Memorials › Ora "Ory" Cork/Cook
Ora "Ory" Cork/Cook
18 Aug 1878 – 13 Jul 1927
| Birth | 18 Aug 1878 |
| Death | 13 Jul 1927 |
| Cemetery | Ponchatoula Cemetery Ponchatoula , Tangipahoa Parish , Louisiana , USA |
| Added by | Michael Duvic on 11 Jun 2018 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118866168 |
Bio
Ora was the 7th child and youngest son of John and Margaret Cork. Nothing is known about his childhood in northern Illinois. In July 1899, Ora Cork was bound over to the grand jury for participating in a "white cap" outrage in Rossville, IL, and he was released on a $300 bond. About a dozen men went to James Briley's house, called him outside, whipped, then covered him with tar (Daily Commercial Newspaper, Danville, IL, July 11, 1899 issue), reportedly because Briley had not taken care of his family. The men were accompanied by Henry German, brother of Briley's wife's. In a newspaper article, Ora was called a "Saloon Loafer" and was described as having a "lantern-jawed face" and an unforgettable chin" (Danville Daily News, 12 July, 1899). On the 1900 census, he was listed as Ora Cook, and was living with his sister, Nora Huffer. Did he skip out on his bail and change his name to evade the law? Soon after the "white capper" incident, his parents moved to Mississippi. Did he skip out of town before his trial? His father's obituary in 1905 indicated that Ora was living in Ridgeland, Mississippi. By 1907 he had gone to Louisiana, possibly because he was working as a Pile Driver Engineer and Assistant Bridges Foreman for Illinois Central Railroad. His 1907 marriage license lists Ora's real last name as Cork. In 1910, Ora sold his inheritance from his Uncle Henry, and family tradition is that he and Mamie went to Rossville or Danville about that time. According to his daughter-in-law, Ora and his wife had a car in Hammond before his death - perhaps he bought the car with his inheritance from his uncle Henry C. Cork who died in 1909. His WWI draft registration listed his height as medium and his build as stout, and he had gray eyes and brown hair. Ora died suddenly at the age of 49 of a skull fracture, and his son Roy always told his family that a load of lumber was dropped on him. In fact, Ora was working at a company that made strawberry boxes when he was killed by a fall from a scaffold. Ora did not die immediately, and he was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in New Orleans where he died the next day. His body was returned to Hammond, LA via the Illinois Railroad on 14 Jul 1927 at 3pm. "Hammond, LA, July 15. Ora Cook suffered a fatal accident Tuesday afternoon at the plant of the Standard Box and Veneer Company. While engaged in the construction of a new unit to the factory a derrick released a large piece of timber which fell upon Mr. Cook, inflicting a fracture of the scull, breaking of his leg, and internal injuries. Rushed to a New Orleans hospital in the ambulance of C. Marvin Poole, the injured man lived until 6 o'clock Wednesday morning. His body was brought here Wednesday night and funeral and burial occurred Thursday. He was for many years associated with the Illinois Central railroad in the construction department. At that time he and his family lived in Ponchatoula. After retiring from railroad service, he moved to Hammond where he has resided for many years. He leaves a widow and several children, among the latter being Ora Cook, Jr." (source: The State Times, Friday, July 15, 1927, p. 9A).
Photos
Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Charles William Cork 1867–1940
- Ida May Cork Coon 1869–1930
- Dora Bell Cork Huffer 1870–1949
- Kathryn Cork Williamson 1873–1959
- John Cork 1875–1944
- Edward "Jackie" Cork 1877–1944
- Nora Lucretia Cork Shultz 1890–1958
Children
- William Alvin Rekenes "Billy" Cook 1911–1926 FaG
- Charles Emery "Red" Cook 1916–1969 FaG
- Helen Louise Cook Gilbert 1918–1989 FaG
- Marie Violot Cook Broadstreet 1920–1947 FaG
- Roy Lee "Cookie" Cook 1922–1978 FaG
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