McCook, Matthew

Born at Riceville, IA; deafened at 6 months of age; entered the Iowa School for the deaf in 1871, then received private instruction in business and commercial affairs. Worked as a carpenter for a time, then apprenticed himself to a printing office. Worked at severa printing companies until he helped start the Deaf-Mute Critic newspaper in Dubuque, IA. Later became sole proprietor of that newspaper and remaned it The Western Guide, maintaining a successful printing business on the side.