Description:
SENATE, 29th and 30th General Assemblies, 1851-55; representing counties of White, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, and Van Buren in 29th; White, Jackson, and Macon in 30th; Whig. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, July 8, 1787; son of Robert and Susanna (Watson) Cooke. Attended elementary schools in Virginia and North Carolina. Married in Edgefield District, South Carolina, March 31, 1813, to Margaret Cox; children -- Adaline, Minerva, Watson McSwain, Louisa, Dorinda, Zenira, Calvin Whitley, Bolivar Houston, and Harriett Cooke. Brought up in Greenville, South Carolina; emigrated to Maury County, 1810; in 1816 opened farm in Putnam County on Gainesboro-Sparta Road; was living at Double Springs, White County, while in legislature; moved later to Big Woods, Putnam County; large landholder. In War of 1812; enlisted September 20, 1814; sergeant in Captain Abraham Dulaney's Company, Major Woodfolk's 3rd Regiment, promoted to 3rd lieutenant, October 1, 1814; to 2nd lieutenant, December 3, 1814. Died in Putnam County October 15, 1870; buried in Cooke family graveyard eight miles west of Cookeville on Buffalo Valley Road. Cookeville named in his honor. Brother of William Henry Cooke; uncle of James Burch Cooke; great-great-great grandfather of Bailey Bockman, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly.
| Sources: Information supplied by great-great-great-grandson, Bailey Bockman, Sparta; "Putnam Cuonty Bible, Family, and Tombstone Records," 15; McClain, History of Putnam County, 14; McCown and Burns, Soldiers of the War of 1812 Burried in Tennessee; War of 1812 files, Tennessee Archives. |
Transcribed from scanned images of unknown book, page 162-163, provided by Lori Williams, by Dean McGee on July 10, 2005
