John George Cook was born in Stratford on July 1, 1889. He was the third child born to William Thomas Cook (1857-1938) and Charlotte Matilda Buggs (1862-1949). Both of his parents were born in Ontario to English immigrants. His father was listed as a teamster/drayman/driver of horses, and later as a baggage man, presumably for the Grand Trunk Railway.

By 1907 John George (known as George) was listed as a pipe fitter with the Grand Trunk Railway. By 1914 and 1915 he was listed as a machinist or plumber. By 1916 George was listed as a shipper with R. M. Ballantyne, a textile factory/woollen mill located on Ballantyne Avenue between North and Front Streets. He stayed at this job until his retirement around 1965.

On January 14, 1914 George married Janet Elizabeth McTavish, born in South Easthope Township on June 1, 1887 to Peter McTavish (1854-1941), a farmer, and Margaret Stewart (1859-1941). Peter was born in Scotland and Margaret was born in Ontario to Scottish immigrants. Soon after their marriage in 1914 George and Janet moved into their newly-built home at 33 James Street. Their home was constructed by builder Josiah Otto, who in 1914 also built a home for himself next door at 37 James Street, and lived there for about two years. George and Janet stayed at 33 James Street until 1965.

Starting in the 1890s, George's parents and family lived almost exactly across the street at 187 Elizabeth Street, at the corner of Elizabeth and James Streets. George lived at the family home until his marriage. George's eldest brother, William Lorne, was listed as a fitter at the GTR for several years, and by 1919 he was living next door to his parents at 181 Elizabeth Street, working as part of Cook and Donoghue, plumbers and steamfitters and electric supplies. So, for many years three branches of the family all lived across the street or next door to each other. The only family member who didn't live in the neighbourhood was the middle brother, Hedley, who had a number of different jobs over the years: baggage handler; salesman for Heintzman and Co. (pianos) and then R. M. Ballantyne; proprietor of the Crown Hotel in Stratford; and finally the manager of a gas station in Toronto for many years.

George and Janet had four children, only two of whom lived until adulthood: John Stewart (1915-1916), Ross Gordon (1916-2003), Jean Elizabeth (1919-2018), and William Thomas (1929). Ross Gordon was a machinist with the CNR and married a stenographer. Apparently, they had no children. Jean Elizabeth married a teacher and lived in Barrie. It also appears that they had no children.

Janet died in October 1965. George died in January 1967. They are both buried in Avondale Cemetery, along with their two infant sons and their daughter, Jean Elizabeth.