Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-03


years her enchanting image has
wholly absorbed his heart; and asks
in delirium of despair, ,chat he
shall do to assure him of the reward
of his long and devoted affection for
her. The Tuscarora maiden, in the
spirit of Boadicea, thus replies to
him:
If you sincerely wish my favor
Then you possess patriot mind
Your country droops, advance to save
her,
Nor signing, linger here behind
Hear the inspiring shouts of praise
On to glory loud they ell you !
See youthful heroes crowned with bays
Their envied lot may yetbeiall you.
Robert Cockburn died on Cock
burn Hill in 1924, in the 10th year
Of his age.
JOHN r. COOKE was born in 17SS,
in Bermuda, the son of DR.. Stephen
Cooke and Catharine Esten. He
came with his parents to Alexan-
dria, thence to the vicinity of Lees
burg where his father had a place
called the "Forest." He never went
to college, as his eyes suddenly fail
ed him whilst preparing for it. He
settled in Martinsburg about 1910,
where he commenced the practice of
law. In 1914 he was selected to the
House of Delegates from the county
He married in Martinsburg
daughter of Col. Philip Pendleton,
and continued his residence there
for period of nearly twenty years.
He subsequently removed from this
county to Winchester, thence to Bal.
timore and thence to Rich mond.
Enjoying high degree of popularity
political position might with him
have been matter of easy attain
ment, but earnestly devoted to his
profession, he resisted the appeals of
that character which were frequently
made to him. He was with great
unaminity elected member of the
constitutional convention Of Vir-
ginia Of 1880, and there exhibited
the nerve and ability to grapple with
such intellectual giants as Leigh,
Upshur, Randolph and Tazewell in
the discussion of the great question
OF extended suffrage and equal rep
resentation, before that body. His
professional abilities were of the
highest order and universally recog-
nized. In the celebrated Randolph
will case argued in 1886, his great
and peculiar powers of argumenta-
ton were strikingly exhibited. E.
V. Sparhawk, the reporter of that
trial, a very competent judge, and
who heard all the arguments in the
case, thus speaks Of Mr. Cookies
effort: at was mastery produc-
ton. He classifies and expounds his
facts with great strength and clear
ness and arranges his authorities
and arguments in the most forcible
manner. His method of arguing
is superior to any man at the bar.
Instead of dividing his strength up.
Oh the separate points, his whole
speech was but one point, for the
I support of which, all the other vari~
Gus facts and consideration of the
case was brought together in pyra-
midal strength and harmony"
Mr.. Cooke was a bold, trenchant
and vigorous writer. His able and
elaborate pamphlets published in
1925, entitled 1.-The Constitution of
1916" followed by "Th- Convention
Question" in 1927 and then again by
IAN earnest Appeal to the friends
of Reform" in 1928, attracted the at.
tention of the whole State to him,
and largely contributed to the pas
sage of the law, organizing the
Constitutional Convention Of 1929
and 80, of which he himself was an
active and conspicuous member.
Mr.. Cooke opened the great debate
in that body by an unsparing attack
upon the then existing constitution
OF Virginia, land asserted for himself
beyond all question, the position of
leader Of the friends of Reform, in
a body composed of the ablest men
from Western Virginia.
In 1885, he yielded to the importu-
nifty of his friends and very reluct-
antly accepted the Wing nomination
for Congress in this District. Once
accepted, however, he entered into
the canvass with his usual and char
acteristic energy and pluck. His
address to the people in the several
court houses of the District, were
models Of lucid statement, pungent
invective and eloquent demonstra-
ton. The writer of this heard his
address in Martinsburg. The court
room was crowded to excess. Not
a man stirred or left the hal! during
the two hours that he was speaking
1t was one of the most logical, per-
spicuous and powerful arguments
that he ever hurled from the hust-
ings.
No one was better qualified to
judge of his intellectual merits than