Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-24
A BIG FAMILY
OF FIGHTERS
Seventeen of the Mecooks, Of Lisbon,
Ohio, Rose to Distinction in
Their country's Service.
BUT ONE PRIVATE AMONG THEM
Charles Maurice Mecook Died in the
Ranke After Being Offered a
l~ieutensnt's Commission.

Lisbon, Ohio. June 19.-The great
est honor the old town of Lisbon en-
Joys is found in the fact that 1t was
the birthplace and home Of 1.-THE Fight
ngMcCooks."
The McCooks are n of the most
remarkable families in the United
States, not to say the world, distin-
guished as citizens and as soldiers
and contributing sixteen members of
the family to the Union army during
the civil war, of whom all but one
we're commissioned officers and sew
eral reached very high rank. The one
exception, who served as a private,
did so from choice, having declined
a commission as lieutenant. There
"the Tribe of DAN and the
Tribe of John" from their respective
two brothers, Major Daniel and
DR.. John McCook-Scotch-Irish Pres
byterians, descended from George Nc
Cook, a refugee from Ireland in 1880
the defeat Of the United Irish.
of which he was a conspicuous
member. George McCook settled In
Pennsylvania and became a prominent
citizen, an elder in the Presbyterian
church and one Of the founders OF
Jefferson college. His eldest son, Dan
iel McCook, after graduating at Jefer'
son, went to Ohio and settled at Lis.
bon, where he married Martha Lati.
mer, a descendent Of Hugh Latimer,
the martyr of the English reformation,
who, with Ridley, was burned at the
stake at Oxford, England, Oct. 16,
1855. A handsome monument now
stands in the center Of the little square
in which they we're burned.
The following is the muster roll OF
the Fighting McCooks." There were
no towards among them, and no black
sheep:
/. Daniel McCook was a lawyer
one of the founders of the P~resbyter
ian church at Lisbon and a man Of
great influence in this community
When the war broke out, although 6,
years of age, he was n of the frs
to offer his services to the govern
ment, was commissioned a major, ant
on July 21. 1868, died from a wount
received In a skirmish with an ad
vance party of Morgan's raiders. MINI
of his sons followed him into thu
army, as follows:
2. Latimer A. McCook, a graduate
of Jefferson college, major and surg
con of the Thirty-frst regiment, Hin
OILS Volunteers John A. Logan's regi
ment) who served through the wa
and died Aug. %, 1869, from injuries
received during the siege Of Vicks
burg, which were aggravated by ex
posture and fatigue during Sherman,
march to the sea.
8. George Wythe McCook, the sec
ond son, a lawyer for several years
a partner of Edwin NJ. Stanton a
Steubenville. attorney general Of Ohit
from 1854 to 1856. Democratic candi
date for governor of that state in 1871
lieutenant colonel of the Third Ohit
during the Mexican war and brigadiel
general during the civil war. He diet
at Steubenville Dec. %. 1877.
4. John James McCook, graduated
at the United States Naval Academy
midshipman on the United States fri
gate Delaware; died on shipboard IL
consequence Of exposure while OF
duty, and buried in the English bury
ing ground in Rio De Janeiro.
5. Robert Latimer McCoOk, born
at Lisbon, studied law with Edwin M
Stanton at S~teubenville, entered tn,
army in 1861 as colonel of the Nintf
Ohio Volunteers; promoted to brig
adler general; commanded a brigad,
in the West Virginia campaign ant
fell mortally wounded by a band o
guerrillas Aug. 6. 1862.
6. Alexander Mcdowell McCook, tn,
fifth son. who died at Dayton the 9th
er day, was the most distinguished
soldier in the family. He graduated
from West Point in 1852. served II
several Indian campaigns; was ap
pointed colonel of the First Ohio reg
iment at the beginning of the civi
war, became a major general and rem
dered conspicuous service in various
fields until he vas retired.
Z. Daniel McCook, Jr., was the Law
partner of General w. T. Sherman
and Thomas Ewing at Leavenworth
Kan, when the civil war began, en-
tered the army in 1861 as colonel @
the Fifty-second Ohio. led the assault
at Kenesaw Mountain SO CALAMITY tina
he was made a brigadier general, bu
never assumed his new command, hav
ing been MORALLY wounded in tn,
charge, He died July 81, 1864.
8. Edwin Stanton McCook gradu
ated at the naval academy at Annap
oils and was a naval officer when thu
war broke out, but, preferring the &C
tivity of a soldier to life on shipboar1
resigned from the navy in the sprin,
of 1861, went to Illinois, recruited
company for John A. Logan's Thirty
first Illinois regiment, and succeede,
Logan in several grades of command
his final rank being mat of major gen
eral. At the close of the war he re
moved to Dakota, and was appointe,
governor of that territory by Presi
dent Grant. He was fatally shot Il
a riot at Yankton while presiding owe
a public meeting.
9. Charles Maurice McCook lef
Kenyon college before he was 1
years Of age to serve as a priyat,
in the Second Ohio Infantry, in spit
OF the fact that he was rendered a
officers commission in the regula
army. He was killed in his first ba,
tie, Bull Run. July q, while fghtin
by the side of his father.
10. John James McCook, the mint
and youngest son, left Kenyon co
lege at the age of l6 to enlist In tn
Sixth Ohio Cavalry. served throug
the war and came out in 1865 as
colonel before he was 81 years OLE
He then returned 10 Kenyon, compile
ed his studies. graduated from tn
Harvard law school and has sine
achieved distinction M the bar In Ne,