Valley Falls Vindicator, Friday, 20 February 1925
VISITED HIS BIRTHPLACE
Mr. Hooker, wife and daughter, of Kansas City, Mo., were visitors Sunday at Valley Falls, the place of his birth and sought the grave of his father.
He was born in the house on Elm street now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. McComas, 62 years ago, he said. A kodak picture of his babyhood home, of which he has no recollection, was taken by his daughter.
His father, Rev. Hooker, who was one of the first preachers at what was then called Grasshopper Falls, died her in 1864 and was buried in the old township cemetery, and shortly afterwards, it appears, the widow and children moved away.
Five or six years ago Mr. Hooker visited her, and called on Dr. Gephart, who kindly pointed out the place of the burial of the early day settler. By his instructions, Mr. Geo. Rule, replace the fallen head stone.
On this last visit, the proposal of Mrs. Hooker to have the body removed, was abandoned for the present.
While here Sunday the party calling late for dinner at the Wettig hotel, neglected to register.