr. Cook, in responding, thanked his friends for the hearty manner in which they had honoured the toast. He was well aware that a publican’s duties were of such a character that he could not always please everybody. He could confidently affirm that during the four years he had held the position of publican at Katanning be had endeavoured to conduct his business to the satisfaction of all, and it was gratifying to know that his efforts had not been in vain.
After the toast of Mr. Cook’s successor had been honoured, Mr. Foncego proposed the health of the ” Old and New Settlers.” In his remarks he said he had been in the Katanning district for many years, and could therefore speak from practical experience of the hospitality and sterling qualities of the old settlers. Of the new settlers he might say that they shared every indication of being worthy brothers of the older residents.
Mr Haddleton (one of the oldest residents of the district), in replying on behalf of the old settlers said that for years they had suffered many hardships, but he was pleased and thankful to say that they had overcome them. The new settlers, whom they heartily welcomed, were men of good intelligence, and wonderful energy, and he hoped that prosperity, comfort, and peace, would be their lot. Mr. Stewart briefly responded on behalf of the new Settlers.
During the evening several songs were rendered, which, together with instrumental selections made up an enjoyable evening
Great Southern Herald
28 December, 1907
Compliment to Mr. Cook
Mr. J. C. Cook having sold his business as licensee of the Federal Hotel to Mr. Fairclough, a number of gentlemen, chiefly representing the various sporting clubs of the district, met on Friday evening to wish him success in his future undertakings.
Captain Strachan presided and, after the usual loyal toast, posed “Success to Mr. Cook?” Short speeches expressive of goodwill to Mr Cook were made by Messrs George McLeod, J. Wakefield, T. W. Langley, George Old, W. Brunton, S. G. Jeffery and J. F. Cullen.
Before, Mr. Cook replied the chairman asked him to accept as mementos of the occasion a dressing case and set of pipes.
Mr. Cook said he had been in business in the town nearly 13 years, and appreciated very highly the compliment paid him that night in which old and new friends had so cordially joined. He hoped still to reside amongst them, though his energies would be devoted to the cultivation of the land. He bespoke for his successor the support he had enjoyed.
Mr. Fairclough’s health was proposed by Mr. Langley, supported by Mr. Cook, and duly honoured. Mr. Fairclough said he warmly appreciated the kindness of the welcome accorded him and asked to be judged by his business methods and his conduct of the hotel. Songs followed, and the evening was wound up with the toast of “The Chairman”.
Sunday Times (Perth, WA)
8 February, 1942 (p.4):
DEATH. COOK – On February 7, 1942 (as result of accident), Claude (Bob) Cook, loving father of Lyal, fond son of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cook, brother of Beatrice (Mrs. McLeod) and Fred, fiancé of Ruby Lee-Brown.
The West Australian
31 May, 1943 (p.1):
DEATHS. COOK – On May 29, at his late residence, 19 Broome Street, Cottesloe, John Colin C. Cook, the dearly loved husband of Mrs. Mary Ann Cook, loved father of Beatrice (Mrs. McLeod), Claude (deceased) and Frederick; aged 79 years. To be privately cremated in the Crematorium, Karrakatta, by Messrs Watkins and Sons, Maylands.
The majority of this research comes from the “Discovering ANZACS” portal
of the National Archives of Australia
and the archives of the Great Southern Herald and other newspapers.
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