134 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A local paper in speaking of his death says : 



" In the death of Martin W. Cook, this city has lost an upright citizen and one 

 held in high esteem by all •with whom he had been associated in anyway. Even 

 those unacquainted with him have unconsciously felt the influence which a good 

 man exerts in a community, and in this way are moved by his death." 



Mr. Cook first became a member of this society twenty years 

 ago. He has not been a regular attendant at its gatherings, 

 but his sympathies were always with us in a very hearty and 

 practical way, and no favor was ever asked of him for the so- 

 ciety or for any of its kindred interests that he did not make 

 haste to grant most willingly. Others in our organization have 

 known him better than the writer, who remembers meeting 

 him on only one occasion, but with one whose generous and 

 kindly soul showed through the face as did his, there was no 

 mistaking the fibre of the man within. 



What higher tribute can we pay to the departed than to say 

 that "a good man has gone home," whose virtues we may well 

 strive to emulate. (Sec'y). 



When the announcement comes to us that a friend has passed 

 away, naturally the best thoughts come to us of the departed, 

 and how fortunate it is if there is nothing to mar the memory — 

 and thus it is with the demise of our friend, Martin W. Cook. 

 For thirty years he has been to us the warm hearted, generous, 

 hospitable, constant friend that has made the lives of all around 

 him better for his living. 



Our first thought of him in the years to come will be of his 

 genial smile illumined by a most kindly eye, and our next will 

 be of the expression they found in the soft speech that was al- 

 ways a pleasure to listen to. 



His life has been that of a representative horticulturist of 

 Minnesota. More practical than theoretical, retiring and mod- 

 est as to his abilities, but intensely thorough in doing well all 

 that he undertook, heroic and persistent in overcoming ob- 

 stacles to success in growing fruit in Minnesota. The lessons 

 he has left us will prove invaluable not only to the individual 

 fruit grower but in the general advancement and development 

 of our state. 



J. M. Underwood. 



