Bio: James W. Tooke, Bienville Parish Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by Kay Thompson Brown ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ JAMES W. TOOKE Parish Clerk Sparta, La. Like many other representative citizens of Bienville Parish, Mr. Tooke owes his nativity to Georgia, his birth occurring ,May 22, 1834, and was thoroughly educated in the Collinsworth Institute, Talbot County, Ga. When twenty-two years of age he started out as an agriculturist, and was married December 14, 1859, to Miss Mary E. Smith, a native of Georgia, who died December 14, 1866, leaving one child, Walker. This child died at the age of twenty-five years. Mr. Tooke left his farm to enter the Confederate army, enlisting in Company B, Arcadia Invincibles, Twelfth Louisiana Infantry Volunteers, under Col. Thomas Scott. This regiment was ordered to Columbus, Ky., where Mr. Tooke and three of his comrades joined it. He was in the following engagements: Second battle of Corinth, Champion's Hill, Jackson, and numerous other engagements and skirmishes. Mr. Tooke was detailed as commissary, and was also in the Quartermaster's department. He was in constant service for about four years, and during that time never made a visit home. After returning from the war, he resumed his former occupation, and this has been his chief calling in life. He was married, the second time, March 20, 1868, to Mrs. Nannie L. McDonald, a native of Georgia, and one son was born to this union, Burt (who was educated in Mount Lebanon University, and who is now a successful farmer). Mrs. Tooke died June 12, 1871, and Mr. Tooke was married to Miss Sarah C. Bell, a native also of Georgia, born in 1848, their nuptials being celebrated November 20, 1874. The fruits of this union were the births of seven children-four sons and three daughters: J. W., Gussie B., Charles Emery, Thomas Bell, Mary A., Jessie M. and Casper. In his early political life Mr. Tooke was a Whig, and since the Rebellion he has been a stalwart Democrat. He has not been an active politician until recently, and his aim is at all times to support men of principle and integrity. He is at present the parish clerk of Bienville Parish, La., being elected to that important office in 1888, and has filled that position in an able and efficient manner. He is a prominent man in the parish, and has filled many positions of trust, among which are deputy assessor, deputy registrar, clerk of registration, deputy clerk of the district court and deputy tax collector. He also held the office of magistrate for seven years, prior to filling his present position. He has been closely allied with the interests of the parish for years, and is a valuable man in the history of the same. He, as well as his estimable wife, is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Tooke is Sunday- school superintendent of his home school. He has been a resident of Bienville Parish since 1854, and here expects to pass the remainder of his days, among the many who respect and esteem him. He is one of nine children, four now living, named in order of birth, born to his parents, James Jefferson and Sarah (Wimberly) Tooke, natives of Georgia, and born in 1811 and 1814, respectively: James W. (our subject), T. A. (resides in Homer, La., and is a mechanic; he is married), John F. (is married, and is engaged in planting in Mount Lebanon), and Fannie E. (resides in Florida, and is the wife or George F. Walker, a general merchant). Both parents are now deceased, and both were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.