Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912
Hook, Peter Uriah Biography
The ancestry of the Hook family cannot be traced beyond Fayette county, Pennsylvania, although families by the name of Hooke were early settlers of Maine and Massachusetts, dating as early as 1633.
(I) The first of the family in Fayette county of whom there is definite mention is Peter Uriah Hook, a lifelong resident of Uniontown and for many years proprietor of the old Eagle Hotel, now the Brunswick. He was an ardent Democrat, was burgess of Uniontown in 1842, served one term in the state legislature (1851). He was a merchant for a time and also an auctioneer, crying many sales in Uniontown and vicinity. He married -, and had issue: 1. Ewing, of whom further. 2. George, moved to Grand Ridge, Illinois, where he engaged in merchandising until his death in 1912; he was postmaster of Grand Ridge during President Cleveland's administrations; he married Rebecca Hatfield. 3. Charles Holmes, moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he was active in the Republican party all his life. 4. William, became a rancher in the west. 5. Julia, married Albert Marshall, of Uniontown. 6. Ella, married John Hadden, of Uniontown.
(II) Ewing, son of Peter Uriah Hook, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 1835, died 1870. He was educated in the public schools, and spent his life in Uniontown. He enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and was drum major of the regimental band. After the war he conducted a general store in Uniontown until his death at the early age of thirty-five years. He married Cecelia Wathen, born in Uniontown, 1840, who survived him and married (second) John W. Wood, a saddler of Uniontown, where she now resides. Child of Ewing Hook: Robert H., of whom further.
(III) Robert H., only child of Ewing and Cecelia (Wathen) Hook, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1863. He attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, then began business life as clerk in the dry goods store of Thomas Hadden, remaining two years and becoming familiar with fundamental business laws and customs. He next entered the employ of William and J. K. Beeson, dry goods merchants of Uniontown, continuing with them seven years, and then entered the employ of Husted, Seamans & Company in their dry goods department. After four years there he returned to the employ of William and J. K. Beeson, remaining about four years until 1895. He then moved to Phlladelphia, Pennsylvania, where he established a dry goods store at the corner of Thirty-seventh street and Lancaster avenue. He remained there ten months when his wife died, causing such a disarrangement of his whole life and plans that he sold out and returned to Uniontown. He was again in the employ of Husted, Seamans & Company until 1897, then entered the employ of T. N. Thompson as manager and buyer. On April 24, 1909, in partnership with W. C. Hatfield, he opened a dry goods store at No. 33 West Main street, Uniontown, as Hatfield & Hook. The firm is well established in popular favor and has largely increased their lines since opening. Mr. Hook thoroughly understands the dry goods business, was acting buyer in the dry goods stores in which he was employed and is familiar with both the buying and selling ends of the business. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never sought public office. He is a member of Fayette County Lodge No. 228, Free and Accepted Masons. His home is in Uniontown, at No. 120 West Fayette street, also the home of his mother.
He married, August 11, 1888, Rena Holland, born in Belleville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, died in Philadelphia, September 5, 1895, daughter of Samuel and Caroline Holland, of Belleville, Pennsylvania, the former a traveling salesman. Children: 1. Ewing, born 1890, died 1891. 2. Ralph, born March 31, 1891, educated in the public schools and Washington and Jefferson College, now employed at Youngstown, Ohio. 3. Robert H., born August 11, 1893, now attending Uniontown high school.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.
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