Known Information on the John Cook for whom we seek parentage:
=> Inconsistency on various New York State & US Federal Census records, Some cite birth state as Connecticut, others as Massachusetts, and others, New York State. These are not for other John Cook's as they are for the same family members (spouse & children)
=> Per census records, b 1804/05; Per gravestone, d 1892 However, note: gravestone has b as 1798 - It is indeed the gravestone of our ancestor & it is of a style of more recent times. We think the birth information on the stone is erroneous. Burial: Layton Cemetery, Kirkwood, Broome County, New York, USA
=> Resided - Kirkwood, Broome County, NY. First purchase of land is 1832 in Kirkwood (then known as Conklin as Kirkwood was formed from Conklin in 1850) . He continued residency there throughout remainder of his life. Per New York State 1855, resided in the county for 27 years & he is 50 years of age - putting him in the county in 1828. Occupancy cited : Farmer
=> Spouse: Martha Darling Baxter Cook, b Sept 14. 1814 d Feb 26 1902. Burial: Kirkwood Cemetery, Kirkwood, Broome County, New York, USA. Per her parents Bible (Stephen and Nancy (Couch) Baxter, married John Cook Dec 31, 1829.
=> Children, all born Kirkwood, NY
1) Martha b 1832/1833 d Jul 9 1862 spouse: Franklin Colwell (all obtained from her gravestone Burial: Beside her mother's stone in Kirkwood Cemetery
2) Sarah b 1835/1836 d unknown spouse: William J Williams (determined via census recrods). Had one child, Owen who died young. Sarah never remarried.
3) Weltha/Wealthy b 1837/1838/1840 d 1933 Buried Spring Forest Cemetery, Binghamton, NY Spouse: Benjamin Franklin Wardwell (from 1865 New York State Census & their children's names appearing in land deed civil actions - Note neither Wealthy nor Franklin are listed, we assume they both must be deceased). Census records when a child list her as Wealthy. As adult, she appears as Weltha & her gravestone has Weltha. Census Records 1865 NYS Census listed husband as Franklin. From Weltha's gravestone & their daughter Martha Ella's gravestones, his name is listed as Benj F Wardwell, giving us his first name as Benjamin. Weltha's & and Franklin's children were
3-A> Martha Ella b 1860 d 1933 from gravestone in Spring Forest Cemetery, Binghamton, NY in same plot as her mother is buried Spouse: Fredrick O'Brien (Martha appears in 1865 census as Ella daughter of Weltha & Franklin, also as Ella O'Brien in 1902 land records, as Martha E O'Brien on later land records, & as Martha E on her gravestone citing her as daugther of Benj F Wardwell - so these are all the same person).
3-B> John b? d?
3-C> Lellien/Lillian
4) Oliver b 1840/1841 d 1925 Spouse: Charity D Owen (went by Charrie, she seems likely to be named after one of Martha's sister Charity who also went by Charrie) Marriage September 8, 1887 in Hume, Edgar County, Illimois, Charrie D, daughter of Philander R. & Amelia S. (Baxter) Owen. Amelia Baxter is one of Martha Darling Baxter's sisters, so marriage was between first cousins. From Broome County Historical Society holdings, Oliver is listed as being in the military in 1862 & 1864 - so participated in the US Civil War - but currently we do not know with which company. Per being listed in the 1902 land civil action records & subsequent other findings, we know he survived the war. So far, we have found they had two daughters, Ruth, born 1888, & Lucy born, 1893. Family was living in Paris Township, Edgar County, Illimois (per 1900, 1910, & 1920 US Census records). On 1920 census, Lucy is listed along with her spouse, Leonard Mcfarland, as living with her parents. Both Lucy and Leonard are listed as being 26 years old. Found a death record for a Lucy McFarland for Paris, Illinois - not yet verified but seems likely to be her - lists birth as Feb 5, 1893; death as May 1, 1968
5) Lucy J b 1843/1844/1845 d 1919 Burial - with her father (a shared stone) in Layton Cemetery. gravestone lists birth as 1843; Census records would have brith as 1844 or 1845
6) Winfield Scott b 1847/1848 d ? Spouse :Martha C, Cartmell (went by Mattie; some records have middle initial as B)) B 1853 D 1916 She is buried Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville, Union County, OH. On the 1902 civil actions, are listed as living in Marysville, Ohio, USA....Had a son Louie W b 1880 d 1884 & is in same cemetery lot as Mattie which is a Cartmell family plot. (We think they had another son who would be Winfield Scott Cook, Jr with a wife by the name of Nellie who appear on subsequent land civil actions & they are listed as residing in Broome County - but this is conjecture at this time)
7) Lazette A b 1849/1850 d 1927 spouse : Martin R Weidman b 1846 d 1912, served in Company F, 15th Regiment, NY Volunteers, Engineers during the USA Civil War Both are buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Binghamton, Broome County, New York. Children: 7-A) Minnie M b 1871, d 1931, married Junius "June" Wagner; 7-B) Claudia B b 1875 married 1st ?? Blatchkley, divorced; 2nd Benjamin H Perkins, Jan 16, 1898
8) Victor A b 1852 d 1911 unknown if ever married - & interestingly is listed in 1902 land civil actions pure reference "if alive or to his hiers". Would seem family did not know where he was or details either at that time) Burial : Next to his mother's stone in Kirkwood Cemetery
9) Roldolf A b 1854/1855 d Mar 14, 1878 (death date from his gravestone) Unknown if ever married. Burial is next to his sister's stone in Kirkwood Cemetery
10) Vesalius H b 1856/1857 d <we have it, I just do not have it handy at this moment for reference> (spelling also has been Versalius; Middle name believe is Horace, but some think it may be Horr) Per his obituary, burial Kirkwood Cemetery - no stone. Spouse : Mary Dunlea b 1861, Ireland; d 1932
There are a number of Cook families that migrate to Central New York in the 1800's from New England states. We have tried to link John to them without success to-date.
Additonally, we have found a single sentence noting the death of a Captain John Cook of Kirkwood,NY as a conspicuous & wealthy man dying at age 88 survived by an aged wife & 8 children. The exact same sentence appears in a Fair Haven, Cayugo County (New York) paper (Novemebr 26 1892) & in a Monticello New York paper (November 29 1892). This seems to coincide with our John Cook as it is the year he died (we do not know month), he was survived by his wife & 8 of his children at his death. However, we are not sure if it is a reference or not as we have not found anything to-date as to why he may be referred to as Captain - The term could be per some military service or per possible movement of goods on the Susquehanna River where the term has been used for others who participated in that commerce. We do not know if he did do river boat navigation - as all census records indicate he was a farmer.
Any information that may aid in this effort is appreciated.
