My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Jacob E. Cooksey, sheriff, was born in Fauquier County, Va., February 10, 1828, the son of Warren and Hannah (Hunsicker) Cooksey, the former of Scotch stock, born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1803, and the latter of German-English origin, born in 1805 in Virginia. The father married in 1826, and in 1835 came to this county and entered 160 acres in Canton Township. He worked at his trade together with farming, in 1841 moved to Tully, and for two years carried on the cooper business and a distillery. In 1843 he returned to the farm, and five years later moved to La Grange, but returned the next year, and died in December following. He owned 110 acres at the time of his death, and was a man who worked from fourteen to seventeen hours per day. The mother died in June, 1886, in California, where she had gone with her daughter in 1871. Our subject, the second of twelve children, was seven and one-half years old when they came to this State. Jacob remained at home after his father’s death, and cared for the family until they matured. In October, 1858, he married Imeld, daughter of Dr. Loring and Mary (Smith) Lusk. She was born in Mercer County, Penn., in 1838. Their children are Warren L., John and Nellie. He erected a stave and barrel factory in Canton, in 1854, and for two years manufactured barrels, to the number of 200 per day, and shipped them to Quincy, Keokuk and Warsaw. After five years of dry goods clerking he followed butchering until 1864, and then was connected with a livery stable for two years, after which he bought a half interest, and continued until 1874, when he was elected constable, serving until his election as sheriff in 1884. He has served efficiently ever since. He is a Democrat, has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-seven years, having taken all degrees, and has been a Methodist since 1850. His wife died March 11, 1887.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

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