According to Kalamazoo County marriage records, George Cook age 26 married Lucy Jane Garrett, age 25 on February 7, 1872. According to the marriage license, Cook, born in Salem, Michigan, resided in Iowa working as a merchant. Lucy, born in Cleveland, Ohio, had no profession listed. Neither have been found in the 1870 U.S. Census and there is no record of them in the 1872 Kalamazoo City Directory. They could have come to Kalamazoo to marry due to some type of association with Rev. Samuel Brooks. He could have been a former teacher or relative.

Their first son, Herbert Asher Cook (1872-1950) was born in Iowa on November 13 which indicates that the couple may have headed west not long after their marriage. By 1880 they are living in Minneapolis with their two children, George working in the lumber industry. They subsequently had another daughter, Lutie R. Cook Campbell born around 1885. By 1910 George, Lutie and their two daughters are living in Oakland, California. Opposite the title page of the book is recorded the names “Lutie Ruth Cook and Clarence John Campbell August 21, 1912.” Lutie (1884-1947), daughter of George and Lutie J., her husband Clarence Campbell (1886-1941) lived in California until their deaths. As far as George S. Cook (or S. George Cook) and Lucy (Lutie J.) Garrett Cook, death dates have not been found. It is know that George died somewhere between 1915 (as he was recorded attending his daughter Mira’s wedding) and 1920 (when he does not appear on the U.S. Census). As far as Lucy (Lutie), after George’s death, she lived with Mira by the 1920 Census and Lutie in the 1930 Census. She is gone by the 1940 Census. The photograph has not been identified yet. The name on the back is “Packard and Douglas, No. 137 Main St. Kalamazoo”. It shows a very unique Italianate house with a central 3-story tower that has not appeared on any other illustration or photograph of Kalamazoo. Photographer Cullen C. Packard’s first entry in a Kalamazoo City Directory was in 1867-1868 when he partnered with Morris Porter at 137 Main. He continued to be there in 1869-1870 but was by himself. In 1871-1873 his studio was at 103 Main. It is not known when he was with a photographer with the last name of Douglas, possibly between 1870 and 1871 although a search through America’s Historical Newspapers for the Kalamazoo Gazette has been unsuccessful.