Morton Blaine Cook

Morton was a Spanish-American War veteran. He returned to Wyoming County where he served as a teacher and Justice of the Peace in Wyoming County. He married India Walker and became the father of nine children. Family recollections state that he suffered from arthritis. Before his period of declining health, he apparently was well-liked by his sons and their friends. Jim Gunter and Sydney Gunter related a story about going camping and fishing on the Guyandotte River with the Cook boys, Ralph, Raymond, Barbe, and Shorty when Mr. Cook "treated them like men by allowing them to drink coffee." Family story says that he died unexpectedly in his house, leaving his wife India to raise their children. One son, Romeo, was alreadiy working away from the home in Elkins, WV, when he was found dead in a bath tube at the age of 19, not so long after his father had died. His body was brought back to Pineville by train. Others present on that day recall Mrs. Cook weeping loudly.

Blaine was the son of Lain Shannon Cook, grandson of Richard Madison Cook. He was born June 7, 1880 and died July 26, 1938 in Wyoming County, WV.

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 20 2022, 11:48:40 UTC