Descendants of Peter Shriner
|
[From "Men of West Virginia", Biographical Publishing Company, 1903 - Transcribed by K. Torp - see Genealogy Trails] HON. JOHN W. COOKE, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, from Jesse, Wyoming County, one of the prominent, substantial and well educated young members, was born June 29, 1873, at Jesse, where he owns farming lands and is interested in coal and mineral enterprises. He is a son of Green M. and Margaret (Cooke) Cooke, the latter of whom is a daughter of David Cooke, a distant relative of the family. Green M. Cooke was born August 3, 1830, and was a son of James Cooke, both of them being born in Wyoming County, the birthplace of Green M. Cooke being on the same farm our subject now occupies. The mother was born February 19, 1830, and both she and her father were also born in Wyoming County. The Cooke family is of English descent and was founded in Wyoming County, West Virginia, then Montgomery County, Virginia, in the 18th century. His great-grandfather and great-grandmother were kidnapped in London, England, about 1750 and brought to what is now Virginia and sold to a wealthy planter for a period to pay the cost of their passages. When they had served out the time with him, they were married and settled temporarily in the Valley of the Shenandoah. From the start to the close of the Revolution, he took an active part in behalf of the Colonies, he fought under several of the worthy generals of that memorable struggle. Later in the "nineties" of the 18th century he moved west and make the first permanent home in what is now Wyoming County, West Virginia. John W. Cooke was educated in the common schools, and in the Normal School at Athens, West Virginia, in 1896. At the age of 17 years, he began teaching, in which profession he continued for a considerable period, conducting both township and select schools in Logan, Mercer and Summers counties. Until recently, Mr. Cooke has taken but little interest in local politics. The family has been generally Democratic, but our subject identified himself with the Republican party, by casting his first vote in 1896 for the late President McKinley. In 1902 he was selected as the Republican representative to the Legislature, and after a very active campaign was elected to the office, running ahead of his ticket and ahead of the candidates for Congress. His attitude in the House has been that of a conservative, voting with his party in all important measures. Although he has entered upon a successful political life, Mr. Cooke desires to perfect himself in the law, and with this end in view proposes to take a course in the University of West Virginia. He still retains his home on the old farm in Wyoming County, which is valuable not only for its adaptability for farming operations but also for its mineral resources. On August 9, 1898, Mr. Cooke was married to Mary Elizabeth Swope, who is a daughter of Attorney J. J Swope of Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia. Mrs. Cooke's great-grandfather was captured by the Indians when a small boy and eight years of his young life was spent with them. He became greatly attached to them and their mode of life and, when rescued by his people at one time, went directly back to continue life among them but was finally persuaded to remain with his own people. Mrs. Cooke's great-grandfather, Johnathan Swope, was of German parentage, and great-grandmother, a Cornwallis, of English descent. The Swope family were the first permanent settlers in what is now Monroe County, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke have two children: Paul Haddon. born July 1, 1899, and Nida Elizabeth, born October 6, 1901. Mr. Cooke belongs to the Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., at Athens, West Virginia. For a number of years he has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and has always taken an active part in both church and Sunday-school work. Mr. Cook is one of the rising young men of Wyoming County, and is held in high esteem by members of all parties. |