A Curious Character – A. B. Cook
Ever heard of Cook’s addition in Missoula? If you are not somehow employed in the real estate business, or with local government, you probably haven’t. It is tucked in between the Bitterroot Branch Rail Line and Russell Street, almost an afterthought in Missoula’s growth, until recently. Originally platted in 1890, the Cook Addition covered parts of Dakota, River, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Streets.
In the development of Missoula’s south side it was one of the first ones on the south side of the river. It abutted the Knowles Addition #2, which was platted the same year. A very important aspect of the Cook’s Addition lay in its proximity to the Bitterroot Branch Line of the N. P. Railroad, which was completed in 1888, by S. T. Hauser and associates (Hauser’s principal associate being A. B. Hammond of Missoula).
While the Bitterroot Branch Line is almost defunct now, it was a key ingredient in the growth of Missoula (and the Bitter Root valley) when it was built. Its importance became apparent with its heavy volume of timber products destined for the mines in Butte and the smelter in Anaconda.
Western Montana lumber mills, especially in the Bitter Root valley, were producing lumber for Butte as fast as they could. The town of Hamilton, Montana was also being developed at that time by Marcus Daly. The Bitterroot Branch line’s connection with Butte not only involved timber, it also furnished Daly a means of traveling back and forth from his headquarters in Anaconda to his fabulous horse ranch in the Bitter Root valley.
Development of the branch line also coincided with a great deal of other development in the Missoula area. By 1890 the entire city of Missoula was growing and Cook’s addition was only one part of this.
So who was A. B. Cook? That name doesn’t exactly light up the board when seeking information about Missoula’s historical figures. Conspicuous by its absence might apply, if not for the fact that he put his name on the subdivision. He may have done so reluctantly.
It turns out that subdividing Missoula was not Mr. Cook’s major passion. He would subsequently become one of Montana’s largest land owners and a nationally prominent cattle breeder. It might be said that in Montana ranch building, Cook was Wellington Rankin’s predecessor. Attorney Rankin, in fact, eventually came to own parts of Cook’s property.
Andrew Braid Cook first came to Montana in 1883 when the Northern Pacific Railroad was completing its line across the Northwest. Not long after attending a business college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mr. Cook soon found work in Montana as a clerk, a “muleskinner,” and most importantly as a baggage master in Helena’s Northern Pacific Depot.
He soon also became involved in contract work in building the Montana Central Railroad south of Helena, a project sponsored by James J. Hill. Cook became a partner with contractor Hugh Kirkendall of Helena. Other prominent men involved in that branch line were John Caplice, Walter Read, and Alfred W. McCune. These men were important in the early history and development of Butte and Anaconda, Montana.
By 1890, Andrew Cook was in Missoula, working as a realtor with his partner, Frank W. McConnell from Helena (McConnell’s father was a Chief Justice of Montana Territory’s Supreme Court). Their company, McConnell and Cook Realty began in Missoula in 1889, and only a year after their arrival they filed the plat for Cook’s Addition. A very prominent Missoulian’s name also appeared on the plat document for the Cook Addition – Walter Bickford.
Unlike Andrew Cook, Mr. Bickford frequently appears in the annals of Missoula history. Bickford represented the South Missoula Land Company which developed the slant street section of Missoula. This development was called the South Missoula Addition. This addition became controversial in Missoula lore because it violated the long held tenet of Missoula’s development – that all street developments obey the quarters of the compass. South Missoula Addition was designed to follow the path of the Bitter Root Branch Line, not the North / South concept patterned by the city’s founders.
The South Missoula Land Company was controlled by A. B. Hammond and representatives of the Missoula Mercantile Company. Attorney Bickford also unabashedly represented the copper king William A. Clark.
Bickford eventually was a vice president of the Missoula Light and Water Company, the Missoula Street Railway Company, and the Western Lumber Company, all owned by Senator Clark. He was also an officer in the Clark-Montana Realty Company which laid the groundwork for the Milltown Dam.
Andrew Cook and Walter Bickford would later cross paths on a grander stage in 1900, when they were both subpoened to testify at the Washington Senate hearings empaneled to determine the right of Senator William A. Clark to take his seat in the Senate. Several other Western Montanans made the trip to Washington for these hearings.
As these hearings progressed it was learned that Cook and Bickford were each accused of extensive bribery on behalf of Senator Clark to obtain the votes of various Montanans in the 1899 race for Montana’s senate seat. How did this happen?
Cook’s curious career wouldn’t have led one to think badly of him. After furnishing Missoula its new addition in 1890 he was elected to the office of Montana State Auditor in 1892. His biography notes that his career accelerated at that point. Procuring contracts for various jobs around the state, he seemed to be blessed with a perfect sense of timing. While starting out with N. P. railroad contracts, Cook soon expanded into concrete and dam building, and even found business in Canada. He was also buying expensive property in various places around Montana, including the Flying U ranch near Choteau, Mt.
In matters of timing one should not overlook Mr. Cook’s adherence to Helena and its political turmoil. Montana’s state capital fight first came about in 1892 when Montana’s voters could not pick a city that garnered a clear majority. The two copper kings, Marcus Daly and William Clark, spent huge amounts of money to obtain the capital of their choice.
Cook’s return to Helena, Montana in 1892 coincided with this campaign for the state capital that would culminate in the 1894 election, when Helena won out.
One source estimated that 3 million dollars was spent by the copper kings on this election. Does this sound unrealistic? It should be remembered that W. A. Clark was one of the richest people in America.
This figure doesn’t include the money spent by Senator Clark in his quest to become elected Senator from Montana, or the money spent by his enemy, Marcus Daly, to impede him.
Clark first began his journey to obtain that office in 1889, when Montana territory held a special election to ratify its new constitution, as well as to elect its new officials. Electing Senators at that time was the business of the legislature, not the citizen voters. Although nominated by his Democratic Party caucus, the legislature could not seat Clark because of a legislative deadlock. Two Republicans were seated instead. Clark would battle with both Republicans and his fellow democrat, Marcus Daly, for the rest of the decade.
When it looked like Clark had finally won a Senate seat in 1899, public outcry and political fury caught up with him. His opponents filed a petition alleging that he secured his office through bribery. A Washington Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections subsequently held an investigation into the matter.
This Committee heard testimony from 96 witnesses, several of which were from Missoula. Walter Bickford and A. B. Cook were two of these witnesses. They were allegedly involved in Clark’s bribery scheme, charges which they denied.
It’s interesting to read the testimony of these hearings. A critical part of the testimony focused on Mr. Henry C. Stiff of Missoula, who was the speaker of the House of Representatives in Helena at the time. Mr. Stiff had been the law partner of Walter Bickford from 1892 to 1897, in the firm Bickford, Stiff, and Hershey of Missoula. Stiff made the allegation that both Bickford and Cook had attempted to bribe him:
(See the following testimony in proceedings before the committee on Privileges and Elections – Wash. D. C. – January 5th., 1900)
Mr. Stiff: I had another conversation with Mr. Bickford, or rather Mr. Bickford with me, he doing most of the talking, just two weeks from the time I have already mentioned – that is, on Christmas Day, rather late in the afternoon, perhaps between 4 and 5 o’clock, on the way from the Florence Hotel to the Northern Pacific depot, in the city of Missoula . . . (See p 49)
Mr. Edmunds: I wish to repeat that we expect to prove conclusively that Mr. Bickford was the general agent of Mr. Clark for the purpose of accomplishing the winning of his seat, with full powers and plenty of money . . .
Mr. Stiff: As I was proceeding to say, Mr. Bickford said if I would withdraw from my candidacy as speaker and support Mr. Clark for the United States Senator, I would be paid $10,000 . . .
Mr. Stiff: There was an offer made to me by Mr. A. B. Cook, ex – state Auditor for Montana, in the Montana Club at Helena . . . (See p 50)
Mr. Stiff. . . If I may be permitted to do so, I will state that Mr. Cook had introduced the matter by asking if I had gone to the Montana Club. I replied that I had been in there at an entertainment a few evenings before, but not through the whole building. He asked me if I would like to go through. I said I would. He said to meet him there the following afternoon and he would show me through. I told him I would, on condition that the house was not in session during the afternoon, which probably it would not be. At the time agreed upon I went there and Mr. Cook was there, and he began showing me through the building, the various rooms, pointing out the various accommodations and conveniences of the club building. We eventually arrived at a small room in the upper portion of the building. We went into the room. There was but little furniture there, a table, a card table, a few chairs, and a sofa, perhaps. When we went in Mr. Cook closed the door and said to me, “I want to talk to you about the matter that I talked to you about in Missoula.” Perhaps it is proper to explain that Mr. Cook had talked to me about this matter before, in the month of December, before the legislature had met; and he said to me “I think you had better accept the proposition I made to you at the time to vote for Mr. Clark.” He said, “It is clear to me that Mr. Clark is going to be elected; he is gaining steadily all the time,” and he adverted to the fact that the proposition that he had formerly made to me was that I should withdraw from the candidacy for the speaker of the house and support Mr. Clark. At this time he said, “You have been chosen speaker of the house. That can not be taken away from you, and you had better take the $20,000 that I have offered you and vote for Mr. Clark.” . . . (See p 52)
Senator Burrows: Do you know anything about the pecuniary ability of Mr. Cook?
Mr. Stiff: Well he is a man of some means. He is a contactor; a railroad contractor; he takes contracts for the construction of railroads. He owns some real estate in the town where I live.
Senator Burrows: He lives in your town?
Mr. Stiff: He did until he was elected State auditor. Of course he then resided in Helena. I think he maintains his legal residence in my town, though he has a home, I think, in Helena. I think he lives with his mother and perhaps with his sister.
Senator Burrows: You know nothing about his financial ability, whether he is a man of fortune or otherwise?
Mr. Stiff: I can only answer that by saying that I could not even approximate his worth financially.
Mr. Campbell: I should like to ask one more question. How long have you known Mr. Cook?
Mr. Stiff: I have known him since about 1890 or 1891. I think he went into the real estate business in Missoula as a member of the firm McConnell, Cook & Co. about 1890 or 1891.
Mr. Campbell: What was Mr. Bickford’s pecuniary condition at the time he made this offer and was transacting the business with Mr. McLaughlin?
Mr. Stiff: I could not say as to that, as he had been associated with Mr. Clark for some little time before that. I do not know, but I know what it had been prior to that time.
Mr. Campbell: What had been his previous condition?
Mr. Foster: I object, unless he states the year; about how long before?
Mr. Stiff: I know that at different times during the period of our partnership, especially toward the latter part, he complained very bitterly of his financial condition. His property, most of it at all events, was mortgaged, and as I say, he complained very bitterly about the distress financially he was in.
Mr. Burrows: You are speaking of Mr. Bickford now?
Mr. Stiff: Yes, sir.
Mr. Foster: That was in the year 1897?
Mr. Stiff: In 1896, I think.
The Chairman: Which council will cross-examine on the other side?
Mr. Foster: Senator Faulkner.
Mr. Faulkner: Mr. Stiff, are you an attorney of the Big Blackfoot Milling Company?
Mr. Stiff: I am. I am a member of the firm which is the attorney for the Big Blackfoot Milling Company.
Mr. Faulkner: When did you become the attorney for that concern?
Mr. Stiff: I became the attorney for that concern when I entered into partnership with Mr. Marshall, my present law partner, on the 1st of June, 1898.
Mr. Faulkner: Who are the real owners of that company?
Mr. Stiff: Do you mean now or at the time I first became attorney for it?
Mr. Faulkner: At the time you became attorney and subsequently.
Mr. Stiff: At the time I became attorney the principal owners were Mr. A. B. Hammond, G. W. Fenwick, C. H. McLeod. I think they held the major portion of the stock. Perhaps there were some other stockholders; I know there were, but I do not know now who.
Mr. Faulkner: Did it ever change ownership afterwards?
Mr. Stiff: It did.
Mr. Faulkner: Who became the owners of it then?
Mr. Stiff: Mr. Marcus Daly. (See pp 53 – 54)
The Senate Committee found the testimony of the 96 witnesses to be so strong that they unanimously declared that the election of Clark was “null and void on account of briberies, attempted briberies, and corrupt practices.” In May of 1900 Senator Clark resigned his seat.
Meanwhile, the career of Mr. A. B. Cook still seemed to flourish. In 1907 he bought the Flying U Ranch at Bynum, Montana from the Butte copper king F. Augustus Heinze. He went on to acquire several other Montana ranches and became involved in cattle breeding. He later moved his breeding operation to several ranches he acquired near Townsend. His Hereford cattle won him many awards and his breeding program was known throughout the country.
Cook’s extensive personal papers are held in the Montana Historical Society Archives in Helena Montana. They reveal a vast array of businesses and enterprises connected with a broad assortment of activities, including coal and placer mining, rail road construction, tunnel building, ditch, dam and irrigation businesses, aqueducts, a telephone company, a life insurance company, real estate, and Silver Bow National Bank.
If nothing else, it can be said that the ambitious A. B. Cook had impeccable timing.
The following Biographical History is taken from North West Digital Archives:
Biographical History
Andrew Braid Cook was born on February 2, 1864, in Dundee, Wisconsin, the son of Cornelius and Margaret A. (Braid) Cook. After finishing his education in the public schools of Racine, Wisconsin, Cook attended the Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee and then became a bookkeeper for Charles J. Russell’s coffee business in Milwaukee.
In 1883 he moved to Montana, where he held a variety of jobs over the next few years. He worked briefly shipping cattle for the 79 Ranch, as a clerk in the Blue Front Store in Billings, as a mule-skinner for a survey party on the Crow Indian Reservation, and as baggage master for the newly opened Northern Pacific Railroad office in Helena. He gained experience in railroad building working for Hugh Kirkendall and Peter Larson and for W.H. Guthrie and Company, including building the Wickes tunnel on the Montana Central Railroad south of Helena.
In 1889 he opened a real estate office in Missoula, in partnership with Frank W. McConnell. After McConnell, Cook and Company dissolved in 1892, Cook continued the business under his own name. He continued to manage his Missoula real estate holdings for the rest of his life, while devoting his major attention to his other occupations.
A.B. Cook was elected Montana State Auditor in 1892 and served one term. While serving as State Auditor he also established his own railroad construction business in partnership with Martin Wolfson. They negotiated a contract with the Northern Pacific to build a spur to the Parrot Smelter at Whitehall. Around 1905, Cook’s Montana Concrete Construction Company got contracts in Livingston, Dillon, and Bozeman to do sidewalk work. He built the dam and irrigation canal system at Bynum Reservoir for the Teton Cooperative Reservoir Company.
As Cook, Deeks, and Hinds, and as the Toronto Construction Company he worked on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In 1912 under South Dakota law, he incorporated the Cook Construction Company with Alexander McKenzie and L.L. Stephens. They opened an office in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a branch office in Montreal, Canada. Among the contracts this company obtained were the building of the Montreal Aqueduct, and the rebuilding of the Halifax, Nova Scotia, terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, following a freighter explosion in 1917. The Cook Construction Company dissolved in 1921.
A.B. Cook, however, was best known as a Hereford cattle rancher. In 1907 he bought the Flying U Ranch at Bynum from F. Augustus Heinze and began to develop the prize-winning Hereford cattle herd which became the passion of his later life. He bought the beginnings of his herd from the John Wellcome Estate in Waterloo, Iowa. With the herd came George Sim who oversaw Cook’s breeding program for many years. Around 1912, Cook moved his cattle operation to the Missouri River Valley north of Townsend. He bought three ranches there: the Dunleavy and Rorvig ranches near the outlet of Confederate Creek, and the Bedford Ranch on the west side of the river. He later added Sheep Ranch in Meagher County, the Newland Creek Ranch, the Hevey Ranch, and several smaller pieces. During the 1910s he also was a partner with Alexander McKenzie in the Stiles Cattle Company which had extensive holdings on the Standing Rock Reservation in North and South Dakota. In October 1928, after losing a major lawsuit, Cook was forced to sell his herd. He died a month later on November 24, 1928.
In April, 1908, A.B. Cook married Mary Morgan Pettingell, a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky. While quite young Mary had married Frank Hervey Pettingell, with whom she had two children: Frank Hervey and Mary Agnes. That marriage ended in divorce. A.B. Cook adopted Mary’s children, giving them his last name. The Cooks had one daughter Gloria, born in 1916.
Frank Hervey Cook was born in 1899 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, graduating in 1919. He assisted his adopted father on the ranch, and on the death of A.B. Cook operated the ranch on a smaller scale. In 1931 he married Lena (Sally) Gosnell Finley, heiress of the Gosnell oil fortune. She died of a heart ailment August 5, 1933. With the flooding of much of the Cook ranch property by Canyon Ferry Reservoir in 1953, Cook moved the Dunleavy house to the Bedford Ranch north of Townsend. Frank Hervey Cook was murdered there, in an apparent robbery attempt, on November 22, 1970.
From the finding aid for A. B. Cook Papers 1882-1940 (Montana Historical Society Archives