Coopersville Observer, August 16, 1889

The sad and tragic death of Mr. Henry A. Cook, who committed suicide on Saturday last, was a shock to the entire community. Mr. Cook’s mind had been unbalanced at times, and two years ago it was found necessary to place him in the asylum at Kalamazoo. He was there only about two months and returned home with his mind apparently rational and his health greatly improved. During the past two weeks, however, his insane moods had been frequent, and his physical condition became weak and debilitated. Being possessed of a forcible energetic temperament, it was almost impossible to keep him from active labor, and any over exertion or excitement made him worse. His malady was of a mild form and he was not considered all dangerous. But his family was constantly on the watch, fearing that some accident would befall him or that he might wander away and in his weak condition die of exposure.

During the day of his death he had been superintending the work on his farm, and shortly after dinner went over to a neighbor’s and engaged to have his threshing done. Returning home he entered the house, lit his pipe and went to the barn. That was the last seen of him alive. After he had been absent from the house about twenty minutes, Mrs. John Faust, Mrs. Cook’s sister, becoming anxious, looked toward the barn and not seeing him went out to find him. She found him on his knees in one of the horse stalls with his head suspended by a tie rope fastened above. She at once called the man working on the farm, who took the lifeless body to the house. Mrs. Cook, who was at Coopersville trading, was notified, and Dr Smith summoned. When the doctor arrived he found that the body had been dead fully an hour.

Deputy Sheriff Reed and Justice Goodrich impaneled a jury, consisting of Messrs. John Hermance, Robert Graham, Frank Stevens, George Taylor, Geo. Upton and G. D. Taylor. The jury held an inquest and rendered a verdict, which in substance was that the deceased came to his death by his own hand.

The funeral was held on Monday from the Advent Church in Wright, Rev. Geo. Varion preaching, and was attended by a large audience, who had gathered to pay their respects in the last sad rites to a kind neighbor, true friend and loving husband. . The services were conducted under the auspices of Coopersville Lodge, No. 1876, I. O. O. F., of which he was a worthy and respected member, assisted by Centennial Lodge of Berlin.

The final offerings consisted of several beautiful plants, among which were a cross and two handsome wreaths of white carnations.

Mr. Cook was a soldier during the late war and was with Sherman on his famous March from Atlanta to the Sea. At the close of the war he settled on the farm where he met his sad end. His age was sixty-two years, six months and nineteen days.

He was of a restless and somewhat eccentric disposition that gave him a wide acquaintance. He had traveled considerably, was possessed of a good memory, and was an entertaining conversationalist. He had a tender heart to the misfortunes of others, which was often made manifest to those who associated with him. His integrity was inflexible. He spoke evil of no man. His aspirations and longings were in the direction of better things. He had not an enemy in the world.