The Cook Families of Fayette County, Ohio

BENJAMIN F. COOK.

Benjamin F. Cook, farmer, is the son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook, and the grandson of Isaac Cook, sen., who settled in Ross County, in 1804. The grandfather died in that county, and of his ancestry, little more can be said than that they were of Scotch descent.

This subject was born March 14, 1838, and was married, Febru-

944 HtsTORV OP Payette county.

ary 26, 1879, to Fannie J., daughter of Levin and Susan Bennett, of Madison County. She was born Januaiy 18, 1856. They have one chil, Benjamin F., jr., born March 22, 1880.

Our subject gives the principal part of his time to farming and stock raising, in which pursuits he has been reasonably successful. During the late civil war, he did honorable service as a sergeant in Company H, both O. Y. I., and participated, with his regiment, in the eventful campaigns in Virginia, during the early part of the great conflict. He was captured and paroled by the enemy, at Harper's Ferry, in September, 1862. In politics he is a Republican. His father, Isaac T. Cook, was born March 6, 1797, and died, April 9, 1873. His mother, Elizabeth L. Cook, was born January 15, 1804, and died November 30, 1872. His brother, John J. Cook, died September 23, 1852.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COOK.

A prominent young citizen of Madison township, Fayette county, Ohio, is Benjamin Franklin Cook, station agent and telegraph operator at Madison Mills and also a merchant of that place. Born and reared in this county, he has spent his entire life within its limits, and is known as a young man of exemplary habits, tireless energy and a man who will always stand for the best interests of his community. He has been connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company for twelve years, which is sufficient evidence that his work is regarded as satisfactory in every way.

Benjamin F. Cook, the son of Benjamin F. and Fannie J. (Bennett) Cook, was born at Cook's Station, Ohio, March 22, 1880. His father, who was a son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook, was born March 14, 1838, and his mother was born January 18, 1856, the daughter of Levin and Susan (Bennett) Lewis. Isaac T. Cook was born March 6, 1797, and died April 9, 1873. Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook was born January 15, 1804, and died November 30, 1872. Benjamin Franklin Cook, Sr., was a graduate of Oberlin College, and a man of prominence and influence in his county. He was married January 26, 1879, to Fannie J. Bennett, and to this union have been born six children: Benjamin F., Jr., Elizabeth, Madge, Scott, Mary and James B. Elizabeth married C. E. Hopkins and has two children, r'franklin and Margaret: Madge married T. E. Hughes; Scott married Helen Cheneworth and has one son, William B.; Mary is the wife of Wilbur Hornbeck, and has one daughter, Ruth M.; James B. also is married.

Benjamin F. Cook, Sr., served through the Civil War as a Sergeant in

Company H, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated with his regiment in many of the hard fought battles in Virginia. He was captured by the Confederates at Harper's Ferry in 1862, but was later paroled and returned home.

Benjamin F. Cook, Jr., received a good, common school education and then entered Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took the commercial and telegraphic course. Immediately after graduating from that school he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company as station agent and telegraph operator at Madison Mills, and has been stationed at Madison Mills since 1902. In addition to his service with the railroad company, he is a partner in the firm of Maddux & Cook, dealers in general merchandise in Madison Mills.

Mr. Cook was married January 28, 1902, to Clara Terry, the daughter of Silas and Eliza (Bostwick) Terry, and to this union have been born three children, Mary E., Fannie L. and Annette E.

Politically, Mr. Cook has always given his hearty support to the Republican party, but such has been the nature of his work that he has never felt inclined to take an active part in political matters. Fraternally, he is a memdeputy grand chancellor. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose welfare they are interested and to the support of which they are liberal contributors.

Mr. Cook is a young man of approachable manner and takes a kindly interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens. He has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the county who admire him for his many good qualities.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MATTHEW S. COOK.

Isaac Cook, the grandfather of M. Cook, was a native of Kentucky, He came to Ohio, and located near Chillicothe, before the year 1800. He was the father of Isaac, jr., Joseph, Matthew S., sen., William, JVIaria, Phfjebe, Lucy, and Margaret.

Matthew S. Cook, sen., was born in the year 1800. In the prime of his life he was surveyor of Boss County. In the year 1837, he married Ellen, second daughter of Edward Tiffin, the first governor of Ohio. By this marriage they became the parents of Mary, Margaret, Edward, Thea, Matthew S., Lucy Maria, Ellen, and William, all of whom are living. The parents are also living, and are residents of Chillicothe. The daughter, Maria, married Br, Webb, of Kentucky, and their daughter Lucy became the wife of R. B. Hayes, twenty-third governor of Ohio, and nineteenth president of the United States.

Our subject was fairly educated, and at the age of twenty-one, assumed the management of a large estate in this township. He is a single man, of steady, studious habits, giving his time to his own affairs — a man of few words, but who impresses a stranger favorably.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES F. COOK.

James F. Cook, sheriff" of Fayette County, was born in this county, October 19, 1854. He is a son of Isaac and Betsey Cook, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. They had a family of nine children — six sons and three daughters, James, the subject of our remarks, was married in 1864 to Miss Mary A. Myers, daughter of John L. and Catherine Myers, of this county. They have a family of five children: Katie M., Lizzie L., Isaac T., James F., and John W.

Mr. Cook enlisted, July, 1861, in the three months service, and went to Camp Chase, where the command was disbanded. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 90th O. Y. and was commissioned first lieutenant. In 1864 he was promoted to captain, and in 1865 was commissioned as major. Was mustered out of the service, June 13, 1865, at Camp Ilarker, Tennessee. He was at the battles of Stone Biver, Chickamanga, and all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. He then came back with General Thomas, and was engaged in the battles of Franklin and Nashville.

He returned home and engaged in farming, until 1880, when he was elected sheriff" of the county, which office he still holds. He is a member of Mount Sterling Lodge No. 269, 1. O. O. F. He received his education in Madison Township, where he was born and raised. His father came to Fayette County in 1814, where he remained until his death, in 1876.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS J. COOK.

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lie Avas married, September 7, 1864, to Eliza Jane J'lyle, of Ross County, who bore him two children: William S., and Mary Alice, both living. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, an exemplary Christian, and departed this life May 23, 1881, leaving a fond husband and two children to mourn their irreparable loss.

Mr. Cook is a member of New Holland Lodge, No. 892, F. & A. M., and holds the office of treasurer. Is a Democrat, but does not aspire to office. Owns two hundred acres on the Waterloo and New Holland road, two and one-half miles from New Holland. He raises grain and stock, on a farm well improved and nicely cultivated.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

One of the younger agriculturists of Fayette county, Ohio, is Clyde Cook, who is the owner of one hundred and sixteen acres in Marion township and farms about three hundred acres of land altogether. He is a native of this county and has never been seized with the desire to forsake the county of his birth, believing that it presented as good opportunities for advancement as any other place he might find. The success which has followed his efforts indicates that he was not mistaken in resolving to remain in this county. Although still a young man, he has so impressed his individuality upon the citizens of his township that he has been elected trustee of Marion township, and is now filling that responsible position with honor to himself and credit to the citizens who elected him. The best citizens are those who take an active part in the civic life and for this reason Mr. Cook is eminently entitled to representation in this history of his county.

Clyde Cook, the son of Jacob and Letitia (Britton) Cook, was born in Union township, this county, on the old Clifton farm, July 23, 1882. He has one sister living, who married Roy Garrison and has three children, Louise, Kuth and Ralph. The other three children born were Clarence and Charley. both deceased, and one who died in infancy.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Cook was married Decemler i v 1906. to Margaret Scheonholtz. the

Google daughter of Ileniy ami Jennie (Alexander) Scheonholtz. AJr. Schoenholtz was born in Ross county. Ohio, the son of Henry and Sarah (Wasson) Schoenholtz, natives of (germany. Irs. Cook has two sisters, Mrs. Kthel Dawson, Marie, at home, and one brother, Teemon. Mr. Cook and his wife have two children, Hazel and Frank.

Politically, Mr. Cook is a Democrat, but has always been interested in local politics, and at the present time is serving as trustee of Marion township, giving his fellow citizens careful and conscientious service. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Cook is essentially a self-made man and has attained his success solely through his own efforts. His life strikingly exemplifies what can be accomplished by a man of energy when his plans are wisely laid and his actions governed by right principles. Successful in everything which he has undertaken, respected in social life, he has always discharged his duties in a manner becoming an intelligent, liberal-minded citizen of the community, and has therefore earned the good will and regard of all who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.