Cook - Martin - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

On last Thursday when Martin Cook, the poor house “pauper” left he started northward and took the gravel road from the intersection of the railroad. When near the residence of GW Paul, he fell down with his load of money and clothes and was unable to get up.  Some person from Mr. Paul’[s went to his assistance and soon had him on his journey again but they did not know anything about who the man was nor that he carried so much money.  Along toward evening a son of Mr. Paul while passing the Soap Factory school house discovered Cook half way in a window and the sash down on his back.  He had attempted to get in at the window and the sash falling down held him half way in and half way out and he was unable to extract himself from the position. The boy who makes fires at the school house, unlocked the door and got Cook into the house with his bundles where he left him.  When Mr. Paul arrived home in the evening the boy told him about the man and Paul knew at once who he was and sent for him.  Cook went to Mr. Paul’s house and ate supper, leaving his money at the school house. After supper he had his packages brought from the school house.  He remained at Mr. Paul’s that night and the next night. He did not seem to be afraid any person would get his money and leaving it in the sitting room went up stairs to sleep. He said he had more money than the commissioners had counted. He desired to remain at Pul’s and was told that if he would place the money in the bank he could but that he could not remain and keep the money in the house, He agreed to this and was brought to town on Friday to place his money in the bank. When he got to town he had left his money at Mr. Paul’s “because he did not want to put it in any bank.”  He hired a livery team from  Insley & Son on Saturday morning and was taken, money and all, up to John Stingley’s in Madison Township.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 14 Feb 1891

– The report that Martin Cook, the poor house millionaire was held up and robbed of one thousand dollars is said to be false.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 16 March 1889 p 1

Martin Cook, the miser, has gone to live with John Stingley of Madison Township.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 9 March 1889 p1

– The Journal reporter should have 10 years in the cow pound for an apology to Martin Cook.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 9 March 1889 p 3

Montgomery county can boast of having the richest pauper in the State, as the following startling discovery will testify. Wednesday afternoon George Myers, the superintendent of the poor farm, was in the Valley and found Martin Cook, a Russian, who has been living off of the county since last July. He was drinking at a saloon, and Mr. Myers censured him when he arrived at the farm for visiting such places, asking him what he was doing in the Valley. He would not answer the superintendent and was put in a cell. Mr. Myers went through his pockets to see if he had money to purchase the liquor tie was drinking and was surprised to find $11.40. Cook grew uneasy at the finding of this money and asked for his box a small concern in which he kept his traps. When he seemed so anxious Myers concluded that it would be wise to see what was in it, and was startled to find it almost full of money. The Commissioners were notified of condition and went to the poor farm Thursday morning. They counted the money, finding $2,470 in currency and $4,070 In gold, a total of $5,540 in good money. This was the kind of a pauper Montgomery county was keeping, though no one knew of his wealth and ho seemed to value it more dearly than his life. The Commissioners made a settlement with Martin allowing him a dollar a week for his work and charged him two dollars a week for his board, deducting the difference which was $34. He was given his money and left for a new clime.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 16 March 1889

Martin Cook, the discharged pauper, attempted to get into a school house two miles north of town and after entering partially by a window became fastened by the sash dropping.  He was afterwards rescued and remained during the night at the residence of Geo. W. Paul, having his gold and greenbacks with him. The next day he went by buggy to the residence of JB Stingley. That old chap with his comfortable sum of money is taking a great risk in going about the country.  It is a wonder that he has not been knocked down and robbed. There are plenty of scoundrels in every locality that would do it and if he has any friends they should if possible compel him to place is cash in some safe place.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 23 Nov 1889 p 4

Madison Township – Old Martin Cook, the man with a bag of gold, is at Harry Smith’s stopping a few days. -kz

Source: Greencastle Times 14 March 1889 p 1 –

Crawfordsville – A genuine sensation has been discovered at the poor farm and one which goes to show how miserly some people can be. Last fall an old man named Martin Cook applied for admission at the county asylum which was granted. He did chores and odd jobs of work about the place and always seemed to be in good spirits. On last Tuesday Cook went over to a saloon in the Valley and remained some time. The Superintendent found out where he had been and upon his return asked him about his trip.  Cook answered that he had been no where especially.  He was then told where he had been and he demanded to know why he was asked to tell where he had been if it was already known. Cook got angry and he was placed in a cell to compose his temper. Mr. Myers, the Superintendent then concluded to search his room and see what he could find. A pair of pants was found upon the floor and in one of the pockets there was $11.60 in silver. This was taken and handed to Cook who was yet in the cell.  Cook demanded that Myers hand over the rest of the money.  Myers said that was all that he had found. Cook told him that there was some money in a small box under the bed in the room.  Myers went back, found the box and commenced to hunt for what Cook said was there – money.  He found two bottles of beer, some papers and trinkets of various sorts. In the bottom of the box was found a leather belt, which looked like it was stuffed with paper.  Upon opening it, it was ascertained that it was filled with gold and greenbacks, jammed in as taught as possible and of various denominations. This gave an impetus to the searcher, who kept on in the work. In a few moments a long, old fashioned leather pocketbook was found which contained as many greenbacks as was possible to get into it.  Thus the Superintendent found that the man was no pauper, but an imposter. The matter was referred to the County Commissioners who went out and interviewed the man and counted the money. When Cook learned that the Commissioners were there he was very much annoyed and feared they would seize and confiscate all his wealth.  The Commissioners proceeded to count the money and found $11.60 in silver; $2,470 in paper and $4068.50 in gold, making a total of $6,530.10. They informed Cook that he would be compelled to take his departure and that he must pay for his board during the time he had been an inmate and the clothes the county had furnished him. The time he had been there was 28 weeks and he was charged $2 a week but an allowance of $1 a week was made for his work, leaving $28 due to which was added $6.40 for clothes furnished, making a total of $34.40, which was deducted from his board. Thus it will be seen that the old niggard has secured board, lodging and clothing for nearly 7 months at a cost of $34.  He left the farm this afternoon and started in a northwest direction taking with him his valuable treasure.  His destination is not know, though if he is not waylaid, he will probably seek the friendly shelter of a poor asylum in another part of the country.  Cook is an old white-haired man 72 years of age and will be readily remembered from the fact that his nose had been eaten away by some disease. He was a regular attendant at Center Church during his stay at the asylum and was an attentive listener and seemed to be a devout worshiper. He was a constant reader and so interested was he in Ben Hur that he took the book with him to church which he perused until the services began.  When asked by Superintendent Myers how he became possessed of so much money he said that he had been accumulating and saving it since the Mexican War. He is a tailor by trade and had done considerable mending for the inmates at the asylum.  He claims to be a Russian exile and that he escaped while on the road to Siberia and that he afterwards served as a soldier in the French army and later as a soldier in the US Army in the Mexican War. He speaks four languages and has traveled extensively.  For several years he lived in Sugar Creek Township, going from house to house plying his trade.  It is a mysterious case and doubts exist in the minds of many whether this great amount of money is the result of niggardliness or whether it is ill-gotten gain. -kz

Source: Indianapolis Journal 8 March 1889 p 2

Crawfordsville March 7 – A pauper at the poor farm named Martin Cook has been found to be a miser. The superintendent accidently found that Cook had thousands of dollars secreted under his bed. The County Commissioners went out this morning and investigated the affair. It was found Cook had $4058.50 in gold, $11 in silver and $2,470 in greenbacks, making a total of $6530.10. The commissioners charged Cook $2 a week for board for 28 weeks that he had been there and $6.50 for clothes purchased by the county for him, and allowed $1 per week for his work. This made $34.40 that he paid to the commissioners. The gold was in a leather belt which he carried around his waist with shoulder straps when traveling and the greenbacks were in a large leather pocket book. He said that he had saved the money since 1850.  He is a grey-haired man, rather fleshy and a part of his nose is gone. This afternoon he took his money and started toward Lafayette refusing to put it in any bank. He is a Russian exile who escaped while on the road to Siberia. He afterwards joined the French Army under Napoleon III and served with Maximilian in Mexico. He has always attended church and was a well informed person, speaking four languages.  He has lived in this county for several years and has always “beat” his way along. He is a tailor by trade. - kz

Source: Bloomington Progress 20 March 1889 p 4

Martin Cook, the pauper who was found to have over 6,000 dollars in his room at the Montgomery County poor farm, was fired by the County Commissioners, was found one evening recently fast in a school house window, 3 miles north of Crawfordsville. He had raised the window and while crawling in the sash fell down on his back, holding him there. He had been in this position about an hour when discovered his head and arms in the school house and his feet on the outside. A boy came along and released him from his position. He was taken to a neighboring house, where he stayed the night. He carried his money with him and said that he had more than what was counted by the Commissioners.  He refused to put it in the bank and hired a man to take him to a house of a friend near Linden. - kz