Notizen zu dieser Person
[Final.ftw] Daniel J. Cook was one of the pioneer settlers in the Little Cataloocheearea. Although little reliable information is available concerning hisearly life, it is known that he was born on 4/21/1831 in easternTennessee, probably in the area of Cosby. By the early 1850's he was inwestern NC, and on 7/25/1854 he married Harriet Caldwell. About 1856 Daniel and Harriet settled on 100 acres of Love estate landon the upper portion of Coggins Branch. An additional 31 acres werepurchased in 1885. The Cooks erected a log house which served as thefamily home for some fifty years. Dan Cook was primarily known in his community as a talented carpenterand cabinetmaker. He was an expert axman, and it is said that he cut thecorners and hewed the logs and puncheons for several of the best housesand barns in the area. Dan also made furniture of cherry wood, amaterial he much admired. Beatrice Burgess Sisk (Dans granddaughter),who was frequently in the Cook home during her childhood, recalls thatDan had made beautiful furniture decorated with intricate carvings. Heprovided his household with a corner cabinet of cherry adorned with amoon and star motif, as well as other pieces such as a dresser, a spindlebed, and severalchairs. He also made most of the shoes worn by thefamily and, of course, was a subsistence farmer. In 1891 Dan provided for the divison of his property among three of hischildren. Racheal received the homeplace, and promised to care for herfather and mother for as long as they lived. In 1895 Harrison R. Cooksold his property ti Will and Rachel Messer and subsequently left LittleCataloochee. Harriet died of pneumonia on October 25, 1903, and Dan died of canceron January 17, 1908. Both were buried in the graveyard of the LittleCataloochee Baptist Church. Three of the Cooks' daughters, Hester B.Burgess, Rachel M. Messer, and Sarah who married Samuel Hall had elevenchildren each. Chain of Title for the Daniel J. Cook Property: According to the 1928 survey conducted for the Great Smokey MountainsNational Park by W. N. Sloan, the Daniel J. Cook tracts consisted of131.49 acres. Cook received deeds for his property from the Love estateon October 22, 1877 and April 1885. On April 18, 1991 Dan devied his property among three of his children.Rachel received 43.38 acres, including the homeplace house, although Danand Harriet retained use of the house "so long as either of them lives".This property passed to W. G. B. Messer upon his marriage to Rachel in1894 and remained in his ownership until the establishment of the Park.Messer constructed a large stone and wood apple house on this propertyabout 1915. This portion of the Cook estate is identified as tract 231ain the 1928 Park survey and was taken to the Park Commision on January 6,1930. Hester Cook, who married John Burgess in 1891, received 35.25 acres,and this property remained in the hands of the Burgess family until theestablishment of the Park. This portion of the Cook Estate is identifiedas tract 234. It was taken by the NC Park Commission in May 1929.Members of the Burgess family continued to occupy this property after1929 by paying $50 per year rent to the Park. Harrison Cook received the third portion of the Cook estate of 52.86acres. On December 14, 1895, he sold his land to W. G. B. and RachelMesser for the sum of $350. This tract remained in Messer's ownershipuntil the establment of the Park and is identified as tract 231b. This,along with the other Messer property, was taken by the NC Park Commisonon January 6, 1930. Dan Cook served during the Civil War as Corporal in the 62ndRegiment Company A, under Cololnel Robert Love. He was captured and heldat the Douglas POW Camp in ILL. until the end of the war.
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