Pioneers of Ellis County William G. Cooke (and allied families) Source: Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1892  pp 515-518   William G. Cooke, well known citizen of Ellis County, was born in 1820 in Carteret County, North Carolina, a son of Henry M. and Frances Buxton Cooke. Henry Cooke was custom house officer at Fort Macon, North Carolina, about forty years, and also held the office of Councilman. He and Frances had eleven children: Henry L., Thomas, Julia Frances, Sallie Ann, Francis J., William G. Mary, Silas L., George H., Alexander and Henrietta. Frances Cooke died in 1833 and the next year the family (with the exception of Henry L.) began their journey to Texas, arriving in April 1835 - without their father who died  enroute on the Mississippi River. Children of Henry Cooke and Frances Buxton Cooke (1) Henry L. Cooke married Martha Bertashaw in 1834 and in 1855 settled on Mustang Creek, Ellis County, where he farmed and taught school.  They had eleven children, eight now living [1892], John, (m. twice; had 4 children); Martha, (m. William Boore); Joseph, (m. Emma Stokes, now deceased); Mary, (widow of Donald Stout) ; and Sallie, (m. Elijah Boren); Henry, (twice married); George, (lives at home) and Lechmere. (2) Thomas Cooke died in Navarro County, Texas in 1850. He was a school teacher and farmer and married Mary George (still living). (3) Julia Frances. married George W. James, a trader, who came to Texas  from Tennessee with the Cooke family, first settling near Bastrop, then Washington County,  and later moving to Burleson County, where he died. (4) Sallie Ann died in Texas - not married. (5)Francis J., (farmer of Hempstead County ) married Emily Stockton, of Washington County; (6)William G.,  who left Montgomery County, Texas, at age 20 to work in Houston as a carpenter. He later moved to Navarro County where he bought  a farm. In 1858 he came to Ellis County, and continued farming until 1890. He served in the State Militia during the War and also enlisted in the CSA, but participated in no battles. He first married (in Harris County) Angeline Salmon, who died nine months later, and in 1850 he married Catherine Kendall, of Navarro County, daughter of Fenwick R. and Nancy (McKinney) Kendall, of French and Scotch descent. Children of William and Catherine  Kendall Cooke (1) Thomas, of Ennis, m. Amanda Montague (2) Eugenia, m/1 Shelton Kellett of Ennis (Ellis County), m/2 J. W. Frazer, Ellis County farmer (3) Frank, farmer Ellis County; m. Lizzie Cranford (4) Ralph, died in infancy (5) Harry, farmer Ellis County, m. Emma Cardwell (6) Louis, Ellis County, m. Emma Holladay (7) John, deceased, m. Effie McNeil (8) Angus, died April 5, 1891 (9) Eldon, a farmer of Ellis County (10) Emmett, lives Ellis County From April, 1835, to the present time William Cooke has been a citizen of Texas and of Ellis County for nearly 40 years. "Born in affluence, reared in pride and splendor; educated in principles of justice, honor and noble bearing; trained in early life to true patriotism and love of liberty, and by hard service, aided in securing the independence of the Lone Star Republic, and giving peaceful homes to untold thousands of the human race. Satisfied with the grand and noble acquisition, and content with having done a noble part in life, he retired to domestic life and reared a large and respected family.  He now finds himself with shattered frame, unable to work, with nothing available to help.. The old man's glory has passed away without laurels or weeping willows to shade his white, aged, yet manly brow. Such is life, a panorama of light and shade. But soon the dark cloud shall be dispelled; for by faith and hope he is given, that through acts of charity while here guided, he sees o'er the dark stream a heaven." Mr. Cooke is a Democrat, has held the office of school trustee; is a Past Master Mason and a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and member of the Christian Church. Re the Kendall family: Mr. Kendall died in 1853 and his wife now [1892] lives in Quanah. There were ten children: Catherine, Jefferson, Mary, Martha, Joseph, Helen, Elizabeth, Jennie, Cyrus and Emma. (1) Catherine (2) Jefferson, deceased, m/1 Martha Jester and m/2 Susan Marey, of Ellis County; served in Colonel Parsons' Regiment throughout the War. (3) Mary,  married J. Dixon of Fort Worth, Texas (4) Martha, (died at Ennis about fifteen years ago) married William Fred, a farmer (5) Joseph, enlisted in Colonel Burford's Regiment, during the War, and died of congestive chills after one year service (6) Helen, deceased in 1885; married Andrew Fred, farmer of Ellis County (7) Elizabeth, (died 1886) married Hillard O'Neil, of Hardeman County (8) Jennie, of Hardeman County (9) Cyrus , stock buyer of Quanah, Texas (10) Emma, married Wade House, also a stock buyer Quanah. Continuing the children of Henry and Frances Cooke: (7) Mary, died in 1877; m/1 John Carter; m/2 Michael Boren (decd); (8) Silas L, farmer,, died in Burleson County about fifteen years ago. He married Jennie Thomas, and they had nine children, four of whom still survive. Silas served CSA Bradford's Regt., Texas Cavalry. about 10 months. When the regiment was reorganized, with Col. Mann of San Antonio commanding, Silas served until the surrender. (9) George H., deceased about 1878, was lawyer of San Saba County, Texas; and also a surveyor who laid out the county seat of San Saba; was a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the first laws of the State of Texas; was the first representative from this county to the State Legislature; commanded a Brigade during the War; and was engaged in frontier service in Texas. He married Hattie Murray, of San Saba County, who now lives in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas. (10) Alexander (married Ellen Shepherd of Washington County; died ca 16 years ago; widow now lives Bosque County) (11) Henrietta m/1 Stockton, farmer in Washington County; one child; m/2 Josiah Rogers, After the death of her first husband, Henrietta married Josiah Rogers, farmer in Hill County - 4 children by 2nd marriage, three now living. three now living. Henrietta died 18 years ago near Kimball, Hill County. Re the Kendall family: Mr. Kendall died in 1853 and his wife now lives in Quanah. There were ten children: Catherine, Jefferson, Mary, Martha, Joseph, Helen, Elizabeth, Jennie, Cyrus and Emma. (1) Catherine (2) Jefferson, deceased, m/1 Martha Jester and m/2 Susan Marey, of Ellis County. He served in Colonel Parsons' Regiment throughout the War. (3) Mary married J. Dixon of Fort Worth, Texas. (4) Martha, (died at Ennis about fifteen years ago) married William Fred, a farmer 4) Martha, (died at Ennis about fifteen years ago) married William Fred, a farmer, (5) Joseph, served in Colonel Burford's Regiment, during the late War, and died after one year's service, of congestive chills; (6) Helen, deceased, in 1885, married Andrew Fred, farmer of Ellis County; (7) Elizabeth, (died 1886) married Hilleard O'Neil, of Hardeman County; (8) Jennie, of Hardeman county; (9) Cyrus , a stock buyer of Quanah, Texas, m. Medora House (10) Emma, married Wade House, also a stock buyer of Quanah.   Copyright © 2005-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. 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