Among the honored and respected citizens of Upper Leacock township, John S. Zook, takes a leading position, as a successful agriculturist and also as a beloved and highly esteemed minister of the Amish Mennonite faith. The origin of the Zook family was in Switzerland, and many years ago John Zook came from that land and stifled in Berks county, and was the father of David Zook, the grandfather of John S., of this biography. Simon, the son of David, was born in Mifflin county, in 1820, and died in 1886. In his boyhood he came to Lancaster county, and about 1845, he married Barbara King, of East Lampeter township, who was born in 1824, and to them were born: Christian, a farmer of West Earl township; Joel, a farmer in Upper Leacock township; Katherine, the wife of John Zook, of East Lampeter township; Simon K., a farmer near Talmage, in West Earl township; and John S.
John S. Zook was born Jan. 10, 1850, a son of Simon and Barbara (King) Zook, the latter of whom now resides with her son near Talmage. Educated in the common schools of his district, Mr. Zook grew to manhood on the farm, and has engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. His beginnings were small, but he has been industrious, energetic and provident, and now is the owner of a fine farm of sixty-six acres of good land, improved with excellent buildings of all kinds. Since 1886 he has been one of the faithful ministers of the Amish Mennonite Church, believing firmly that he has been called to this religious field, and having no financial interest in it.
The marriage of John S. Zook was on Feb. 24, 1874, to Miss Joanna Beiler, who was born May 14, 1851, a daughter of John L. and Lydia (Hartzler) Beiler, and this union has been blessed with eleven children: Mary, born June 9, 1895; Simon, born June 25, 1876, who died at the age of eighteen ; Ezra, born Jan. 8, 1879; John, born April 10, 1880; Elizabeth, born Sept. 18, 1882; Katherine, born in 1884, died in childhood ; Amos, born April 19, 1885; Joseph, born June 27, 1887, died in childhood; Katherine, born March 13, 1891, died in childhood ; Annie, born April 6, 1893; and Moses, born Nov. 27, 1895. In Mr. Zook Upper Leacock finds one of its best citizens, an honorable, conscientious and upright man, devoted to his family and living an exemplary life, which exerts a wide and beneficial influence.
Source: Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Early Settlers (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1903), p. 1452.