Our Mook ancestors probably came originally from the village of MOOK in the eastern part of Nederland (Holland). During and after the Dutch conflict with Spain in the 16th-17th centuries, many Dutch people fled to England.
The first definite family record we have is of a “Robert Mook”, who settled in Gilberdike in Yorkshire (England) in the early 1700s. We are all descended from him. His only son, “William Mook”, emigrated to the USA in about 1770.
Robert was Byron’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
The American Mooks first settled in New York City and did well. One of William’s sons, Thomas, owned what was then known as the “Bulls Head Cattle Yards”, a large piece of Manhattan bounded by 42nd Street, Madison Avenue, Third Avenue, and 23rd Street.
When this business declined, the family sold it. One of Thomas’ sons, also a William, left the city and moved to Metuchen, New Jersey.
The first family photo we have is of Walter Telfer Mook, 1852-1932. He was Robert’s great-great-grandson and Byron’s great-grandfather. The middle name came from his mother (“Mary Ann Telfer”).Walter’s wife, Ann Campbell, Byron’s great-grandmother.One of their three sons was Walter Raymond Mook, 1882-1974, Byron’s grandfather.He married Ellona Campbell in 1903. They had eight children, and in 1912, they built together the much-loved Mook family residence at 36 Highland Avenue in Metuchen, New Jersey.Walter and Ellona.Proud parents with seven of their children: Telfer, Lois, Ellona, Marion, Virginia, Raymond, and Douglas.Walter began his career as an office boy with Standard Oil of NY in 1898. His salary then was $5/week. By the time of his retirement in 1941, he had risen to become Director of the Standard Oil Export Corporation (now Exxon International).Telfer with his parents in about 1938.Walter and Ellona on holiday in Lyme, New Hampshire, 1940.Byron with his grandparents in Boulder, Colorado, 1943. “Teddy” was our first black Labrador.Colorado 1943.Six sisters and brothers, 1972: Lois, Douglas, Ellona, Telfer, Virginia, and Marion.Four generations, 1974: Sakiko, Telfer, Walter, Barry, Byron, and Jane.
