The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-16

Rev. William Henry Cooke, DID,
for thirteen years pastor OF tho Second
Presbyterian church, OF Wheeling, died
about q o'clock yesterday morning oil
diphtheria
Dr.. Cooke had not been entirely well
all summer. lIS spent his vacation in
the mountains, and returaoI about a
month ago considerably refreshed and
improved. A week ago last Sunday ha
was taken sick after the morning SER
vice, and went to his room q. the Nc
Lure house. His illness was not re-
Garded as serious. DIR. Bolvillo attend,
cd him, and while his sickness was stub
born, no serious result was anticipated
until last Thursday, when, after con-
sultation OF physicians the doctors dis
ease was pronounced diphlherIa. This
fact was kept worry Quot to prevent
alarm among tho guests OF the hotel.
1t was not until Monday evening that
DR., Cookies illness took serious turn.
About n. m. on that day no began to
sink, and he did not rally, aud died az
stated shortly after daylight, His
physician spent the entire night at hiS
bedside.
The news Of his death caused a severe
and general shock. Few people knew
that no was i'll. aud fewer that he was
At all seriously i'll.
Dr. COOKIES CAREER
RaE. DR.. William Henry Cooke was a
naive Of Baltimore, and was born in
1889. His father was Mr.. John Cooke,
OF that city, and tho son was reared to
manhood there. lie received his edu.
cation in tha,public schools Of Balu'
moro and graduated from tho city coll
lego there. Ho was at first inclined to
the law, and while reading taught school
in tho vicinity OF his native city. lie
felt call to the ministry, however, and
in spite OF opposition by his friends
and many adverse circumstances, no Gu
tered upon his studies tor the church.
In 1855 he Joined the Central Presby'
terrain church OF Baltimore, OF which
Rev. DR.. stuart Robinson was then pas
TOR. In 1859 he entered the theological
seminary A. Danville, Ky. lie was
licensed to preach in April, 1861, BY the
Pennsylvania presbytery, and on Juno
10, 1862, was ordained by the presby.
terry OF New Castle as pastor OF the
church OF Port Deposit, Md. His next
charge was at Havre dc Grace, which
no held from 1867 to 1882. On Octo Der
% OF tho latter year he was installed as
pastor OF the second Presbyterian
church OF Wheeling, a position Wa'ch
no hiled up to the time Of his death.
The degree OF doctor OF divinity was
conisrred upon DR.. Cooke by Center
College, Of Kentucky. He was married
June 80, 1858, to Mary ". Hitchcock, OF
Havro de Grace. On November II, 1885,
Mrs. Cooke died at their homo in this
city. Three children were the result oil
the union-Charlss Bartol, William
Brown and Mary Hitchcock, OF whom
the two frat named survive MIN.
William is now at Princeton college,
whilo Charles is = civil engineer.
DR.. Cooke was probably tho most
popular minister in Wheeling, not only
in his own congregation and denomina.
tion, but among non-church going peo'
pie. He was noted Tor his practical
charitieg. Tho poor looked upon him
as q friend. Nobody was so humble and
forIRksn that he could not come within
the pale OF his Christian benoyoleuce.
At funerals OF those who had not the
claim Of any regular church connection
upon a pastor no was. usually tho oticl.
aIing minister. Many affecting stories
arc told OF his minissratious under such
circumstances.
DR.. Cooke had held many prominent
positions in prosbytery and synod and
at the timO OF his death was member
OF the synodical committee on susten'
tation.
While not brilliant pulpit orator
he was earnest, logical. sincere and
effective IN his discourses. lie was q
learned man, close student, yet prac'
tical observer Of tho world about him,
and no will be remembered moro ior
his Astounding sympathy with all mon,
his Christian love tor the people, than
for his achievements as pastor, though
his ministry hero Wal eninensly sue
csssiul and satisfactory. lie was the
minister OF tho masses, the pastor oil
any who had need OF hia aid.