KNOWN TOMBSTONE CARVERS OF PA: B.B. Cook & J.R. Cook Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Bill Plack 14 Jan 2007 Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/cemeteries/tscarvers/cook-gb.txt http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/tscarvers/cook/cook-gb.htm _______________________________________________ G.B. Cook J.R. Cook The Cookstown Cutters (Biography and Photographs contibuted by Bill Plack) George Thurston’s 1859 Directory of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Valleys tells us that Fayette City was founded by Col. Edward Cook, who came to the area in 1770. The town was first settled in 1794 and laid out by Col. Cook who called it Freeport. The name was later changed to Cookstown, and finally, around the 1850’s, to Fayette City. Thurston notes that in 1859 the town included 2 churches, 2 hotels, 2 fraternal lodges, a public school, 12 stores, 3 inactive glass works, and three quite extensive marble works, although he only lists two of them. One was the Fayette City Marble Works at 3rd Street near Market, operated by George B. Cook, whose residence was at the corner of California Street and Connellsville Road. The other marble works was only identified as James R. Cook, marble cutter, whose shop was at the corner of 3rd and Fording and residence at Second near Fording. Some of the tombstones I have found that are signed by G.B. and J.R. Cook are marked “Cookstown, Pa.” and others are marked “Fayette City, Pa.”. Although it is possible that George and James Cook were related to Col. Cook, the records indicate that neither of them was his son. However, it does seem quite likely that George and James were closely related to each other, possibly brothers, since two of James’s children had the same name as George and his wife, Amanda. This advertisement appeared in Thurston’s Directory: G. B. Cook, Fayette City Marble Works, Fayette City, PA, Manufacturer of Monuments, Tablets, Tomb Stones, Mantels Furniture Tops, &c. The first quality of grindstones always on hand 1860 U.S. Census information for George Cook family in Fayette City, Fayette County, PA: George Cook, 46, marble cutter Amanda, 36 Mary, 17 Henrietta, 15 Cassius, 13 Anna, 10 John, 8 Rebecca, 6 Amanda, 3 Anna, 1 1860 U.S. Census information for James Cook family in Fayette City, Fayette County, PA: James Cook, 38, marble cutter Isabel, 28 Amanda, 10 James, 8 Woodison, 6 Elizabeth, 5 George, 3 Emma, 1 Some known examples of G.B. Cook’s tombstones: Elizabeth Finley, 29 July 1857, 34y 6m 28d, Rehobeth Presbyterian Cemetery, Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland County John Blythe, 5 March 1850, 88th year, Rehobeth Presbyterian Cemetery, Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland County Jacob Coder, 18 March 1851, 72y 5m 10d, Hoffman Cemetery, South Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland County Susannah Frick, 22 July 1856, 60th year, Hoffman Cemetery, South Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland County Thomas O. Jordan, 24 October 1849, 29y 5m 15d, Belle Vernon Cemetery, Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland County Hannah Jordan, 28 October 1850, 68y 10m 12d, Belle Vernon Cemetery, Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland County Some known examples of J.R. Cook’s tombstones: Lt. ?.J. Cunningham, 7 April 1865, 26y 7m 16d, Rehobeth Presbyterian Cemetery, Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland County Stephen Westcoat, 17 March 1863, 80 years, Little Redstone Presbyterian, Jefferson Twp, Fayette County Mary Ann Coats, 29 March 1826 – 21 February 1870, Little Redstone Presbyterian, Jefferson Twp, Fayette County