Wylie White Cook

WYLIE WHITE COOK has ever been prominent in public life and has held with great credit to himself and benefit to the community a number of offices. For four years he was assistant state auditor of Kansas, he was subsequently chief of police of Kansas City, Kansas, and at the present time he holds the office of commissioner of elections, of this city. While a resident of Labette county, he held successively the offices of deputy county clerk, county clerk and deputy county treasurer. One of the influential Republicans of the state, he stands high in party councils; general confidence is reposed in him as the friend of honest and enlightened government.

Mr. Cook is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred July 1, 1859. He is the son of Levi and Margaret (White) Cook, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of the state of Delaware. The elder gentleman who was for many years a resident of Hamilton county, Indiana, was a farmer by occupation and a man who enjoyed no small degree of consideration in the section in which he was best known. In fact the confidence and esteem in which he was held were manifested by the bestowal upon him of numerous local and county offices in Hamilton county, to whose duties he gave a whole-souled devotion. He also was a stalwart supporter of the Grand Old Party in the Hoosier state and in their religious convictions he and his wife were Methodist Episcopal. Both are now deceased.

Mr. Cook had what has proved in so many cases the good fortune to be born upon farm amid rural surroundings were passed his boyhood and youth. He reaped to the fullest extent the advantages of public school education as afforded by the district school and his youthful strength was devoted for a time to farming. He also taught for a time and subsequently made an entirely new departure as a dealer in grain and live stock, in which he engaged until his marriage in 1879 at the age of twenty years. In the year 1902 he came to Kansas City, Kansas, and here has ever since made his home, meeting with success and honors. For six years he held the position as treasurer of the Banking Trust Company and contributed in no small measure to its high standing by his marked discrimination in his share of the management of its affairs. In addition to his other claims to distinction, Mr. Cook is a well known Mason and is eligible to wear the white-plumed helmet of the Knight Templar. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Cook was married February 19, 1879, his chosen lady being Mary L. Sanders, daughter of Albert P. and Sarah J. Sanders. Mrs. Cook was born in Indiana and their marriage was celebrated in Hamilton county, Indiana. She received an excellent academic education and is a cultured and admirable lady. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of four children. Minnie L. born at Cicero, Indiana, on Christmas Day, 1879, received a college education. She married Raymond S. Holding, a clergyman of the Friends church, now established in Matehuala, Mexico. Albert L., born in Parsons, Kansas, in September, 1881, is a graduate of the high school, and at the present time holds the office of chief clerk of the Nipe Bay Company, of Preston, Cuba. He married Miss Anite Hogge of Manzanilla, Cuba, and London, England. Lois Margaret, born in Oswego, Kansas, in April, 1888, is the wife of Frederick Norman Moseley, cashier of the Nipe Bay Company, of Preston, Cuba. Edith Irene, born at Oswego, Kansas, in December, 1891.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook maintain a hospitable and interesting home and enjoy that general esteem which is the right of useful and altruistic members of society.