Walter Grier Cool

Story of Walter G. Cool

Walter Cool, patriarch of the Cool family in Webster County, was born in Franklin County, VA on 04-Nov-1802. The identity of his parents remain unproven, although there is documentation that indicates Mary Cool Hosey, daughter of Conrad Kuhl (born in Germany) is Walter's mother. In 1825 he came to the Right Fork of Holly River, bought extensive tracts of land on both sides of the river, and became a gentleman farmer in the best tradition of the Appalachian frontier. On 01-Sep-1825, he married Hannah Clifton, daughter of Holly River pioneer John Clifton. They settled on a farm about three miles northwest of present day Diana. Today, the homestead remains in the hands of Cool family members. ----- As the wealthiest citizen on Holly River, Walter Cool was involved in the political effort to establish Webster County between 1852 and 1860. When the Virginia Assembly approved the Webster petition in Jan-1860, Walter immediately became a candidate for high office. In May-1860 he was elected as the first sheriff of Webster County. When the American Civil War began a year later, Walter cast his lot with old Virginia and opposed breakup of the state. ----- Walter Cool was said to have gone with several others to Marlinton WV area, and stole a herd of horses from the Union army, was later arrested for this and sent off to prison. On 20-May-1862, Walter was arrested in Webster County by a Union patrol lead by Capt. Moses Hall and charged with being a Confederate partisan. One researcher got the transcripts of the trial of Walter concerning the horses. The theory in it seems to be that the thief could have been Walter's son Cornelious -- there was a strong resemblance between the two men. In the transcripts it appears that there was a lot of circumstantial evidence that was used to convict him. The military trial of Walter Cool was held in Clarksburg and ended with a sentence of "death by hanging". Shortly following his trial, Walter wrote letters from his jail cell to his family. He was moved to a P.O.W. camp -- Camp Chase (Columbus), Ohio. Walter was part of a prisoner exchange in Vicksburg, Mississippi; Dec-1862. He died somewhere reportedly around Wytheville, VA while trying to return home to his family and farm. His final resting place remains unknown. ----- In 1999, Walter Cool was recognized by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for his service as a southern partisan. Walter Cool's military record has now been approved, and descendants may now join the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy) or the SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) once personal lineage is documented and approved. ____________________________________________________________