Chattahoochee-Muscogee County GaArchives Biographies.....McCook, Joshua Ryle 1806 - 1854
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 1:28 am

Author: N. K. Rogers
JOSHUA RYLE McCOOK

    As none of Mr. McCook's descendants have definite recollections or records
of his personality and achievements, the information embodied in this sketch was
obtained from several sources, but principally from his obituary in possesson of
his granddaughter, Mrs. W. I. VanHorn.

    Joshua Ryle McCook born April 20, 1806 died Oct. 10, 1854, married Miss
Sarah King, daughter of John King, who lived in that corner of Chattahoochee
nearest the line of Talbot County. Mr. McCook was a well known citizen of this
county, to which he came in 1828 (then Muscogee) and where he remained until his
death.

    The house he built though in a dilapidated condition, is still standing. The
fine old trees still stand sentinel both at the old home and the cemetery near
by, guardians of the mute evidence of activities of former generations.

    Mr. McCook was a South Carolinian by birth, a Georgian by adoption. He
possessed strong traits of character worthy of notice, which made him bold and
daring in enterprises that won for him a great amount of earth's treasures,
though ht commenced life with a widowed mother and her family to support.
(Census of 1850 shows him to be one of the wealthiest men of this county).

    He was a man of integrity and though his education was limited, he possessed
an intellectual mind with sound philosophical reasoning. He took a keen and deep
interest in the cause of education and especially in the schools of his
neighborhood.

    His name was one of the school committee of Muscogee County for the year
1839, as given in Martin's History of Columbus, (Ga.)

    He was not an enthusiast, yet he was a warm-hearted religionist of the
Primitive Baptist denomination, to which he was always ready to contribute, of
which church he was a member for fifteen years—at Mt Paran.

    His admonitions to his children were always good and to the last he
entreated and exhorted them to the practice of virtue and "honesty His whole
life was such as eulogists can not too highly praise and commend to others.

    He died in the 49th year of his age of a complication of diseases. He bore
his afflictions with fortitude and resignation and spoke often and freely of his
approaching end. He said, 'though I have some strong ties on earth, yet, if it
is my Lord's will to remove me, I am ready and willing."

    To mourn his irreparable loss, besides his many friends, he left eight
affectionate children and his kind, benevolent and beloved wife, who stayed
beside him during the whole of his sickness and adminstered to his every want.

    A few words about his wife, who was known in her community as "the best
woman in the world" will not be amiss. Those living today who remember her, call
her Mrs. Whittle. For two years after the death of Mr. McCook, she married Mr.
James Whittle, another pioneer resident of Chattahoochee County.

    She was always first to visit the sick, bereaved and afflicted as near or as
far as she and her good horse could find the trail leading to their doors. For
upon such ministrations of mercy as well as when attending church and visiting
her neighbors she was accustomed to ride horseback, and it is said she knit as
slie traversed the country lanes and roads.

    Habits of industry and benevolence were so deeply implanted in the lives of
Mr. and Mrs. McCook, that these characteristics still predominate in the lives
of their descendants, among the best known of them in Chattahoochee County being
the children of Mrs. Martha McCook Harp, who has herself been spoken of often,
as "one of the best women in the world."


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA
By N. K. Rogers

Dedicated to

KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C.

and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers.

Copyright 1933

by N. K. ROGERS

PRINTED   BY
COLUMBUS  OFFICE  SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA.


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