My Genealogy Hound

JOHN B. COOK was born in Columbus, Hickman Co., Ky., December 17, 1846, and is the eldest living child born to William and Sophia M. (Cobb) Cook, the former a native of Richmond, Va., the latter of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Ky., and of English descent. William Cook came with his parents from Richmond. Va., to Columbus, Ky., when only four years old, in 1819. From 1829 to the fall of 1861, he was extensively engaged in merchandising in Columbus, and from that time until his death, he was principally engaged in the forwarding and shipping business at the same place, part of the time in company with his elder brother, Thomas Cook, who died in March, 1842, and the remainder of the time with his younger brother, R. E. Cook. Mr. Cook established the first commission house ever established at Columbus. His death occurred September 27, 1872, in his fifty-eighth year. Mr. Cook was postmaster at Columbus from 1836 to 1854. In 1853 he was appointed treasurer of the north end of the Mobile & Ohio Railway, which office he held until the completion of the road in 1861. He was also city treasurer for the city of Columbus for a number of years. In all these positions of trust he proved faithful and efficient. For more than thirty years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married November 1, 1871, to Miss Martha J. James, a native of Danville, Boyle Co., Ky. Four children have been left them; one son and three daughters. In politics he is a Democrat, and is the oldest male white citizen born in the place.