The earliest ancestor in the Cook family found by this writer was William Cook who was born in 1790 in Virginia. William was married to Sarah Elizabeth Hawkins who was born in 1805 in S.C. In 1910, she was residing in Beaufort County, S.C. This family eventually moved to Montgomery County, Ala. , where he died in 1845 and she, in 1860.

William and Sarah Cook reared at least the following four children: Arthur R., b. 1814, d. 1879, m. 1833 Clarissa Clary Amerson (1830-1855 (2) Martha S. Lindsey Wingate (3) Jeannette ?; William R., b. 1820; Green M., b. 1822, d. 1908; and Lucinda Cynthia, b. 1828, d. 1900. Today’s writing will follow the lineage of the oldest son, Arthur R. Cook. Records indicate he may have been married two additional times, and the name of one was Martha S. Lindsey Wingate. It appears that the majority of his children were by Clarissa, and he had several with Martha plus two by the third wife whose name was not found.

Arthur R. and Clarissa Cook had the following children: Henry R., b. 1834, d. 1870; Sarah I, b. 1836; Dorothy C., b. 1838; Dorothy E., b. 1840; James W., b. 1842; Matthew Malichi, b. 1844, d. 1916; Mary Elizabeth, b. 1846; Susan A., b. 1848; Frances, E., b. 1849; Isabell, b. 1851, d. 1904; and D.T., b. 1853. It appears that the following children were by Arthur R. and Martha S. Lindsey Wingate Cook: Andrew Jackson, b. ca 1854, d. 1939; Louisa, b. ca 1855; Nancy D., b. ca 1856; Martha Ann, b. 1858; and John

Tom, b. 1866. There were two children who appear to have been by the third wife: Jennette, b. ca 1867, d. 1891; and John G., b. 1869, d. 1947.

The third oldest son, Matthew Malachi Cook, was born in 1844 in the Bullock community of Coffee County. Joseph T. Cook who was born about the same time circa 1843 was apparently a close relative. Joseph was living in his mother’s household in the Falco community near Cook relatives in 1860. Joseph T. was a veteran of the War Between the States. In 1913, he was 70 years old and residing in Collin, Texas, when he applied for a pension for his military service.

Matthew Malachi Cook also rendered service in the Confederate Army. He enlisted during the Summer of 1862 at Smut Eye, Alabama. He was assigned as a private in Company A, 12th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Some years following the war, he was married to Eliza Ann Steele, daughter of Henry William (1818-1892) and Elizabeth (Hart) (1824-1891) who resided in the Falco community.

Matthew Malachi Cook and his wife, Eliza Ann (Steele), reared the following children: Henry Rushing, b. 1868, d. 1934; Eliza Martha, b. 1869, d. 1919; John Matthew, b. 1871, d. 1955; William Jason, b. 1873, d. 1938; Jessie Ard, b.&d. 1876; Amanda, b. 1879, d. 1962; Annie, b. 1881, d. 1972; and Joseph Jedidiah Porter, b. 1882, d. 1958.

The youngest son, Joseph J.P. “Joe” Cook was born in 1882 in the Falco community. In 1905, he was married in Bradley, which is near Falco, to Martha Georgia Ann “Mattie” Madden, daughter of General Barto and Nancy Susanna (Milligan) Madden. Mattie was born in 1889 in Blackman, Fla., and lived until 1943 when she died in Escambia County, Ala. Joe had died many years earlier in 1958 in Escambia County as well.

Joe and Mattie Cook reared the following nine children: Joseph Lee, b. 1907, d. 1984, m. Allene Elizabeth Stanley (1909-1989); Addie Arminda, b. 1908, d. 1989, m. John H. Jones; General Matthew, b. 1910, d. 1978, m. Viola Harper (1911-1964); Eliza Nancy Lucinda, b. 1912, d. 2006, m. George L. Worrell; Virginia Ella Annie Bell, b. 1914, d. 1988, m. Benjamin David Lundy; George Columbus “Doc,” b. 1915, m.(1) Mary Virgie Douglas (2) Mary Agnes Palmer; Clarinda Adelaid, b. 1916, m. (1) James Manuel Ward (2) Aldie Ollinger Thomas; Walter Roy, b. 1919, m. Lucy Mae Stabler; and Winnie Jean, b. 1928, m. Fred Allen Smith.

The oldest son, Joseph Lee Cook, was married in 1934 to Allene Elizabeth Stanley, daughter of Garrett and Minnie Lee (Stephens) Stanley. They reared the following four children: Wendell, b. 1936, m. Hazel ?; Carol, b. 1939, m. 1962 Howard Donnell Castleman; Infant son, b.&d. 1952; and Wanda Gayle (Martin), b. 1959, m. Danny Gene Ratliff.

The oldest daughter, Addie Arminda Cook, was married to John H. Jones, son of William and Sarah Jane (Bradley) Jones. They had the following two daughters: Martha Jane, b. 1926, m. (1) 1944 Grover C. Bradley (2) 1967 Obie McGhee; and Mildred, b. 1928, m. 1950 L.D. Spence.

The next son, General Matthew Cook and his wife, Viola Harper, reared the following four children: Mattie Ann, b. 1949, m. 1966 Donnie Wayne Hackle; Martha Joanne “Jo,” m. Mike McKnown; John Lamar Mathews, b. 1952, m. 1974, Imogene Lou Maddox; and Donald Calvin, b. 1953, m. 1974 Sara Flury.

The next daughter, Eliza Nancy Lucinda Cook, was married to George L. Worrell, son of Marion Thomas and Sarah Rebecca (Jeffries) Worrell. They resided in the Wing community and were active members of the Union Hill Church of Christ. They reared the following four children: Thomas Walton, b. 1933, d. 1990, m. Patricia Ann “Patsy” Lucas; Margaret Jeanette, b. 1934, m. Jerry Laws; Dewain, b. 1940, m. Riley Wayne Bass; and Gene, b. 1950 (Adopted).

The next daughter, Virginia Ella Annie Bell Cook, was married in 1932 to Benjamin David Lundy (1912-1975). They had the following children: Benjamin Mayhew, b. 1934, m. Josephine “Mickey” McBride; George Joseph, b. 1938, m. Charlene Braswell; Floyd Dowe, b. 1939, d. 1941; Betty Dean, b. 1942, m. John Anderson Elliott; and Henry Willis, b. 1947, m. Mary Elizabeth Williams.

The next son, George Columbus “Doc” Cook, had six children by his first wife, Mary Virgie Douglas, daughter of Mack Kenneth and Sarah Jane (Wright) Douglas. They were George Columbus Jr., b. 1934l, m. Loretta Tillere; Wilmer Lee, b. 1936, d. 1937; Joseph Kenneth, b. 1937, m. Bertha Rea Hammock; Archie Leonard, b. 1940, m. Gwendolyn Rigsby; Leathern Earl, b. 1941, m. Mary Margaret Barefoot; and unnamed infant, b.&d. 1943. Doc and his second wife, Mary Agnes Paler, had the following children: Betty Joyce, b. 1945, m. Louie Eugene Challancin; Roger Dale, b. 1949, m. Sue Ann Vandermark; James Roland, b. 1954, m. Kathy Lynn Croy; Mary Datrinia, b. 1959, m. Marvin Wayne Hatcher; and Sharron Ann, b. 1963, m. Anthony Wayne Bush.

The next daughter, Clarinda Adelaid Cook, was first married to James Manuel Ward, son of Feston Lake and Cora Irene (Gartman) Ward, and they had one daughter, Sandra Kaye, b. 1950, m. (1) John W. Holle (2) David Ray Potter. Clarinda later married Aldie Ollinger Thomas.

The youngest son, Walter Roy Cook, was married to Lucy Mae Stabler, daughter of William Franklin and Effie Viola (Hobbie) Stabler. They reared three children: Memory Diane, b. 1942, m. Thomas J. Phillips; Roy Larry, b. 1944, m. Ethel Marie Allen; and Joseph Jerell, b. 1947, m. Sandra Carolyn Thames.

The youngest daughter, Winnie Jean Cook, was married to Fred Allen Smith, son of Fred H. and Ruth Lucille (Waite) Smith. They lived in Cal. And reared the following four children: Terry Dean, b. 1951, m. Donald Ray Murray, Sr.; Linda Lorraine, b. 1953, m. William Roy Addleman; Jeri Lyn, b. 1957; and Carrie Jean, b. 1966, m. Joe Coppage.

The sources for this writing were Ancestry.com and the family records of Alane (Bass) Brunson, which were researched and compiled by Jeanette Cook of Baker, Fla.

Anyone who might additional information may contact Curtis Thomasson at 334-222-6467; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.