About Cook, John W. Cook Elementary School

John Williston Cook (1844 - 1922): settler. His family moved to the undeveloped area in 1851, along the projected route of the Illinois Central Railroad. Cook's father became a carpenter, contractor, and builder and assisted with the construction of the trestles and bridges for the railroad. Eventually his father became the Chairman of the State Railroad and Warehouse Commission. In 1862 Cook entered the Illinois State Normal University, then became the principal of the public school in Brimfield, in Peoria County. In 1866 he was called to the Illinois State University and became its president in 1899. He was the co-author of a series of arithmetics, was president of the State Teacher's association, and lectured and wrote on educational themes.

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