John Jay Cook

John Jay Cook, the first of a number of family members to be associated with Yosemite, was an entrepreneur who was instrumental with his brother-in-law, Henry Washburn, in building up what is now the Wawona Hotel. But later he and his son, John Bruce Cook, took on management of Black’s Hotel in the Valley Floor and later the Stoneman House (which burnt down in 1896). His grandson was elected to the state house and used his influence to help the family business.

J.J., as he was sometimes called, was born June 4, 1837 in Dutchess County, New York. He……