William Artice Cook
(January 11, 1839 - March 19, 1918)
Nancy Elizabeth Evans
(October 23, 1840 - June 12, 1921)
(January 11, 1839 - March 19, 1918)
Nancy Elizabeth Evans
(October 23, 1840 - June 12, 1921)
Photo courtesy of LaVonne Hoel
William was born on January 11, 1839 in South Carolina. He married Nancy Elizabeth Evans on April 14, 1861 in Anderson County, Texas. Nancy was born on October 23, 1840 in Tennessee and was the daughter of John Henry Evans and Nancy Caroline Cantrell.
In 1862, William enlisted in the 20th Texas Cavalry, Company B (Bass') in Palestine, Anderson County. William's brothers James Madison Cook and (Austin) Young Cook, family members Newt and Dock Cantrell, and Dave, Will and John Evans also were members of Company B. According to documents (included below) William's rendezvous point was 80 miles, his horse was worth $225.00 and equipment worth $15.00. William also received $50 in bounty money. William filed for a Pension in Erath County, Texas, Application #32998. According to the questionnaire on the pension application, he served from 1862-1865, one year in the Cavalry and the rest in the dismounted cavalry. His unit was disbanded in Houston, Texas by Magruder. William's family moved to Texas in 1844.
In 1862, William enlisted in the 20th Texas Cavalry, Company B (Bass') in Palestine, Anderson County. William's brothers James Madison Cook and (Austin) Young Cook, family members Newt and Dock Cantrell, and Dave, Will and John Evans also were members of Company B. According to documents (included below) William's rendezvous point was 80 miles, his horse was worth $225.00 and equipment worth $15.00. William also received $50 in bounty money. William filed for a Pension in Erath County, Texas, Application #32998. According to the questionnaire on the pension application, he served from 1862-1865, one year in the Cavalry and the rest in the dismounted cavalry. His unit was disbanded in Houston, Texas by Magruder. William's family moved to Texas in 1844.
A detailed description of the 20th Cavalry is from Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas as follows:
"Twentieth Texas Cavalry
By Matthew K. Hamilton
TWENTIETH TEXAS CAVALRY. The Twentieth Texas Cavalry was recruited and organized in Hill County, Texas, during the spring and summer of 1862. The unit was organized into ten companies of 850 officers and men that were primarily recruited from the counties of Anderson, Navarro, Kaufman, Henderson, Johnson, and Limestone. The original commanding officer of the regiment was Col. Thomas Coke Bass of Sherman, a Mississippi native and outspoken secessionist. The other field officers of the regiment were lieutenant colonels Andrew J. Fowler and Thomas D. Taliaferro and majors Dempsey W. Broughton and John R. Johnson.
The Twentieth Texas Cavalry was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department and served almost entirely in the Indian Territory where it was confronted by Union forces. At times, it was the only non-Indian Confederate unit operating in the Indian Territory. The Twentieth Cavalry took part in more than thirty various engagements throughout the war in both the Indian Territory and Arkansas, the latter where it served on occasion.
During its career, the Twentieth Cavalry served under numerous higher commands. From September to December 1862 the unit was part of Cooper's Brigade, Roane's Division, Army of the West. During this time, the unit participated in its first actions in Arkansas at the battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862. Beginning in January 1863 the unit was moved to the Indian Territory as part of Cabell's Brigade, Steele's Division, District of Arkansas. From April 30 to December 31, 1863, the unit served as part of Cooper's Brigade, Steele's Division, District of the Indian Territory. Throughout 1863 the Twentieth participated in numerous actions in the Indian Territory, including actions at Fort Gibson, Tahlequah, Greenleaf Prairie, Cabin Creek, Honey Springs, and Perryville. The action at Honey Springs on July 17, 1863, was a particularly interesting engagement, because white soldiers were a minority on both sides. The Confederate forces were, besides the Twentieth, primarily made up of Native Americans, while the Union forces comprised primarily African-American soldiers.
Beginning in September 1863 the Twentieth was moved from the Indian Territory to Arkansas to take part in operations against Union Maj. Gen. Fredrick Steele's Little Rock campaign. On September 10 some of the unit was captured at an engagement at Bayou Fourche outside of Little Rock. The rest of the unit retreated south towards Arkadelphia. By December 1863 the unit was back in the Indian Territory where it remained until March 1864.
In March 1864 the Twentieth returned to Arkansas to assist in operations against Union Major General Steele's Camden campaign. Steele's objective was to move south from Little Rock towards Camden in an effort to link up with Gen. Nathanial P. Banks's forces that were moving north from New Orleans. From March 23 to May 3, 1864, the Twentieth took part in every engagement of the Camden campaign including actions at Prairie D'Ane, Jenkins' Ferry, Poison Springs, and Marks' Mills.
After aiding in the successful defense against Steele's Camden campaign, the unit returned to service in the Indian Territory for the remainder of the war. From September 30 to its surrender on June 23, 1865, the Twentieth operated unattached to a brigade but part of Cooper's Indian Division, Army of the Trans-Mississippi. During this time the unit saw action at Prior Creek, Fort Gibson, Cabin Creek, and Boggy Station. On June 23, 1865, the Twentieth Texas Cavalry Regiment was included in the surrender of Confederate Indian troops at Doaksville in the Indian Territory. "
Websites:
Copy and paste the following URLs in your browser for a more thorough history:
URL: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/twentieth-texas-cavalry
Battle of Prairie Grove URL: http://www.thomaslegion.net/battleofprairiegrove.html
Battle of Honey Springs URL: https://www.okhistory.org/sites/hsbattle?full
Battle of Honey Springs URL: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HO025
Battle of Honey Springs on Historynet Has a map and the best description of the battle
URL: https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-honey-springs-decided-control-of-indian-territory.htm
Battle of Cabin Creek URL: https://www.okhistory.org/sites/cabincreek
Battle of Cabin Creek URL: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CA001
Battle of Perryville URL: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=PE021
Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/secondcabincreek
https://www.facebook.com/honeyspringsbattlesite
Books that mention the 20th Texas Cavalry dismounted:
Non-Fiction:Warren, Stephen L. The Second Battle of Cabin Creek Brilliant Victory. 1st ed. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2012.
Christ, Mark K., ed. “All Cut to Pieces and Gone to Hell.” Little Rock, ARK: August House Publishers, 2003, pg 85, 91.
Fiction:
Jones, Douglas C. Elkhorn Tavern. New York, NY: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston, 1980.
The following two Special Orders are part of the "Copybook of Special Orders from Thomas Hindman's Command", 01 Jun. - 18 Dec. 1862. Peter Wellington Alexander Papers, Box 8, Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Columbia University in the City of New York.
Description This copybook of special orders for the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department under General Thomas C. Hindman's command in Little Rock, Arkansas, covers the period from June 01, 1862 through December 18, 1862.
Copies of the Copybook can be found on the Missouri Digital Heritage website, Copy and paste the following URL: : https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mack/id/9478
Special Order No. 26, dated July 10, 1862, ordered Southern Arkansas and Texas troops to be dismounted immediately due to the extreme shortage of forage.
Special Order No. 36, dated July 25, 1862, authorized Maj. John H. Crump to pay the commanders of the dismounted Texas cavalry regiments for the expense of sending their horses home.
William purchased land from his father, the deed is included in William Alexander’s (Click on name to view) information. On December 1, 1875, they moved to Stephenville, Erath County, and then later to Stephens County, Oklahoma.
The 1880 census records show that W.A. Cook, age 41 born about 1839 in South Carolina lived in Erath County, Texas married to Nancy E. Cook, age 39. His parents birthplaces were both in South Carolina. He was a farmer. Children were: William G. Cook, age 16; Nancy C. Cook, age 13; Chenley Cook, age 8; Ellen Cook, age 6; Amanda Cook, age 4; Arabella Cook, age 1; Hettie Cook, age 1.
The 1910 Census records show William, age 71 and Elizabeth (Nancy), age 69, living with their daughter Ellen and her husband James McInroe and family in Rock Creek, Stephens County, Oklahoma.
William died March 19, 1918 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma and was buried on March 20, 1918 in Rock Creek Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. William's death certificate lists the reasons of death being Paralapsis of the pneumo gastric, and senility. The pneumogastric nerve is another name for the vagus nerve. It supplies the pharynx and larynx, lungs, heart, esophagus, stomach and most of the abdominal viscera. Bilateral vagus nerve paralysis causes death. Nancy died June 12, 1921 of typhoid fever in Stephens County and is buried beside William.
William and Nancy’s children:
1. James Andrew Cook; b. December, 25, 1861, d. October, 1866
2. William Glover (Lum) Cook; b. November 10, 1864-June 7, 1935
3. Nancy Ann Cook; b. August, 1867, d. 1914
4. Charles Thomas Cook; b. August 2, 1872, d. May 26, 1940
5. Mary Ellen Cook; b. September 23, 1874, d. February 11, 1952
6. Amanda E. Cook; b. December 18, 1876, d. February 13, 1933
7. Hettie Cook b. March 6, 1879; d. June 16, 1952; married James Isaac Ketchum
8. Arabella Cook – b. March 6, 1879, d. September 28, 1962
9. Sarah Emeline Cook; b. July 27, 1881, d. February 21, 1969
10.Dollie Lee Cook; b. June 5, 1885, d. June 2, 1924
The 1880 census records show that W.A. Cook, age 41 born about 1839 in South Carolina lived in Erath County, Texas married to Nancy E. Cook, age 39. His parents birthplaces were both in South Carolina. He was a farmer. Children were: William G. Cook, age 16; Nancy C. Cook, age 13; Chenley Cook, age 8; Ellen Cook, age 6; Amanda Cook, age 4; Arabella Cook, age 1; Hettie Cook, age 1.
The 1910 Census records show William, age 71 and Elizabeth (Nancy), age 69, living with their daughter Ellen and her husband James McInroe and family in Rock Creek, Stephens County, Oklahoma.
William died March 19, 1918 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma and was buried on March 20, 1918 in Rock Creek Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. William's death certificate lists the reasons of death being Paralapsis of the pneumo gastric, and senility. The pneumogastric nerve is another name for the vagus nerve. It supplies the pharynx and larynx, lungs, heart, esophagus, stomach and most of the abdominal viscera. Bilateral vagus nerve paralysis causes death. Nancy died June 12, 1921 of typhoid fever in Stephens County and is buried beside William.
William and Nancy’s children:
1. James Andrew Cook; b. December, 25, 1861, d. October, 1866
2. William Glover (Lum) Cook; b. November 10, 1864-June 7, 1935
3. Nancy Ann Cook; b. August, 1867, d. 1914
4. Charles Thomas Cook; b. August 2, 1872, d. May 26, 1940
5. Mary Ellen Cook; b. September 23, 1874, d. February 11, 1952
6. Amanda E. Cook; b. December 18, 1876, d. February 13, 1933
7. Hettie Cook b. March 6, 1879; d. June 16, 1952; married James Isaac Ketchum
8. Arabella Cook – b. March 6, 1879, d. September 28, 1962
9. Sarah Emeline Cook; b. July 27, 1881, d. February 21, 1969
10.Dollie Lee Cook; b. June 5, 1885, d. June 2, 1924
William and Nancy's Marriage License filed in Anderson County, Texas Volume 4, page 137
The following 10 pages are William Artice' Pension Application in Erath County, Texas
"The Lawton Constitution" Newspaper, Monday, June 13, 1921 page 1
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Confederate pension records for William's family members:
James Madison Cook, Sr; Application # 19546, Anderson County, Texas
Austin Young Cook: Application #11327, Anderson County, Texas
John Alexander Evans; Application #27229, Anderson County, Texas
Susannah Evans; Application #40474, Anderson County, Texas
James Madison Cook, Sr; Application # 19546, Anderson County, Texas
Austin Young Cook: Application #11327, Anderson County, Texas
John Alexander Evans; Application #27229, Anderson County, Texas
Susannah Evans; Application #40474, Anderson County, Texas
Sources:
Anderson County, Texas Marriage Records Volume 4, page 137
Crist, Mark. K., editor, "All Cut to Pieces and Gone to Hell The Civil War, Race Relations, and the Battle of Poison Spring"; August House Publishers, Little Rock, pgs. 85, 91.
Edwards, Whit. "The Prairie Was on Fire", Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, 2001.
"The Tracings", Anderson County Genealogical Society, Palestine, Texas. Volume 1, #1 Winter 1982, pages 6-9; 23
"The Tracings", Anderson County Genealogical Society, Palestine, Texas Volume 10 #1 January 1991, page 4; 20-21
Fold3.com; National Archives Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas, Publication M323, Catalog 586957, Record Group 109, Roll 0107. URL: https://www.fold3.com/image/10645762
Confederate Pension Applications, Texas State Library and Archives Commission; URL: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/pensions/introcpi.html
Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Confederate Pension Applications. Cook, William Artus Pension #32998 Erath County, URL: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/pensions/introcpi.html#SearchIndex
National Park Service Soldier & Soldier Database
URL: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=987CF78F-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
"The Lawton Constitution" Newspaper, Monday, June 13, 1921 page 1
Certificate of Death Oklahoma State Board of Health Register 495 for Nancy Elizabeth Cook, April 28, 2005
Certificate of Death Oklahoma State Board of Health Register 30 for Wm. A. Cook, April 28, 2005
1860; Census Place: Beat 7, Anderson, Texas; Page: 61
1880; Census Place: Erath, Texas; Roll: 1302; Family History Film: 1255302; Page: 55C; Enumeration District: 151
1900; Census Place: Alexander, Erath, Texas; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0070; FHL microfilm: 1241631
1910; Census Place: Rock Creek, Stephens, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1275; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0244; FHL microfilm: 1375288
Anderson County, Texas Marriage Records Volume 4, page 137
Crist, Mark. K., editor, "All Cut to Pieces and Gone to Hell The Civil War, Race Relations, and the Battle of Poison Spring"; August House Publishers, Little Rock, pgs. 85, 91.
Edwards, Whit. "The Prairie Was on Fire", Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, 2001.
"The Tracings", Anderson County Genealogical Society, Palestine, Texas. Volume 1, #1 Winter 1982, pages 6-9; 23
"The Tracings", Anderson County Genealogical Society, Palestine, Texas Volume 10 #1 January 1991, page 4; 20-21
Fold3.com; National Archives Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas, Publication M323, Catalog 586957, Record Group 109, Roll 0107. URL: https://www.fold3.com/image/10645762
Confederate Pension Applications, Texas State Library and Archives Commission; URL: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/pensions/introcpi.html
Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Confederate Pension Applications. Cook, William Artus Pension #32998 Erath County, URL: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/pensions/introcpi.html#SearchIndex
National Park Service Soldier & Soldier Database
URL: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=987CF78F-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
"The Lawton Constitution" Newspaper, Monday, June 13, 1921 page 1
Certificate of Death Oklahoma State Board of Health Register 495 for Nancy Elizabeth Cook, April 28, 2005
Certificate of Death Oklahoma State Board of Health Register 30 for Wm. A. Cook, April 28, 2005
1860; Census Place: Beat 7, Anderson, Texas; Page: 61
1880; Census Place: Erath, Texas; Roll: 1302; Family History Film: 1255302; Page: 55C; Enumeration District: 151
1900; Census Place: Alexander, Erath, Texas; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0070; FHL microfilm: 1241631
1910; Census Place: Rock Creek, Stephens, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1275; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0244; FHL microfilm: 1375288