Abner Cook
Encyclopedia
Abner Hugh Cook was a self-taught Texas
architect
and general contractor
responsible for the design of several historic and notable buildings in Texas, particularly Austin
, such as the Texas Governor's Mansion
. He also built the west wing of the original main building of the University of Texas at Austin
(since demolished) and the first state penitentiary in Huntsville
.
, the son of William and Susanna (née Hill) Cook. He may have done a construction apprenticeship in Salisbury. At age 21, Cook moved to Macon, Georgia
and found work in construction. When the Panic of 1837
brought building to a halt, Cook moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, but there was little work to be found in Nashville, and he moved to Texas in 1839.
Cook settled in Austin and supported himself with private commissions for houses and furniture. Cook helped form the first Presbyterian church in Austin and built the congregation's first log church with his own hands. On September 15, 1842, he married Eliza T. Logan, with whom he had four sons. During this time there was little building construction in Austin so he partnered in 1840 with Jacob Higgins in ownership of The Higgins Mill in Bastrop
.
(1853), the Texas Governor's Mansion (1855), and the Neill-Cochran House
(1855).
, Cook concentrated on construction. He built residences, commercial buildings and the west wing of the main building of the newly founded University of Texas.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and general contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
responsible for the design of several historic and notable buildings in Texas, particularly Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, such as the Texas Governor's Mansion
Texas Governor's Mansion
The Texas Governor's Mansion, also known simply as Governor's Mansion is a historic home for the Governor of Texas in downtown Austin, Texas...
. He also built the west wing of the original main building of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
(since demolished) and the first state penitentiary in Huntsville
Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
.
Biography
Cook was born near Salisbury, North CarolinaSalisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, the son of William and Susanna (née Hill) Cook. He may have done a construction apprenticeship in Salisbury. At age 21, Cook moved to Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and found work in construction. When the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
brought building to a halt, Cook moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, but there was little work to be found in Nashville, and he moved to Texas in 1839.
Cook settled in Austin and supported himself with private commissions for houses and furniture. Cook helped form the first Presbyterian church in Austin and built the congregation's first log church with his own hands. On September 15, 1842, he married Eliza T. Logan, with whom he had four sons. During this time there was little building construction in Austin so he partnered in 1840 with Jacob Higgins in ownership of The Higgins Mill in Bastrop
Bastrop, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 5340 people in Bastrop, organized into 2034 households and 1336 families. The population density is 734.8 people per square mile . There are 2,239 housing units at an average density of 308.1 per square mile...
.
Notable works
In 1847, Cook built a large residence for a wealthy Austin patron. Between summer 1848 until early 1850 he was at Huntsville, supervising the construction of the Texas State Penitentiary and served as its first superintendent. Cook then designed and built three large Greek Revival homes in Austin that still stand; WoodlawnWoodlawn (Austin, Texas)
Woodlawn, also known as the Pease Mansion as well as Governor Shiver's Mansion, is a pre-Civil War mansion located at 30.2871° -97.7581° in Austin, Texas. The Greek Revival style house was owned by two Texas governors. Some notable people that have visited the mansion include Sam Houston, General...
(1853), the Texas Governor's Mansion (1855), and the Neill-Cochran House
Neill-Cochran House
The Neill-Cochran House Museum is a historic home in north-central Austin, Texas, a few blocks west of the University of Texas. It was built in 1855 as a suburban estate many years before the surrounding area was settled by other homes and businesses...
(1855).
Later life
As more trained architects moved to Austin after the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Cook concentrated on construction. He built residences, commercial buildings and the west wing of the main building of the newly founded University of Texas.