Mrs. Frank (Atlanta) Cook

Atlanta was an active member of Marengo’s community.[1] She served as a member of the Marengo Public Library board, and shortly after the Carnegie grant, she served as the first librarian in November 1904.[2]  In June of 1905, she was selected as one of the members of the Board of Trustees.  In addition to her work with the library, Atlanta was also a charter member and president of the Ingelside Club and a member and president of PEO.[3]  She also served as chairwoman of the Iowa County Republican women’s organization, and she was a member of the Presbyterian church and the Order of the Eastern Star.[4]

Atlanta Cook was born Atlanta Conard on November 20, 1865 in Paulding County, Ohio to Henry and Louisa Conard.[5]  Atlanta moved to Marengo, Iowa, as a teacher in the Marengo elementary school, and she married Frank Cook on June 9, 1900.[6]  They did not have children, but they did house several boarders and roomers in their house throughout their lives.[7]  Atlanta passed away from a long-term illness on January 2, 1949 at her home in Marengo and is buried in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery in Marengo.[8]

-Megan Dial-Lapcewich

[1] The Pioneer-Republican of Iowa County, Marengo, IA, January 6, 1949.

[2] Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 1, 1904.

[3] The Pioneer-Republican of Iowa County, Marengo, IA, January 6, 1949.

[4] Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 1, 1904.

[5] Ancestry.com, Iowa, State Census Collection, 1910 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

[6] The Pioneer-Republican of Iowa County, Marengo, IA, January 6, 1949.

[7] Ancestry.com, Iowa, State Census Collection, 1930 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

[8] The Pioneer-Republican of Iowa County, Marengo, IA, January 6, 1949.

[9] Ancestry.com. Iowa, Death Records, 1920-1940 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.