We recently received this message from Karen Hardy in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan:

Hello, I have an extensive box of old postcards that were addressed to a Nora Cooke in Cordova Mines, Ontario…..I’m just curious if you have any info on this person. The postcards are from 1905-1914…..My parents bought these from an antique dealer in Saskatchewan in a town called Church Bridge, in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s

Hmmm, well that’s a mystery. Our preliminary search came up with nothing for Nora Cooke in Hastings County, and in any case, how did these post cards, addressed to Cordova end up in Church Bridge, Saskatchewan?

The breakthrough?

We found "Hanora Cook" listed in the 1891 census for the Township of Marmora and Lake, in which is located Cordova Mines. She was 5, the daughter of George Cook and Mary Ann Feeney. So we know she was born in 1886, and the Catholic baptismal records confirm she was born on Sept. 16 and baptized on Sept. 24, 1886

A quick peek at Ancestry.ca informed us that Hanora Cooke married Phillip McLaughlin “Mark” Teeling on June 16, 1915, and they went on to have two children, James and Gerald, both born out west. This is further confirmed by a 1926 census in Winnipeg.

So that explains the post cards being found in out west.

1926 winnipeg census. (, Phillip was listed on previous page)

The wedding of Hanora Cooke and Phillip "Mark" Teeling

But the postcards themselves give us the more interesting social side of their lives. We know, for example, from post cards written by Nora’s father, George, that he travelled a lot. Cousin Minnie makes reference to Frank (Francis), Donald and Bruce thrashing the wheat and flax in Lang, Sask.. “I’m alone with (the children) Gladys and Lorna” and she adds, “See you at Christmas time” - a hint that Nora is going out west,( following so many others in her extended family.) Hugh Cook writes from Lang, Sask. “ Tell Floss to write”, and Zita writes “Happy Birthday” From Milestone, Sask.. cousin Gertie refers to Joseph, Charlie and Father (who is Uncle Laughlin Cook.)

But who are all these people?

Well Nora’s parents had ten children. Her father, George had seven brothers and sisters, most of whom had a over ten children each. So that’s a lot of cousins for Nora, and a lot of post cards!

It makes Nora related to almost everyone in Marmora, including our one and only favourite barber, BRUCIE COOK, whose grandfather, Charles W. Cook, was one of Nora’s many cousins.

Hanora Cook’s nine brothers and sisters…..

Myrtle Theresa Cook 1885–1952. James Ira Cook 1886–1961, Elizabeth Bernadette Cook 1888–1973, Joseph Geo. Cook 1889–1922, John Frederick Cook 1891–1918, Mary Florence (Flossie) Cook 1893–1970, William Feeney Cook 1895–1970, Zita Marion Cook 1897–1963, Herbert Cecil (Bert) Cook 1901–1976 Hanora died in Saskatoon Aug. 20, 1975

Click here for more Cook photos

Thanks, Karen Hardy, for this little peek into the Cook family tree.

COMMENTS:

Ann-Marie Mohns This picture is of Nora's mom, Mary Ann Feeney bottom left and Mary Ann's sister Margaret (my great grandma) top, and I can only guess another sister on the right....always glad to hear anyone's connections.....

Paul McClimond

Great to put faces to names. I recently read (while doing some other Marmora / Cordova property/owner history searches), that George Cook and his family once lived / owned at Lot 16 & 17 Con 1, Marmora Township (on Quinlan Rd, south off Cordova Rd), approx 1880-1888. According to Hastings County - Marmora & Lake property assessment books. Then moved just up the road, north to Clemenger Rd. Lot 21 /22 (Cook’s Cheese factory, owned by Ira Cook.) Then moved out west according to MHF. (*A lot of interesting, historical Marmora & Lake Township property info at: archive.org Search word: Marmora 1871-1925 property/lot assessments, downloadable books (free) )