He was born on 14 October 1837, in Warrington, York County, Pennsylvania, to Jesse Cook and Ruth McMillan. [sources: date: 3, 6 (26 Sep 1837); 2 (27 in 1865), 8 (27 in 1865). place: 3, 6, 8. parents: 3, 6, 8; 4, 5]
In 1850, he was living in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Jesse and Ruth Cook, and siblings. [source: 4]
In 1860, he was living in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his mother Ruth, and siblings. He was a teacher at a com[mercial] school. [source: 5]
When he enlisted, he was a teacher. [source: 8]
He had blue eyes, dark hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 feet 4 inches tall. [source: 8]
He was drafted. He was mustered into service on 28 February 1865, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was a private, in company F. [sources: 1, 2, 7, 8]
On 29 March 1865, he is listed on a Muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of drafted men and substitutes forwarded for the 91 Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, draft rendezvous, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. [source: 8]
On the March-April 1865 muster roll, he is reported present. [source: 8]
On the May-June 1865 muster roll, he was reported absent, sick at the Division Hospital. [source: 8]
He was absent, sick, when the regiment mustered out. He was a private, in company F. He owed the US $11.66 for clothing, and was due pay from when he mustered in. [sources: 1, 2, 7, 8]
On 16 July 1865, he died, in the Augur General Hospital, near Alexandria, Virginia. He died of albuminuria. He was apparently initially buried in Arlington National Cemetery, on 17 July 1865. But he was then reburied on 3 December 1865, in Menallen Friends Cemetery, Bendersville, Adams County, Pennsylvania. His effects, which included $4.10, a ring, several books, a diary, and a package of letters, were sent by Adams Express to his mother, Ruth M Cook, Bendersville, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 3, 6, 8 (Arlington Nat'l Cem)]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Kersey J Cook)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 19 January 2005 (Kersey J Cook)
3 'Cook, Griest, Wierman, Tyson and allied families of Pennsylvania', a gedcom, available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, contact Robert, last updated 20 Nov 07, accessed 5 February 2011 (citing a family friend's diary, Quaker records, and two references in the Adams Sentinel Gettysburg) (Jesse Kersey Cook)
4 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Township, microfilm series M432, film 743, page 49 verso = 98 handwritten (Jesse Cook)
5 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Township, post office Bendersville, microfilm series M653, film 1057, page 419 = 73 handwritten to 420 = 74 handwritten (Jesse C Cook)
6 Find a grave, memorial 45255851, created by Jim Wierman, added 9 December 2009, accessed 5 February 2011 [the inscription on the headstone, pictured on the memorial, is: "J. KERSEY COOK. son of Jesse and Ruth Cook. Died 7th Mon. 16, 1865. Aged 27 Years 9 M & 2 D."] ("J" Kirsey Cook)
7 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Keisey [sic] J Cook)
8 compiled service record, F 91 PA (Kersey J Cook)
The compiled service record makes clear these are not the J Kersey Cook who served in the 91st, but I've kept this note for reference.
The ARIAS Civil War Veterans' cards have one Jesse Cook, and no other Kersey Cook. The Jesse Cook served in company C of the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry, who mustered out with his company on 30 June 1865, and was 18 at enrollment.
The FamilySearch beta and HeritageQuest census indices do have one Kersey Cook, present in the 1860-1880 and 1900 censuses. While his age does not exactly match the age of the Kersey Cook who served in the 91st, it is close enough to make him a candidate. However, since he was living in Illinois in 1860, he is unlikely to have served in the 91st Pennsylvania.
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Dwellings visited | 645 | |||||||||
| Families visited | 713 | |||||||||
| Name | Jesse Cook | Ruth " | Mary " | George " | Jesse " | Almira " | Lewis " | Sarah " | Ellen " | Albert " |
| Age | 49 | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | M | F | M | F | M | M |
| Color | ||||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Farmer | |||||||||
| Real estate owned | 3000 | |||||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Pa] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Dwelling number | 517 | ||||||
| Family number | 534 | ||||||
| Name | Ruth Cook | Mary B. " | Jesse C. " | Elmira I. " | Sarah A. " | Ellis W. " | Albert " |
| Age | 52 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 12 |
| Sex | f | f | m | f | f | m | m |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Farmer | Domestic | Teacher of Com. School | Domestic | Do | ||
| Value of real estate owned | 6000 | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | 815 | ||||||
| Place of birth | Do [sc. Pennsylvania] | Pennsylvania | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
Respectfully returned, to Saml. Breck, Asst. Adjt. Genl. A.G.O.
There is no evidence on file in this office, with the records of Augur Genl. Hospital, relative to the disposition of the effects of Prvt. Cook.
By order of the Surgeon General:| 1 Knapsack | 1 Haversack | 1 Canteen |
| 1 Vest | 1 Cap | 1 Shirt |
| 1 pr Drawers | 2 Book | 1 Pocket Book |
| Money $4 10 | 1 Dictionary | 1 Packg of letters |
| 1 Picture | 1 Ring |
RECEIVED of Edwin Bentley Surgeon, U.S.V., in charge of Augur U.S.A. General Hospital, near Alexandria, Va., the following effects of Priv J K Cook Company F, 91st Regt., Penna Vols., who died at this Hospital of [blank]
On this 26 day of July 1865; before me personally appeared Ruth M Cook who being duly sworn declares that she is the mother and LEGAL HEIR of J. K. [?] Cook, deceased, formerly of Company F, 91st Regiment, P.V. and she acknowledges her signature to the above receipt as genuine; and she is known by me to be the person she represents herself to be.
Samuel MealsInventory of the effects of J K Cook late a private of Captain [blank] Company F of the 91" Regiment of Penna Volunteers, [crossed out]; he died in Augur USA Genl Hospt Near Alex Va on the 16 day of July 1865, by reason of Albuminuria
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, that the above inventory comprises all the effects of private J K Cook, deceased, and that the effects are in the hands of Surgeon in charge at Augur Genl Hospt near Alex Va to be disposed of by a Council of Administration.
Edwin BentleyI Jacob Bushy Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County + State aforesaid do certify that Samuel Meals Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made, is and was at the time of the doing of the same one [sic] the Justices of the Peace, in and for said County of Adams duly elected commissioned and qualified as such and that full faith and credit is to be given to all his official acts--and that the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set out my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Gettysburg this twenty eighth (28th) day of July AD Eighteen hundred and sixty five.
Jacob Bushey, ProthyIt becomes my duty to inform you that the person above described died at this Hospital as herein stated; and that it is desired his remains should be interred with the usual military honors.
Respectfully, Edwin Bentley