John Bell Cook

Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County by Gresham and
Wiley, 1889, p325
	John Bell Cook, a grandson of Colonel Edward Cook of Revolutionary fame,
is a son of James Cook and Mary Bell Cook, and was born on the old Cook
homestead in Washington township, August 26, 1808.
	Colonel Edward Cook, grandfather, has rightfully been called the pioneer
of civilization in Washington township. He came in 1770 from
Conococheague, Franklin county. His wife was Miss Martha Crawford, born
on Christmas, 1743, died April 20, 1837, and had one child, James Cook.
	Colonel Edward Cook was prominent during the Revolution in the frontier
history of Fayette county. He died November 27, 1808, in the seventieth
year of his age.
	From the truthful tribute placed on his tomb by his pastor, Rev William
Wylie, we quote in part: "Few men have deserved and possessed more
eminently than Colonel Cook, the consideration and esteem of the people
in the western country. In public spirit, disinterestedness, and zeal for
the general welfare, he was excelled by none. In private life, his
unsullied integrity, his liberality, the amiable benevolence of his
temper, endeared him to his friends, and marked him as a sanctuary to
which the poor might confidently resort for relief."
	James Cook (father) was born in Washington township, August 13, 1772,
and engaged in farming as his life pursuit. On May 6, 1806, he was
married to Miss Mary Bell, a native of Ireland, and has six children.	
	John Bell Cook was reared on a farm, and received his early education in
the old subscription schools. When he reached his majority he engaged in
farming, and has continued in that business ever since.
	On October 18, 1837, he was married to Miss Matilda Cunningham, daughter
of William Cunningham and Nancy Forsythe Cunningham: both Presbyterians
and came out with Colonel Cook. The former died in 1816.
	James Cook, a son, was born May 14, 1840, enlisted in Company F,
Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, wask taken prisoner and exchanged,
thrown by a horse and instantly killed August 16, 1864, at City Point,
and now sleeps in the cemetery at Rehoboth church; Sarah A Cook, was born
August 23, 1842, was finely educated, married A M Fulton, and died
December 12, 1874; William J Cook, died in infancy; Joseph A Cook, born
December 11, 1846, and Robert Johnson Cook, born March 21, 1849. He was
graduated from Yale in 1876, was captain of the Yale boat crew from 1873
to 1876, read law, and was admitted to the Pittsburgh bar in 1878. He
marrried Miss Annie Wells of Pittsburgh, April 26, 1881, and in 1882 took
a special course in a German university.
	John Bell Cook is now in his eighty second year. His wife died December
12, 1887. She was an estimable woman and a devout Christian. Mr Cook is
an honored citizen, and a higly esteemed member of the Presbyterian
church.