I want to thank Sheila Cook-Clay for sharing the information about her Cook family with us.

Thomas Hughes Cook, was born 6 May 1831 in South Carolina in either Edgefield or Union County. He died 11 Nov 1907 from a self inflicted gun shot would in Pickens County, Georgia. He is buried with his wife in Bethany Baptist Church Cemeter in Jasper, Georgia. Thomas had donated this land land to the church. In 1853 he married Julia Ann (/Julian) Lodossia Bowen who was born in either March or May of 1829 and died 11 Jun 1905/06.

We do not know anything about the parents of Thomas Hughes Cook, but we do know that he had a brother named Samuel Crozier Cook, who was married to Missouri Catherine Crocker and that they lived and died in Cherokee County, GA. Since Pickens County was created from Cherokee and Gilmer counties in 1853, it is possible that Thomas was also in Cherokee/Gilmer and ended up in Pickens County without ever moving. We believe there may be a possibility that he is related to Richard V. Cook also of Pickens County but have not proved that connection as yet.

Thomas weighed about 200 pounds, had a long beard and "a lot of Irish in him". He was a Baptist, a Republican and a hard worker. During the Civil War he served with Company C, 43rd Regiment, Infantry, Army of Tennessee, Pickens County, Georgia. He enlisted as a Private on 19 May 1862. During the war, Thomas and another man took shelter from a storm in a shed, they were both court marshaled and due to be hung, Thomas escaped but the other man did not and was hung. On 19 April 1864 Thomas took the Oath of Allegiance to the US Government at Chattanooga, Tennessee. While it is not known exactly when he returned to Georgia, we do know that he was here by the time the 1870 census was taken in Pickens County, GA, where he is found on page 3.

The children of Thomas and Julia Ann Bowen Cook who were all born in Pickens County are

1. Martha Ann, b. 1854/d. ?//m. James A. Aiken-Mar 1874
   
2. John Henry, b. 27 Mar 1855/d. 18 May 1934//m. Dialthia Timmons 25 Nov 1897
   
3. Samuel Eli, b. 3 Mar 1857/d. 18 Sep 1938//m. Mary Caroline Green
   
4. Joseph Eldert, b. 11 Apr 1858/d. 4 Aug 1919//m. Sara Casadina Cornelison
   
5. Thomas U., b. Aug 1861/d. ??//m. 1. Alma V. Taylor 3 Feb 1884; 2. Rosa Belle Fuller 10 Apr 1904
   
6. Rhoda C., b. 17 Apr 1864/d. Jun 1866
7. Annie Isabella, b. 4 Oct 1866/d. Feb 1947//m. James P. Timmons
   
8. Malinda, b. Aug 1869/d. ??//m. 1. Charley Ware - 24 Jun 1884; 2. Eli J. Coffee - 1889

Samuel Eli Cook, the son of Thomas Hughes and Julia Ann Bowen Cook, was born 3 Mar 1857 in Pickens County, Georgia and died 15 Sep 1938 also in Pickens County. He married on the 30 Aug 1877 Mary Caroline Green, who was born 22 Apr 1862 and died 26 Mar 1947, she was the daughter of Benjamin F. and Mirah Weatherby Green. Samuel Eli and Mary Caroline are buried in the Bethany Church Cemetery in Jasper, Pickens County, Georgia. Their children are:

1. Thomas Jefferson, b. 6 Aug 1878/d. 19 Mar 1960//m. 1. Mollie/Mary L. Cowart - 17 Nov 1901; 2. Emma Burlison
   
2. William Frank, b. 10 Feb 1880/d. 24 Feb 1969//m. Lula Carney - 1 Sep 1901
   
3. Henry Ervin, b. 18 Apr 1882/d. 7 Feb 1965//m. Laura Louvenia Moody
   
4. Benjamin Hughes, b. 25 Apr 1884/d. 9 Feb 1966//m. Myrtie Moody - 12 Aug 1905
   
5. Crozier Walter, b. 30 Aug 1886/d. 11 Mar 1966//m. 1. Ora Fee Sizemore - 18 Jul 1909; 2. Hattie ??; 3.???; 4.???; 5. Miss Love
   
6. Delsia Esteller, b. 16 Jul 1889/d. 27 Sep 1990//m. Harvey Mote Chambers - 2 Jan 1910
   
7. Stella Mae, b. 2 Oct 1892/d. 10 Mar 1962//m. James Hobson - 11 Nov 1911
   
8. Pearlie Magnolia, b. 27 Agu 1894/d. 20 Oct 1979//m. Grover Pettit - 7 Jan 1912
   
9. Barbara Agatha, b. 20 Oct 1896/d. 18 Mar 1956//m. 1. Author Roland - 14 Oct 1917; 2. Joseph Columbus Cagle - 13 Jun 1920
   
10. Ralph Hubert, b. 18 Aug 1899/d. 29 Sep 1957// m. Mamie Alice Townsend - 17 Oct 1917
    
11. Samuel Hugo, b. 28 Apr 1902/d. 1 May 1902
    
12. Julia Caroline, b. 1 Sep 1903/d. 28 Sep 1988//m. William Jethro Denson - 4 Jun 1933*
    *For information on William Jethro Denson, see the Richard V. Cook family, thru son Gazaway, thru his daughter Ader Jane.*

Crozier Walter Cook, the son of Samuel Eli and Mary Caroline Green Cook, was born 30 Aug 1886 in Pickens County, Georgia and died 11 Mar 1966 in either Guin or Winfield, Alabama. He was married about 5 times. The first was Ora Fee Sizemore, who was born 26 Apr 1893 and died 2 Mar 1942, buried in Guin, Alabama. She was the daughter of Daniel Elderidge and Rebecca I. Markham Sizemore.. The children of Crozier and Ora Sizemore Cook are

1. Robert Lloyd, b. 23 Jun 1910 AL/d. 22 Aug 1990 AL//m. Emma Georgia Cook - 21 Aug 1937
   
2. Dovie Jane, b. 31 Jan 1914 AL/d. 19 Jan 1989 AL//m. Roy Gilliland - 24 Sep 1937
   
3. Ruby Rebecca, b. 2 Oct 1919 AL/d. 22 Mar 1995//m. Coy Lester Gilliland - 5 Jun 1936
   
4. Private (Sheila Cook-Clay's father)

Samuel Crozier Cook, was born in South Carolina on 30 Dec 1829 and died 8 March 1910. He married Missouri Catherine Crocker, who was born 11 Nov 1837 and died 6 Apr 1921. Both are buried at the Shoal Creek Cemetery in Cherokee County, Georgia. Samuel served with Company G, Cherokee Legion during the Civil War. The children of Samuel and Missouri Crocker Cook are

1. William Elbert, b. 31 May 1855
   
2. Henry Worth, b. 8 Jan 1857
   
3. Nancy Jane, b. 23 Dec 1858//m. Jim Payne
   
4. Laura Ann, b. 9 Mar 1861
   
5. George Thomas, b. 3 Jan 1863
   
6. Mary Missouri, b. 12 May 1865//m. ?? Brown
   
7. James Samuel, b. 8 Mar 1868
   
8. Lucindy, b. 29 Apr 1870
   
9. Rosella Melinda, b. 6 mar 1872//m. Jim Blalock
   
10. Aplhoretta, b. 10 Apr 1874
    
11. Robert Wesley, b. 1 Jun 1876//m. Ada Walker 27 Sep 1894
    
12. David Charmer, b. 17 Jul 1879//m. Barbara Chambers 5 Nov 1895
    
13. Effie Catherine, b. 25 Sep 1882//m. Henry Blalock 4 Jul 1897