USGENWEB PROJECT ARCHIVES: TENSAS PARISH LOUISIANA http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/tensas/ --------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm --------------------------------------------------------- Lewis Holloman Cook, Crystal Springs, MS, then Tensas Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller AUG 2001 Lewis Holloman Cook. During the past few years the movement of plantation property in southwestern Louisiana has been so large in volume as to center the attention not only of realtors of other sections but of large business interests, particularly agricultural, diversified farming being of moment to commercial bodies as well as to private land owners. In this activity Tensas Parish has been well represented by private capital, a notable example being the purchase in 1918 of Mayflower Plantation by Lewis Holloman Cook, a thoroughly trained agriculturist who during the past six years has proved his investment to have been a wise one. Mr. Cook was born August 31, 1893, on his father's cotton plantation at Crystal Springs, Mississippi, son of Gilbert M. and Ella (Pierce) Cook, who reared a large family, of which he is second youngest. One of his brothers W. D. Cook, who is agent for the Ford automobiles in Scott County, Mississippi, was cashier of the bank at Forest for fifteen years, and is now president of the bank at Morton, Mississippi. Another brother, Gilbert P. Cook, is a Ford dealer and a banker at Canton, Mississippi. The family has been one of financial and social importance in Mississippi for many years, and the parents still survive. Lewis H. Cook completed his education at Mill-saps College, Jackson, Mississippi, and when his father was ready to retire, in partnership with his brothers he purchased the old home plantation on Pearl River, near Crystal Springs, which they conducted until 1918 and then sold, following which Mr. Cook bought Mayflower Plantation in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, and took possession of it. This property comprises 1,285 acres of beautifully situated land, surrounded and drained by such streams as the Choctaw, Little Choctaw, Van Buren and Black Bayous, with soil unbelievably fertile and capable of producing enormously under scientific management. Mr. Cook and his wife, formerly Miss Christine Chapman, of Courtland, Mississippi, resides on the plantation and have everything very comfortable around them. They belong to Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church at Delta Bridge, Mr. Cook being one of the church stewards. While in college Mr. Cook took an active interest in the Pi Kappa Alpha Greek letter fraternity and still maintains membership in this organization. In political sentiment he is a democrat but is not active in politics beyond the demands made upon him by good and loyal citizenship. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 16, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.