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


Gustaye Cook was born IN Lowndes coun-
~. Alabama. July 5, 1885. Nathaniel Cook,
his father. was native OF South Carolina.
Tor twenty-five years Judge OF the circuit
court Of Alabama. planter and slave
holder. His mother, Harriet Anthony Her
bert. was The daughter OF Thomas Herbert
aud Elizabeth Hampton of South Carolina
HIS father and mother We're cousins, his
paternal grandmother being Ellen Hamp-
ton. daughter of Captain Hampton, who
figured at Kings Mountain. in South Caro-
Ina. during the revolution. The family
are related to Senator Wade Hampton, by
both mother and father; he is related to
General Phil Cook. member of congress
from Georgia. and to Colonel HILLARY a.
Herbert. member of congress rom Ala
bama. Walter. his eldest brother, was
captain IN 4 comnany in the Confederate
service, and was killed at Charlottesville.
In 1863. Glrard. another brother, now
prominent LAWYER in I-owndes county, Ala
bama. was captain in the Confederate
army. In General Rhodes brigade.
Gustave Cook was not a studious boy.
and was little inclined either to school
or books. At the age OF Il, he came TO
Texas. alone and had neither friend nor
kindred west Of the Mississippi river. His
uncle. James X. Cook. was an officer in
The Texas war for Independence, and was
killed in the service IN 1896. His uncle's
history induced Gustave to crafty his adj
venturous spirit by visiting the Lone Star
State. and his object was to be a soldier
He arrived IN the State without money
but soon made acGuaintances. Among these
were Three Legged Willie. Ben McCuiloch.
Lamar Burnett. sherman. the Baylors aud
Durlesons with whom he became familiar
and whom he adonted as models. He
grew M with the pioneer Texans. and
imhbcd their spirit and daring.
when he first came TO Texas MS ihteh-
ton was to take mart IN some Of nc
numerous revolutions in Mexico, The lead
crs o' which had their resorts along me
Rio Grande on the Texas border. Th'se
were lawlcss convulsions, the true nature
of which he. being a youth of 10. did rot
clearly understand But he sought counsel
frc m those older and wiser than himself,
and was soon convinced that they present-
ed no legitimate field for chivalric deeds
and heroic achievements. not reluctantly.
therefore he abandoned the idea OF iorlng
in these spasmodc unheayals and preda-
tory revolutions.
For two or three years he clerked In n
drug store and became proficient in that
line OF business This WAS the turning
point In his life and from the date OF his
abandonment OF his boyish desires FOR nd-
venture. he began life OF usefulness
which is now crowned with honor. His as
pirations since then have been TO accom-
plish something In civil life worthy OF his
talent and OF the relations which no sus-
tanned In society How well he has sue
ceeded. this brief biography will show. He
has achieved distinction and a high stand
ing in public estimation, without Compro-
missing his self respect.
At the age Of is. July 10. 1853. he mar
rled Miss Eliza Jones. daughter Of Captain
Randen Jones Texas veteran, Of Fort
Bend county. She was born in that county.
1875, Her mother. Mary Andrus. was OF
French family who moved from Louisiana
10 Texas in 1895. Four children were born
OF this marriage: Ida, born June 20, ls''
was educated at Mobile. married in
Houston. January 81, 1850, to Edwin Kyle,
grandson OF General Edward Burleson;
Mary Herbert. born November ils56' Hen
rletta. born March IL, 1859; Gustavo' born
January %. 1867.
After his marriage, Mr., Cook educated
himself The text bois employed were
snellirg book. Columns arithmetic Hedges
Logic and Wehstcr's Unabridged Diction-
AIRY. His favorite reading was the spec,
tator. thu Federalist Gibbons Rome ana
Thiers' History Of the French Revolution
| The favorite poets of the young student
were Scott and Burns Under the advice
OF his friends. he began reading law IN
/ 1884. without preceptor. But Judge J'hn
Il. Jones kindly directed his iegal s,ueg'
| and he was admitted TO the bar IN lSi5'
| and practleed In the old Austin colony
| district until the beginning Of the civil
| war. Before he was u years OF age ne
| was clerk Of tho district court OF Fort
| pend county for nearly year In lSbd he
| Fort Bend county and served TWO years.
II was after holding these Offices that no
| began the practice Of law as separate
, business and as sole meats OF maiite-
| nance.
In 1861 he enlisted as a private In the
Texas army. and was under Van Dorm in
! the capture OF Federal troops and stores
| In this state. In the same year he be-
came private in the Eighth Confederate
| cavalry. Terry's Texas Rangers. Here re
| was promoted successfully TO be sergeant;
| captain major lieutenant colonel and
| colonel. He Joined General Albert Sidney
| Johnston at Bowling Green. KY. and re-
manned with the Army Of Tennessee up %
| the surrender In 1865. lie was with his
| regiment In over 200 engagements; among
them woodsonvilie. Shiloh. Perryville.
Murfrceshoro chickamarga, Resaca. Mari
eta. Atlanta. Smithyllle, N c.. and Ben
| tnnvilie. in the same State. At Shiloh. his
| right leg was broken by mnsket hall;
| at Pennington. Tenn, he was shot through
| the right arm. and received shot through
l lrh - cd Svp M n