From History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907
by William F. Peck (1908)
pages 440, 443-444
transcribed by Linda H. Gutiérrez

Frederick COOK, who at the age of fourteen years was thrown upon his own resources, the parental home being broken up by the death of the father, attained through the inherent force of his own character, his strong determination and his close application to the duties that devolved upon him distinction and honors in his adopted land. The penniless boy of fourteen became one of the most successful business men of the Empire state, served as secretary of state of New York and would undoubtedly have gained gubernatorial honors had he not declined. The multiplicity and extent of his business interests also made him one of the best known men of the state, while his activity extended to those concerns which touch the general interests of society in lines of progress, in social and benevolent interests.

The specific and distinctive office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave the perpetual record establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen. Throughout Rochester and the state Frederick COOK is spoken of in terms of admiration and respect. His life was so varied in its scope, so honorable in its purposes, so far-reaching and beneficial in its effects that it became an integral part of the history of Rochester and of the commonwealth. He exerted an immeasurable influence on the city of his residence; in business life as a financier and promoter of extensive industrial and commercial enterprises; in social circles by reason of a charming personality and unfeigned cordiality; in politics by reason of his public spirit and devotion to the general good as well as his comprehensive understanding of the questions affecting state and national welfare; and in those departments of activity which ameliorate hard conditions of life for the unfortunate by his benevolence and his liberality.

The life record of Mr. COOK covered the period between December 2, 1833 and February 17, 1905. He was born at Wildbad, a noted watering-place in the famous Black Forest district of Germany. The father hoped to give his son excellent educational privileges and sent him to one of the best schools of the whole neighborhood, expecting eventually to allow him to attend college, but the death of the father in 1846 completely frustrated this plan and Frederick COOK, then a lad of fourteen years, was obliged to provide for his own living. The family home was broken up and with no advantages of wealth or influential friends to aid him he started out to win life's battles. He possessed a courageous, determined spirit and when but fifteen years of age came to the new world to try his fortunes. He had a married sister residing in Buffalo, new York, at that time and made his way to her home. His youth had been passed in a country where all boys must learn a trade and according to this rule, with which he had been familiar, Frederick COOK resolved to acquaint himself with shoemaking. He did not find it congenial, however, and soon afterward secured employment with a butcher in Batavia, New York, where his close application and fidelity soon won recognition. His ability gained the attention of D.W. TOMLINSON, the president of the bank of Batavia, who was also extensively interested in railroads and because of Mr. COOK'S knowledge of the German language Mr. TOMLINSON procured for him a position on the BUFFALO & ROCHESTER RAILROAD whence he was soon promoted to the position of conductor on an immigrant train on the Niagara Falls division of the Central Hudson road. In this capacity he aided many an immigrant from Germany in looking for a home and the corporation which he served, appreciating his services, soon made him a passenger conductor. He remained with the road for about twenty years, severing his connection on the 1st of January, 1872. That he enjoyed to the fullest degree the friendship, regard and confidence of his fellow employes [sic] and the patrons of the road was manifest by a gift from them of an elaborate set of solid silver plate.

One of the salient features of Mr. COOK'S successful business career was his ability to recognize an opportunity. When once he believed in the possibility for successful accomplishment he utilized the advantage to the utmost and thus the scope of his activity was continually enlarged until he was known as one of the foremost representatives of commercial and financial interests in western New York. While in the railroad service he became intimately acquainted with George M. PULLMAN, and when the latter organized the PULLMAN PALACE CAR COMPANY Mr. COOK invested the greater part of his accumulated earnings in that enterprise, the prosperous history of which is known to the world. Thereby he laid the foundation for his wealth. In 1852 he took up his abode in Rochester, and not only became closely associated with its business history, but also with its political life, but of the latter we will speak later on. He became closely connected with many enterprises that largely promoted the commercial activity and consequent prosperity of Rochester, at the same time adding to his business success. In 1874, he was chosen vice president of the BARTHOLOMAY BREWING COMPANY, which was organized that year with capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. From the beginning until 1889 he served as vice president and was then elected president. His activity, however, was not confined to one or even a few lines, but embraced manifold business interests. On the 12th of January, 1876, he was elected president of the ROCHESTER GERMAN INSURANCE COMPANY, as a successor of Colonel Louis ERNST, and so continued until his demise. On the 13th of January, 1877, he was elected president of the ROCHESTER DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION, and under his capable management its financial interests were advanced from the lowest to the highest degree. On the 16th of May, 1878, he was appointed one of the commissioners of MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY and continuously served in that office, and was chairman of the board from that time until his demise. Hise [sic] name became prominently known in banking circles, for in the fall of 1880 he was made a trustee of the ROCHESTER SAVINGS BANK and later chosen one of its vice presidents. On the 25th of March, 1882, he was elected president of the BANK OF ROCHESTER, the predecessor of the GERMAN-AMERICAN BANK, and remained at the head of the institution until his life's labors were ended. In February, 1887, he was chosen to the presidency of the ROCHESTER TITLE & GUARANTEE COMPANY and upon the death of J. Lee JUDSON he was unanimously elected president of the ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY of Rochester. He was also president of the ROCHESTER RAILWAY COMPANY, the ROCHESTER TELEPHONE COMPANY and the OHMER FARE REGISTER COMPANY. His career seems almost phenomenal and yet there was not in his business life an esoteric phase. His path was never strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, his whole course being marked by business integrity and probity, his success resulting from his close application, his keen discernment and his able management.
Distinguished honors came to Mr. COOK in his political life. If other men who have control of mammoth industrial and commercial enterprises realized that they owe a duty to their country and would enter into politics, the welfare of the nation would be greatly augmented, for what the country needs is men in charge of its affairs who have keen foresight, business sagacity and sound judgment. The democratic party gained a valuable accession to its ranks when Mr. COOK became one of its stalwart supporters. The first political office he ever filled was that of excise commissioner of Rochester, to which he was appointed by Mayor John LUTES, on the 20th of April, 1870, but on account of ill health he resigned in 1872, and with his family made an extended tour over Europe. In the autumn of 1873, however, upon his return to Rochester, he once more took his place in the democratic ranks to labor earnestly and effectively for his party's growth and progress. When nominated for mayor he ran far ahead of his ticket, although Rochester is acknowledged a republican stronghold. On the 19th of April, 1872, Governor HOFFMAN appointed him judge advocate with the rank of colonel of the Seventh Division of the New York State National Guards, and on the 29th of July, 1875, he was appointed by Governor TILDEN, assistant adjutant general and chief of staff of the same division, but he resigned November 24, 1877, on account of the pressure of his private business affairs. In 1876 he went as delegate to the democratic national convention at St. Louis when Samuel J. TILDEN was nominated for the presidency and in 1880 he was called to perform an important service in behalf of his adopted city, being one of fourteen citizens appointed as a commission on behalf of Rochester to guard the public interests during the work of elevating the NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD tracks inside the corporate limits. Politics engrossed a large share of his attention and he was regarded by his party as one of its best and strongest representatives. In 1885 he was nominated for the position of secretary of state and after a strong canvass and an exciting campaign, he was elected by a majority of more than fourteen thousand over Colonel Anson S. WOOD. In this important office within the gift of the people, he served so acceptably that in 1887, at Saratoga, he was renominated and was re-elected over Colonel Frederick GRANT by a plurality of seventeen thousand six hundred and seventy-seven, the highest given to any candidate on the democratic ticket. On the 1st of January, 1890, after declining a renomination as secretary of state, he retired permanently to private life and from that time until his death devoted his attention wholly to the care of his large and varied business interests. On the 31st of December 1889, just before his retirement, Governor HILL, on behalf of himself and other state officers, presented Mr. COOK with a costly watch with chime attachments, while the clerical force of the office gave him a much prized collection of photographs, representing the employes [sic] during his two terms of four years' service. The party, however, still further honored him, when in the state convention of 1894 he was urgently solicited by a large majority of the party leaders to accept the nomination for governor of New York but he declined to become a candidate. The probability was that he would have been elected had be [this is an obvious error; should be he] accepted the nomination, for Frederick COOK was honored throughout New York and sustained a high reputation for political integrity and lofty patriotism, as well as of marked ability.
In 1853 Mr. COOK was united in marriage to Miss Catherine YAKY, of Rome, new York, who died in 1864. The following year he married Miss Barbara AGNE. His one daughter is now the wife of Augustus Masters MACDONELL and is the mother of one son, Frederick Cook MACDONELL.

Mr. COOK was one of the distinguished Masons of the city, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and to the consistory, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He was likewise a member of the Rochester Maennerchor, which was organized in 1854 and of which he served as president in 1874-5. On the 24th of February, 1882, he became a member of the Liederkranz. he was also a member of the Rochester Historical Society, the Genesee Valley Club, the Rochester Club, the Country Club, and the Rochester Yacht Club, but it would be almost impossible to enumerate his connection with the many organizations which he represented. He was made an honorary member of Salye Citizens Corps, Eighth Separate Company, N.G.S.N.Y., January 26, 1888. In February, 1893, he presented to Peissner Post, No. 106, G.A.R., a handsomely bound memorial record book, one of the finest works of the kind in existence.

Along all lines of humanitarian action which tend to ameliorate the conditions of human life, Mr. COOK was a factor. In February, 1882, he was appointed by Governor Alonzo B. CORNELL, a manager of the Western House of Refuge and was re-appointed by Governor CLEVELAND in 1883, while on the 29th of September, 1885, he was elected secretary and treasurer of that institution. In 1887 he was chosen a life member of the New York State Agricultural Society and on the 19th of December of that year, he became corresponding member of the Oneida County Historical Society. On the 1st of June, 1891, he was appointed by Governor HILL as one of the managers of the Rochester State Hospital for a term of nine years, and upon the organization of the board was elected its president and was re-elected each succeeding year until the office was abolished by law when Mr. COOK was appointed a member of the board of visitation by Governor ODELL. His private charities were numerous, yet no ostentation or display ever characterized his giving. He was especially helpful to young men who were ambitious and determined and who start out in life upon their own account empty-handed. Remembering his own struggles and trials in youth, he was ever quick to show appreciation for close application and to recognize ability by promotion as opportunity offered. For some years prior to his demise he took no active part in political work, his attention being given to the superintendence of his private business affairs and extensive investments. He held friendship inviolable and as true worth could always win his regard he had a very extensive circle of friends, his life demonstrating the truth of Ralph Waldo EMERSON'S statement that "the way to win a friend is to be one." The public work which he did was largely of a nature that brought no pecuniary reward and yet made extensive demands upon his time, his thought and his energies. Opportunities that others passed by heedlessly he noted and improved - to the betterment of the city and the state in many ways. He was unostentatious in manner, but all who knew spoke of him in terms of praise. In his life were the elements of greatness because of the use he made of his talents and his opportunities, because his thoughts were not self-centered but were given to the mastery of life problems and the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellowmen and as a citizen in his relations to his city, his state and his country.

Additionally, on pages 123 - 124 of the Historical Section, the following appears:
Death invaded the ranks of the law in this year, carrying off a number, among whom may be mentioned...February 17th Frederick COOK, remarkable for the almost unbroken prosperity that attended his movements; beginning life as a shoemaker and then a butcher, he abandoned those trades to become a brakeman on the BUFFALO & ROCHESTER RAILROAD (before it became part of the NEW YORK CENTRAL), for some time a conductor of a German immigrant train, then of a regular passenger train; having followed that calling for twenty years, he gave it up to embark in commercial enterprises, which, multiplying in his hands, seemed to owe much of their success to his guidance, for he was president of almost every one of the corporations in which he was interested and was recognized as a financial magnate, not only here but elsewhere; was prominent in Democratic politics and secretary of state of New York from 1886 to 1890.