Biography of Ransom Cook
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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RANSOM COOK. RANSOM COOK, Son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Tolman) Cook, was born in Wallingford, New Haven county, Conn., November
8, 1794. His parents removed to Saratoga County when he was a youth of seven years, and he learned the trade of
furniture manufacturer in his father's shop. He early evinced a mechanical ability of high order and when but twelve
years of age manufactured electrical machines for several physicians of the county, which were considered remarkable
as the work of so young a boy. When nineteen years of age he went into business for himself as a furniture manufacturer,
and in 1827-28 erected an extensive shop on South Broadway. This shop was fitted with a quantity of improved machinery,
the first of the kind known in the village. Mr. Cook devoted a considerable part of his time to the manufacture
of scientific apparatus, which he not only used in his private researches, but sold to colleges and other public
institutions, for he was a scientist of considerable repute. He obtained fifteen patents on various devices.
For sixteen years Mr. Cook served the town as justice of the peace. In 1842 he was appointed commissioner to examine
the mineral regions of the State, and to obtain proposals for the sale of mines with a view to the employment of
convicts in mining and smelting. When Clinton prison was established Mr. Cook was appointed both agent and warden,
and his management was the subject of much commendation. He built the prison, the steam saw mill, foundry, machine
shop, dwelling for his own and the clerk's family, with four or five other buildings and a large amount of machinery.
He continued in service until removed by a change in politics.
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