Albert Hook was a musician in Oregon. He was born on September 16, 1844 in the town of Oregon, in Dane County, Wisconsin. Albert was the son of Stephen and Lydia and attended school in Dwight District, Oregon.
Albert enlisted in 1864 in the 42nd W.V.I. He was on detatched service at Cairo, Illinois until the close of the Civil Wary.
Upon returning from the war, Albert attended Evansville Seminary and taught two terms of day-school. He began as a music teacher in the Geauga (Ohio) Seminary, where General James A. Garfield once attended. After this he attended the Normal Musical Institute under H.R. Palmer. Starting in 1870, Albert devoted all his attention to the theory and practice of music.
In 1871, he attended the Vinton (Iowa) Normal Musical Institute, under H.R. Palmer; in 1873, the National Normal Musical Institute, under George F. Root.
July 4, 1874, he married Mary A. McWilliams, and during the wedding tour attended H.R. Palmer’s Institute at Dunkirk, New York. After leaving his study of music in school, Mr. Hook took charge of the musical department of the upper Iowa University, in Fayette County, remaining about one year.
In April, 1876, Mr. Hook moved to Oregon and took on music students, having as many as 50. Albert also composed a number of popular vocal and instrumental pieces.
Mr. and Mrs. Hook had three children, Harley Temple, Floyd, and John Carroll. John went on to run the Aton Piano Company in Madison. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Albert Hook died on March 12, 1913 at the age of 68.
Sources referenced:
- 1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 1242 accessible at https://archive.org/details/cu3192402887144
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8049512/albert-hook