Jefferson Davis Cook
There are several mysteries in the Cook family. I have pieced together what I believe to be the Cook Family Lineage. I am still looking for some of the census records that I need to "prove" some of this information but offer it to you with as many facts as I have. Emma Melvina Cook Ray Mann was the first child born to Jasper Marvin Cook and Cora Mayhue Long Cook.
Jasper's parents died when he was young and neither my grandmother nor her siblings knew their paternal grandparents. My Great Aunt Datha Cook Ely told me that Jasper's parents were named "Emma" and "David". Jasper had 2 brothers, Iley and William. With a great deal of good luck, "Emma" turned out to be Mary Emma Roach Cook and David was actually Jefferson Davis Cook. "David's" death certificate named Newton Cook as his father.
Jefferson Davis Cook and Mary Emma Roach Cook
Jefferson Davis Cook and Mary Emma Roach Cook were known thought to be named "Dave" and "Emma" according to Datha Mayhue Cook Ely, my great aunt. Datha did not know her paternal grandparents, she knew that they had died when Jasper was young and that was about all.
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 Christain 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
What happened??? 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. My guess is that Jefferson Davis Cook is one in the same with the Jeff D Cook who was in the insane asylum in 1910.
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.