Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/125

 McCOOK

McCOOK

McCOOK, John James, educator, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1848 ; fifth son of Dr. John and Catharine Julia (Sheldon) McCook. He attended the high school at Steubenville, Ohio, and Jefferson college, Canonsburg, Pa., and at the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted under President Lincoln's first call in the 1st Virginia volunteers, serving as lieutenant during a short campaign in West Virginia and participating in the battle of Philippi, one of the earliest engage- ments of the war. His term of service having expired he returned to college and was graduated from Trinity, Hartford, Conn., A.B., 1863, A.M., 1866. He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, 1863-64, was graduated from the Berkeley Divinity school in 1866, and was admitted to the priesthood in 1867. He was rector of St. John's, Detroit, Mich., 1867-68, and in 1869 became rector of St. John's, East Hartford, Conn. He was instructor at Trinity college, 1883-85, and was elected prof essor of modern languages and literature in 1885. He was married, June 7, 1866, to Eliza Sheldon But- ler, of Hartford, Conn. Three of their sons, John Butler, Philip James and George Sheldon served as volunteers in the war with Spain, 1898. He edited the Church Weekly in 1872, contributed several reports on poor-law administration and prison reform and is the author of Pat and the Council (1870) and articles in current magazines on penalogy, venality, vagabondage and like sub- jects.

McCOOK, John James, lawyer and soldier, was born at CarroUton, Ohio, May 25, 1845 ; ninth son of Maj. Daniel and Martha (Latimer) Mc- Cook. He attended Kenyon college, but left after his freshman year to enter the 6th Ohio

cavalry. He was pro- moted lieutenant and served on the staff of General Crittenden at Perryville, Stone's River, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Chattanooga with the Army of the Cumber- land, and under Grant with the Army of the Potomac from the Wilderness to the crossing of the James river. He was pro- moted captain and aide decamp U.S.V., and distinguished himself in the battle of Shady Grove, Va., where he was severely wounded. He wasbrevetted major for Shady Grove and lieutenant-colonel and colonel for gal- lant and meritorious services during the war,

,^A<!uA^7i(/ti.^>^^

and was mustered out as lieutenant-colonel, March 13, 1865. He was graduated from Kenyon college, A.B., 1866, A.M., 1869, and from the Har- vard Law school, LL.B., 1869. He practised law in the office of Stanton & McCook, in Steuben- ville, Ohio, and subsequently in New York city a8 a member of the law firm of Alexander & Green. He was married, Feb. 17, 1876, to Janetta, daughter of Henry M. and Susan Mary (Brown) Alexander. In 1897 he was said to have been the first choice of President McKinley for attorney- general in his cabinet, but he declined to give up his extensive law practice. He was elected a trustee of Princeton university in 1890 and was chairman of the Army and Navy Christian com- mission during the war with Spain. The honor- ary degree of A.M. was conferred on him by Princeton in 1873 and that of LL. D. by the Uni- versity of Kansas in 1890 and by Lafayette col- lege in 1893.

McCOOK, Latimer A, surgeon and soldier, was born at Canonsburg, Pa., April 26, 1820; eldest son of Maj. Daniel and Martha (Latimer) McCook. He was educated at Jefferson college, Canons- burg. studied medicine with his uncle. Dr. George McCook (q. v.), and received his degree from Jefferson Medical college of Pliiladelphia. He entered the army in 1861 as assistant surgeon, and was soon promoted surgeon of the 31st Illinois volunteers with the rank of major. He served throughout all the campaigns of the Army of the Tennessee, and while caring for the wounded of his regiment, during action, he was himself twice wounded — once in the trenches before Vicksburg, and again at Pocotaligo Bridge, S.C, in General Sherman's movement northward from Savannah, after the march to the sea. He survived the war, but was broken down in health and died from general debility, resulting from wounds and ex- posure incident to his service in the army, at his home, Pekin, 111., Aug. 23, 1869.

ricCOOK, Robert Latimer, soldier, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1827 ; fourth son of Maj. Daniel and Martha (Latimer) McCook. He attended school until 1842, when he entered his father's office as deputy clerk of Carroll county. He studied law in the office of Stanton & McCook, and practised in Steubenville, Columbus, and Cincinnati, Ohio, until 1861, when he was ap- pointed colonel of the 9th Ohio regiment. He participated in the action of Carnifex Ferry, W. Va., Aug. 10, 1861, and was commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned to a brigade in Buell's Army of the Ohio. He com- manded the 3d brigade under Gen. George H. Thomas at Mill Springs, Ky., Jan. 19, 1862, where he was wounded. He accompanied his brigade across Tennessee from Stevenson to Delchard. and although ill he refused to return to Nashville, and