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Note: ickname that helped to distinguish from his father John Cooke, Sr. and his own son John often called "Little Jack." John, Jr. came with his parents John and Nellie Cooke, the first settlers of Wyoming County, in or around 1798/9 to settle on land a mile west of present day Oceana. He, like his father and brothers, was active in the political life of the area. In 1824, he was appointed as one of the justices to organize Logan County and later was active in 1849-50 as one of the fourteen justices who established Wyoming County. That organizational meeting took place at his home at Oceana on March 22-23, 1850. According to the Reference Book of Wyoming County History,the home of John Cook, Esq. was designated as the offical meeting place of a court until a courthouse could be provided. He was a farmer who according to county records owned substantial holdings of land. He and his wife settled on family land lying between the McDonald Plantation (present day Westside HS)and Oceana. He ranged stock on the Huff Creek land. He and Jennie raised eight children at that site. According to the early land grants, John Cooke's property was initially listed as part Giles County, which had been part of Tazewell County. John Cooke, Jr. 180 acres Guyandotte R 1811 John Cooke, Jr. 25 acres S.E. side Big Bottom Fk. of Guyan 1827 John Cooke, Jr. 32 acres Elk Br. of Big Bot. Fk. 1827 John Cooke, Jr. 104 acres Clearfork of Guyan 1835 Information taken from Land Books of Logan and Wyoming state: 1824 John Cooke, Jr. 210, 180 acres These place names existed when the Welch-Mndervile--Dubous land grant for 90,000 acres was made in 1795. In this conveyance, Guyandotte River is called Big Laurel Fork, Laurel Fork is called Little Laurel, and Clearfork is called Big Bottom Fork. The first school in the county was also established and held on his farm, perhaps at the insistence of his wife Jennie Albert who could read and write as evidenced on their marriage bond where she had written information. The date of her death is unknown, but by the 1850 census, John is 72. He is listed as the head of the household, however, his household consists of George Walker, 25, Mary Mainer, 50, Nancy Mainer, 15, and Deliah Mainer, 13. This led the county historian to suggest that perhaps he was a widower with a hired hand and housekeeper living with him. His oldest daughter Nellie (1806) had married William Brooks, the first school teacher in the county. John Cooke, Esq. was also appointed overseer of the poor in 1850 in Magisterial District 1, which included Big Huff Creek, the Clearfork, and Laurel Fork of Guyan.
Note: John Cooke, Jr, was often referred to as John Cooke, Esquire or "Old Jack," a n
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