Calhoun County AlArchives Biographies.....Crook, J. M. August 1847 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 14, 2004, 3:52 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    J. M. CROOK, one of the leading physicians of Calhoun county, was born in
Alexandria, Ala., in August, 1847. He is a son of John M., and Margaret (Miller)
Crook, both natives of South Carolina. John M. Crook, Sr., was born in 1810, and
came to Alabama in 1834. Though always declining office himself he took an
active part in politics; but he was a delegate to the secession convention in
1860, and took an active part in its deliberations. He was both a farmer and a
lawyer. The Crook family came originally from Wales. James Crook, Sr., the
grandfather of John M. Crook, was reared and educated in South Carolina, and
represented Spartanburg district at different times in both branches in the
state legislature. He married a Miss Owens, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent, and
after removing to Alabama purchased large tracts of fertile lands and devoted
himself to farming. Samuel Miller, the father of Mrs. Crook, was a soldier in
the Revolutionary war. He and his wife, who was a Miss Dean, were both of
Scotch-Irish descent. The ancestors on both sides of Dr. John M. Crook, were
among the first to take up arms in defense of the colonies. Among these
ancestors were Crook, Owens, Dean and John Miller, all in what is now
Spartanburg county. They were all great-grandfathers of Dr. John M. Crook. The
first three served nobly through the war, but John Miller was killed by Indians
and Tories in 1775. He left one son, Samuel Miller, who took part in the battle
of Cowpens, and was the maternal grandfather of Dr. John M. Crook. He afterward
served as sheriff of Spartanburg county, when that officer had to perform the
duties now performed by the clerk and probate judge. Dr. John M. Crook at the
age of fourteen years was sent by his father to the university of Alabama, and
remained there two years. In 1864, he enlisted in the state troops, his company
being organized later into a company of scouts. He was with Gen. Johnston in his
retreat a short time, and afterward with Hood when he returned to Tennessee,
serving until the close of the war as a scout. After the war was over he
returned home, and began going to school at Jacksonville, but he attended only a
short time, being compelled on account of his father's death to take charge of
the plantation. In 1873, he and his half brother, now Judge Emmet F. Crook,
formed a partnership and established themselves in the mercantile business,
which they conducted until 1878, when he retired from the firm. In 1876 he
married Miss Anna Whatley, daughter of Col. G. C. and Ann (Crook) Whatley. Col.
Whatley lost his life at the battle of Sharpsburg in making a charge with his
company, which was a part of the Tenth Alabama. Col. Whatley had been one of the
foremost lawyers of his county. To the marriage of Dr. Crook with Miss Whatley,
there was born one child, Anna Lee, the mother dying at the birth of her child.
Dr. Crook was much grieved at the death of his wife, and was never fully
satisfied as to the cause thereof. In order to satisfy himself as to the cause
he began the study of medicine, and the more he studied the more interested he
became in the study. While pursuing this study he determined to become a
physician, and in 1883, entered the college of Physicians and Surgeons at
Baltimore, Md., graduating in 1885. After spending one year in the hospital he
returned to Jacksonville, and began the practice of his profession at his old
home. He now has a large practice and is one of the most successful
practitioners in the county. In 1891 he established a drug store in
Jacksonville. In April, 1890, he married Miss Louise Rankin, daughter of James
and Agnes Rankin, both natives of Scotland. To this marriage there has been born
one child, Agnes. Mrs. Crook was born and reared in Columbus, Ga, but was
educated in Scotland. Dr. Crook is a member of the Baptist church, and he is
also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Honor. He served
as mayor of Jacksonville three years, resigning his office as mayor to attend
college. He has been a member of the town council about six years. He is a
member of the Calhoun county Medical society, of the board of censors, and also
of the State Medical association. He is also a member of the College of
Counselors of the state.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 590-592

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