Navarro County, TX - Biography - 1845-1901 Sarah Francis Cook, Idiot- Navarro Co., TX Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************************************** Our Sarah Francis Cook, sixth of seven children born to Henry & Mary Polly [Goodson] Cook, she was born about 1845, probably in Navarro Co., TX; Her mother died in between 1860 and 1870, and her father married Effie Jane [McPhaul] Prosser June 1870 in Navarro Co., TX, a widow with two young sons,. Sarah continues to live at home at least until her Father Henry died in 1883. By 1876, Sarah Francis Cook has been judged (Insane) and her affairs are being administered by a Guardian, Attorney Bryan T Barry of Navarro Co., TX. Her care is being paid for from proceeds of sale of lands given to her by her Father in 1861, payments being made to Henry and 2nd wife Effie Jane for Sarah's care and clothing. It is unclear where Sarah went after Henry passed away. The Guardian Bryan T Barry is still filing annual reports for Sarah’s care and board until 1899 when he files his final report and requests to be discharged as her Guardian, but the record is unclear, she may be living at the Poor Farm in Terrell, Kaufman Co., TX. Soon after Bryan T. Barry is discharged as guardian in 1899, Attorney, R.E. Dodson files for Guardianship of Sarah’s estate in Navarro Co., TX . Several other Attorneys also file for Guardianship papers over the next few years extending beyond her 1901 death. And as quoted from information provided by a Cook Cousin "Marolyn I Armstrong", who provided this portion of the information; “Sarah Cook was arrested from the "poor farm" and on the 12th of August, 1901. The State of Texas vs. Sarah Cook: a jury of 6 found her "of unsound mind. "I find this amusing, since on every Texas census she had been listed as "an idiot." Her "self-appointed guardian", W.J. Weaver, of Navarro Co., knew she was of unsound mind, and wanted her portion of Henry's estate. I will quote from one article that I found. "To the Honorable County Court of said County (Kaufman), your petitioner W.J. Weaver, a resident citizen of Navarro Co. TX, respectfully shows to your honor, that Sarah Cook, who is now a resident citizen of Kaufman Co., TX, is of unsound mind, that she has some property situated in Navarro and Williamson Counties, State of Texas, and is without any lawful guardian of her person or estate. That condition is such, as to render it necessary that this court appoint a guardian to take charge of her property for the welfare of herself and in justice to the county and general public". To make a long story short, they summoned a jury, found her of unsound mind, and then had to set the order aside and cancel it,....WHY? Sarah was found dead in the county jail on Friday night, 16 August 1901!!! Among other things, one of the questions the jury answered was, #2 If the defendant is of unsound mind, is it necessary that she be placed under restraint? Answer: YES.” An Order to have Sarah committed to the Asylum in Kaufman Co., is part of her court records, but of course it was too late. It's just my opinion, but I feel this may have contributed to her death. In the testimony of F.W. Anderson, the county sheriff of Kaufman County, he said "for the welfare of herself and others, that she be placed under proper restraint". He goes on to say, "I regard her as a person of unsound mind-and is in delicate health". I feel if she were in delicate health, she wouldn't have been much of a threat. Up to this point, her previous guardian, Mr. Barry submitted copies of receipts for her care and sold 569 acres of the Cook League in Milam and Williamson Co. When Mr. Dodson was her guardian, he sold a small interest in land in Leon, Jack and Navarro Co. There was only one claim filed in the estate of Sarah Cook. It was by a Mr. Wood Nash for burial expenses. I'm sorry this is so lengthy, but I always wanted to know what happened to Sarah. She died at the age of fifty-two and to me, the most important thing I found out was that "our Henry" DID DIE in Navarro County, TX. In a letter to the court from John D. Lee, he states he is an attorney at Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX. "I am well acquainted with the family of defendant. Her father was Henry Cook, died several years ago in Navarro Co." There we have it! Henry didn't go to Mexico, he died in his beloved Navarro County, TX. I have not located his resting place, as yet! Marolyn Armstrong We know that Sarah Francis Cook died in Kaufman County, TX, and her burial expenses were $51.60 , paid by a bank in Corsicana, to 'Wood Nash', in Kaufman Co., TX. There is no record of which cemetery she buried in. Usually there were no costs associated with the burial of a person at the Poor Farm, leading me to believe she was not buried at the Poor Farm, but at a private cemetery. It is believed that Sarah was at the Poor Farm in Kaufman County, waiting to be placed at the North Texas Insane Asylum in Terrell, Kaufman County, by the Court. [This story of Sarah Francis Cook, is very sad, it is a shame that she had to live under those conditions. Her story also brings us to the understanding of how Mental Illness was treated in that place and that time. ]