John McCook and Family
-
Edward Moody * | Anson George * |
Henry Christopher * | Roderick Seldon *
John James *
One of the earliest settlers in the Pike's Peak region,
where he had gone to practice his profession, law. He represented that
district in the legislature of Kansas, before the division of the
Territory. He was temporarily in Washington in the troubled era
preceding the war, and by a daring feat as a volunteer agent for
the government, won such approbation that he was appointed into
the regular army as a lieutenant of Calvary.
At the outbreak of the rebellion, he was appointed major of the
Second Indiana Calvary, rose rapidly to the ranks of colonel,
brigadier- and major-general, and, after brilliant and effective
service, retired at the close of the war, with the rank of
lieutenant colonel in the regular army.
His most difficult and dangerous service, perhaps, was penetrating
the enemy's lines by way of diversion previous to Sherman’s march
to the sea. He returned from this "forlorn hope", having inflicted
great damage upon the enemy, defeated and captured a large number,
whom he was compelled to release, and retired in the face of
Hood's entire army.
He resigned from the regular army to accept the appointment of
United States minister to the Sandwich Islands.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Brigadier General Anson George McCook
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, October 10, 1835. He was
educated in the public schools of New Lisbon, Ohio, and at an
early age crossed the plains to California, where he spent several
years.
He returned shortly before the war, and was engaged in the study
of law in the office of Stanton & McCook, at Steubenville, at the
outbreak of the rebellion.
colonel. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta,
he commanded a brigade. He was in action in many of the principal
battles of the West including those of Perryville, Stone River,
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, etc.
On the muster-out of the Second regiment, at the close of three
years' service, he was appointed colonel of the
One-hundred-and-ninety-fourth Ohio, and was ordered to the Valley
of Virginia, where he was assigned to command a brigade. He was a
brigadier-general at the close of the war.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The third son, was born July 3, 1837, at New Lisbon, Ohio,
and married an Ohio lady, Miss Ermma C. Horter, of New Lisbon. He
graduated at Jefferson College.
He was a student in the Western Theological Seminary
(Presbyterian), Allegheny City, on the outbreak of the rebellion,
and having made an engagement to go West to spend his summer
vacation, stopped at Clinton, Dewitt county, Ill.
He was actively engaged in raising troops for the service until
the first Bull Run battle, when he enlisted as a private soldier,
stumped the county to raise troops, and was mustered into the
Forty-first Illinois regiment as first lieutenant. He was
appointed chaplain of the regiment, and returned home for
ordination by the Presbytery of Steubenville, Ohio.
He served for less than a year, and resigned, with the intention
of taking another position in the army; but, convinced that he
could serve his country better in a public position at home, be
returned to his church at Clinton. He was subsequently a home
missionary and pastor in St. Louis, Mo., whence he was called to
Philadelphia in 1869, where he continues to be pastor of one of the
most prominent churches of the east. He is author of a number of popular
theological and ecclesiastical books, but is particularly known as a
naturalist.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Commander Rhoderick Sheldon McCook,
U. S. N.
Born in New Lisbon, Ohio, March 10, 1839. He graduated at
the Naval Academy, Annapolis, in 1859, and his first service was
off the Congo river, Africa, whence he was sent home with a prize
crew in charge of a captured slaver.
From 1861 to 1865 be took active part in aggressive operations
before Newberne, Wilmington, Charleston, Fort Fisher, and on James
river. At Newberne he bore an active and successful part in the
battle on land. He offered himself and the services of his marines
to the land force in moving a battery of guns from his vessel.
With this battery he took a conspicuous part in the conflict, and
had the honor of receiving the surrender of a Confederate regiment
of-infantry, probably the only surrender of this sort which occurred
during the civil war.
During his arduous service with monitors, particularly the "Canonicus"
at Fort Fisher, he seriously injured his health.
He was engaged in the operations on the James river, and also in
those ending in the surrender of Charleston. He attained the grade
of commander September 25, 1873. His last service was in
lighthouse duty on the Ohio river, on whose banks, in the family
plot in the Steubenville cemetery, his remains are buried.
Failing in health, he was retired from active service February 23,
1885, when he went to Vineland, N.J., seeking restoration of
strength in the occupation of farmlife.
His death was caused by being thrown from his buggy upon his head,
sustaining injuries which resulted in suffusion of the brain.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Born at New Lisbon, Ohio, February 4, 1843. He served as
lieutenant in the First Virginia volunteers during a short
campaign in West Virginia, a regiment recruited almost exclusively from
Ohio. There were so many volunteers from that State that its quota
of regiments was immediately filled, and many of its citizens
entered the service with regiments from other States.
He was at Kellysville, one of the earliest engagements of the war.
He graduated at Trinity College, Hartford; began the study of
medicine, but abandoned it to enter the Protestant Episcopal
ministry. He was rector of St. John's, Detroit, and then of St. John's
East Hartford.
He is distinguished as a linguist, and is author of a witty
booklet, "Pat and the Council."