Jefferson Davis Cook 1860-1916

Jefferson Davis Cook is my brick wall but the good news is that as more information becomes available and the more people who do DNA tests, the higher the chances are that I will be able break down this brick wall.

Jefferson Davis Cook Family Group Report

Husband: JEFFERSON DAVIS COOK
Birth: 5 Nov 1860 Place: CALLOWAY, County Kentucky, USA or was it Tennessee?
Death: 23 Sep 1916 Place: Ballard County, Kentucky
Burial: Sep 1916 Place: Bethleham Cem, Ballard County, Kentucky, USA
Father: Newton Cook (but which Newton?)
Mother: ?????
Marriage: 1 Jan 1882 Place: WICKLIFFE, Ballard County, Kentucky, USA

Wife: MARY EMMA MATILDA ROACH
Birth: Jul 1865 Place: Kentucky, USA
Father: JOSEPH H ROACH (1832-)
Mother: SUSAN LOUISE (1832-)

Children

1. Child: COOK Death: 22 Feb 1882 Burial: Feb 1882 Place: Antioch, Graves County, Kentucky, USA
2. M Child: DAVID ILEY COOK Birth: Feb 1886 Place: Ballard County, Kentucky, USA Burial: Place: Bethleham Cem, WICKLIFFE, Kentucky, USA Spouse: MARVA HUNTER
3. M Child: WILLIAM O COOK Birth: Aug 1887 Place: Kentucky, USA Death: CA 1940 Place: ST LOUIS, ST LOUIS, Missouri, USA
4. M Child: JASPER MARVIN COOK Birth: 13 Nov 1893 Place: WICKLIFFE, Ballard, Kentucky, USA Death: 16 Oct 1955 Place: GRANITE CITY, MADISON County, ILLINOIS, USA Burial: Oct 1955 Place: EDWARDSVILLE, MADISON, ILLINOIS, USA Spouse: CORA MAYHUE LONG Marriage: 1917 Place: Kentucky, USA

Notes: Jefferson Davis Cook was a widow when he died in 1916. I have a copy of his death certificate in which Iley Cook is the informant. Little information is available on "David" Cook but a photo exists of him which was probably taken about 1896-1900 with his wife, "Emma" and boys Willie, Iley and Jasper Marvin. He was a farmer by trade.

A photo taken about 1900 notes her name as Emma Matilda O'Roche. O'Rache. However, I belive that the notation was made many years after the photo. Census information for "Emma" Cook identifies her as the head of the household, a widow, born in Kentucky, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Tennessee with children: Willie, Jasper, and Ollie. (Census record for 1900). I have not found a census record for her in 1910 or beyond. By 1900 she had had 5 children total, only 3 living. She was enumerated in Carlisle County.

Jefferson Davis Cook's death certificate stated that he was a widow when he died: Sep 23, 1916 in Ballard Co, Kentucky. It further states that he was born in Calloway Co, Ky on Nov 5, 1860 to Newton Cook. By trade he was a farmer. Iley Cook is the informant on the death certificate. Burial took place at Bethlehem Cemetery, Wickliffe, Kentucky. I believe that the Bethleham Church had a fire and lost church records from this era. I did not find a stone for Mary Emma Roach Cook when I visited the Bethleham Cemetary a few years ago. And while I have not found a death certificate for (Mary) Emma Roach Cook, my great great grandmother, I have found this census information.

1880 Ballard Co, Kentucky Census

#1864-218 COOK, Andrew, 26, head, laborer, Ky, Ky, Ky
Janey, 29, sis, Ky, Ky, Ky
Jeff P., 18, bro, Ky, Ky, Ky is this Jefferson Davis Cook?
Could this be my Jefferson Davis Cook?

1900 Carlisle Co, Kentucky Census

Cook, Emma, head, white female, July 1865, 35 widowed, 5 children / 3 living, KY, TN, TN ** great great grandmother (Mary Emma Roach)
Enumerated: West Bardwell
Willie, son, white, male, August 1887, 12, single, KY, KY, KY
Jasper, son, white, November 1893, 6, single, KY, KY, KY
Ollie, son, white, male, February 1886, 14, single, KY, KY, KY
Hart, Martha, May 1840, 60, widow, 2 children, 1 living, TN, Ireland, England - boarder
Boutwell, Lewis, March 1880, 20, laborer - boarder, IL, IL, IL
Holloway, William, June 1865, 34, farm- laborer, TN, TN, TN

1910 Christian Co, Kentucky Census (Western Lunatic Asylum for the Insane)

Jeff D Cook, 48, Inmate, Widow, Male, White, born KY, father born TN, mother born TN
Source: Series: T624, Roll: 470, Part: 2, Page: 178B
Home in 1910: 3-DIST, CHRISTIAN, Kentucky

1910 Ballard Co, Kentucky Census

Iley L Cook, head of household, white, 24, is married to Marvis G.
Jasper M. Cook , white, 16, enumerated with William J. Gardner family as a border, parents born in KY
Will O Cook , white, 22 enumerated with Charlie McChristain

The death certificate for Jefferson Davis Cook is 1916. But the 1900 census shows Mary (Emma) already a widow in 1900. I could not find a census record for either Mary Emma Roach Cook in 1910. I believe she died in 1907.  It appears that Jefferson Davis Cook is one in the same with the Jeff D Cook who was in the Western Kentucky for the Insane in 1900 and 1910.  People when to that institution for many reasons.  Everything from alcoholism to TB to mental health issues.  

From Don Simmons Publication "Graves Co, Ky Gen Abstracts", on Feb 22, 1882 an infant of J. D. Cook died and was buried at Antioch. These dates do not line up very well with the marriage date for Jefferson Davis Cook and Mary Emma Roach Cook. Another researcher, John Roach was kind to find the marriage record for Mary E Roach & J D Cook, married 1 Jan 1882 in Wickliffe, Ky. I believe that Mary Emma Roach could be the daughter of Joseph H Roach born 1832 Graves Co, Ky and Susan Louise born 1832 in Tennessee. More information about the Roach family follows later.

I did say that Jasper was one of 5 children, 2 died and their names are unknown to me. It should be noted that Ollie on the census of 1900 is really DAVID ILEY COOK, brother of Jasper Cook. I have death certificates for Jefferson Davis Cook, David Iley Cook and Jasper Cook to "prove" this information.

Please provide a link and credit to these pages if you use the information. The information presented is the result of the efforts of many researchers over many years including DNA results used with permission as appropriate for genealogy purposes. Pat Ray Hannan, author and owner.