JAMES A. COOK, Caldwell County, was born in Christian County, Ky.; February 18, 1833. His paternal ancestors came from Germany in an early day and settled in Franklin County, Va., in which State his grandfather, Benjamin Cook, died many years ago. His father, John W. Cook, was born in Virginia about the year 1796. He came to Kentucky about 1830, and settled in Christian County, where he acquired a handsome fortune. He was a large slave holder, and at one time took an active part in political matters. His death occurred in 1857. Subject's mother, Mary E. Cook, was a daughter of Anthony Street. She was born in Franklin County, Va., and died in Kentucky in the year 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Cook reared a family of seven children, named as follows: Eliza A., wife of George W. Duvall; Sarah M., wife of Dr. W. O. Stokes; Virginia, deceased; Susan, deceased; J. A., subject; Mary E., wife of L. D. Husbands, of Paducah; and John W., of Caldwell County. J. A. Cook remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. His early education was received in the schools of Princeton and Princeton College, which last institution he attended several sessions. He chose the farmer's vocation as his life work, and at one time paid taxes on 1,900 acres of land in Caldwell County. He was married, July 10, 1856, to Miss Lydia Pettit, daughter of Thomas G. and Mary (Gray) Pettit, by whom he had three children, viz.: Mittie, John and Susan, none of whom are living. Mrs. Cook died November 8, 1863, at the age of about twenty-six years. February 14, 1865, Mr. Cook married Miss Addie Pettit, sister of his former wife. This union has been blessed with the birth of nine children: Florence, James A. (deceased), Dow Husbands, George (deceased), Harry Woodson, Frank (deceased), Edwin, Addie Cope and Jack Grace (deceased). In 1878 Mr. Cook moved to Paducah, where he remained five years, and then moved back to Caldwell County and purchased his present farm, five miles south of Princeton. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics votes with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Christian Church of Paducah.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 693-694.