Zebedee Cook

Background

Zebedee Cook was the son of Zebedee and Sarah (Knight) Cook. He was born on January 11, 1786 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States where his father was a mast-maker.

Career

Cook entered the insurance business in its infancy in this country, opening a private office in Boston after his commission business had failed. From 1822 to 1827 he was president of the Eagle Insurance Company of Boston. Nearly as great as his interest in insurance, to which throughout his life he devoted a large part of his energies, was his interest in horticulture.

On January 9, 1829, a letter written by him appeared in the New England Farmer, calling attention to the fact that New York, Philadelphia, and other cities had horticultural societies and that Massachusetts would benefit from such an organization. The editor, as a result of this letter, called for a meeting of interested citizens at Cook’s insurance office. A snow-storm filled the streets five or six feet deep, on the day appointed for the meeting, but sixteen men came in sleighs or on foot and the Society was founded with Cook as one of its vice-presidents. Later meetings were also held in his office. He became the second president of the organization, and his presidential address, delivered before the second annual festival of the Society on September 10, 1830, may be found in the History of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

His interest in horticulture found outlet in personal experiments, too. At his home in Dorchester he had a large garden where he grew successfully several kinds of foreign grapes, apricots, peaches, and pears. He also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1835 to 1838. In the latter year he went to New York to become president of the newly established Mutual Safety Insurance Company of that city, and later became president of the Astor Insurance Company there. Upon his retirement from business he returned to his native state, making his home in South Framingham, where he died.

Achievements

• Zebedee Cook was well known as the founder of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. It was during the period of his activity in the Society that Mount Auburn was purchased and an experimental flower garden and cemetery established.

Works

More photos

• book

  • An address pronounced before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society: in commemoration of its second annual festival, the 10th of September, 1830.

    (Title: An address pronounced before the Massachusetts Hor...)

Politics

Cook was a zealous member of the Whig Party.

Connections

Cook was married two times: first wife was Caroline Tuttle Cook (1794 - 1833), and the second time to Ann Somes Trask Cook (1784 - 1881).

Father:

Zebedee Cook

Mother:

Sarah (Knight) Cook

Spouse:

Ann Soms Trask Cook

Spouse:

Caroline Tuttle Cook