The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-23

ut Bentonville he was shot through tho
right shoulder the ball lodging in the rear
Of the lungs. He received six or seven
wounds during the war, and the scars he
wears tell tale of courage and gailahtry
and hcroism far more eloquent than me
praise OF his biographer. He had voted
for secession and offered his life TO secure
it.
When Colonel Cook reached home, at the
close of the conflict in 1865. he was
mere wreck, weighing only lis pounds
Broken down in health, he was also
bleeding from his wounds every hour IN
the day Nor was this all, he was ruined
in fortune and involved in an enormous
debt and he Immediately prepared to re-
trieve the one AMI discharge the other
though the latter alone required fourteen
years.
Colonel Cook resumed the practice Of law
at his old home and continued there until
his removal to Houston. 1870, where until
lately he resided. In 1872 he was elected
member OF the Thirteenth Legislature OF
Texas. He has been a delegate from Har-
ris county to every democratic State con-
venton uD to the time of his assuming
the duties of judge
In 1874 he was by Governor Coke ap-
pointed Judge Of the criminal court for
the district OF Galveston and Harris col n
ties. which position, by reappolntment OF
Governor Hubbard. he held until October
and 1t was accepted. He was delegate
TO the democratic State convention at Gal
weston. In 1876, and opposed any action on
the part of the convention looking to the
Endorsement of the constitution then about
TO be submitted to the people, He vas
delegate from Texas to the Philadelphia
peace convention in 1866. In politics he
has always been democrat OF the States
rights school. voted for secession. and tav-
ored the reconstruction policy Of President
Johnson In the legislature he opposed the
land grant to the Texas and Pacific Rail-
way company
During his incumbency as Judge OF the
criminal district court of Galveston and
Harris counties. the great eXc'e1aent IN
labor circles throughout The United States
occurred. Judge Cook conceived IL 10 oe
the line of his duty as preserver of the
Public peace. to make some expressive
declarations upon this subject. which he
did In the public press Of his district.
In 1887, upon the urgent solicitation OF
the executive committee Of the anti-pro-
hihition organization. Judge Cook took the
stump in opposition to the proposed amend
ment to the constitution prohibiting the
manufacture and sale Of spirltuous Ninons
and malt liquors in Texas. In pursuance
o. the programme, which they laid
down. he canvassed a great portion OF the
State. travelling about $500 miles. making
forty odd speeches. varying in length from
an hour and three quarters TO two hours
and a half In fifty-sX days.
During the campaign Of lSSS at the re-
quest of the committee Judge Cook assist
ed in the campaign toward the recollection
of Hon. Roger Q. Mills to congress. ara
made eight or ten speeches in mis- district.
Judge Cook was n member of the F1is-
copal church. with a decided tendency
tendency to the Catholic faith which ms
wife and two children have embraced. HIS
eventful life and his frequent and almost
miraculous escanes from death attracted
his attention to his relation To his Deity,
and the dispensations OF Providence toward
him. he was also ROYAL Arch Mason
and honored and practiced the rules OF the
order. AS an orator. he had but Few equals
in Texas and as iurist, no superior
AS an evidence o, his legal learning ana
acumen il can he truthfully said that his
decisions were always sustained and his
judgments affirmed by the court OF appeals
when appeals were prosecuted.
After his candidacy for governor. Judge
Cook retired from active poli'ics-prac-
ticallv-though he took an active part IN
the Hogg- Clark campaign. and devoted
himself to his practice and family.