Milton Cook Research

This post is to help me keep track of the research I have been doing to try to figure out what happened to Milton Cook. Husband to Olive Amanda Smith, Father to Chauncey Harvey  Cook.

      Story:
                Very little is known about how Milton and Olive Amanda Smith met and came to be married. One source has said they haven't been able to verify that they were married. Here is what I have been able to verify. Olive Amanda Smith was born to Martha Allen and Hawley Decker Smith on 16 September 1826  in Fabius, New York. Her father Hawley Decker Smith passed away sometime between  1825-1826. I haven't found a death certificate or grave site yet to verify.
                Martha Allen took her 2 children To Washtenaw, Michigan where she married David Henry Orser in 1832. David wanted Olive to marry his son Hiram Orser from a previous marriage. Martha and David didn't approve of Milton. Milton and David were in the same trade, construction, and were competitors. I'm not sure if Olive met Milton in Michigan or in Illinois but they met. Martha Allen and David Henry Orser moved their blended family to Hancock County Illinois sometime before 1843. The 1840 Census has 1 David H Orser living in New York. I do not believe this to be the husband of Martha Allen because it states that there was 1 male under 5, 2 males 20-30, and 1 female 20-30 and their blended family was much bigger and older than this.
               In about late 1842 Martha Allen and David Henry Orser  went to visit friends in New York. They left Olive home and she and Milton snuck off and "got married in a neighboring town." We don't have town where they lived or where they got married so finding the neighboring town has been difficult. A book about Utah Pioneers at the Daughters of Utah Pioneer museum said it has never been confirmed that they even were married. Olive then returned to live with her parents and didn't tell them that she was married for a few months. "A few months later" she discovered she was pregnant and then told them she had married. They were upset and sent her away to Nauvoo to live with an aunt.
               Milton tried to look for her but wasn't able to find her. Once he finally did she had joined "the hated Mormons" and was working in the Nauvoo hotel. I'm not sure if she had had the baby at this point or not. Milton and his sisters tried to convince Olive to leave and come live with him but she had already joined the Mormon church and refused to leave. He left and was never seen again. Their son, Chauncey Harvey Cook was born 26 November 1843.
               In a few places it is said that he died in Springville Utah in 1883. I have not found this to be creditable. I believe it stems from someone claiming that his father is Peter Fullmer and mother Susanah Zerfass. This is incorrect. John Solomon Fullmer is the second husband of Olive Amanda Smith is the son of Peter Fullmer and Susanah Zerfass. They were married in Nauvoo in 1846 after she had been his first wife. Susannah Zerfass's maid. The Fullmer Family cemetery is in Springville Utah. There is no picture of the grave and as far as I could find there is now mention of a Milton Cook being buried there in 1883

Now the search begins!

If you have any information about Milton Cook that you would like to share let me know.

I have decided that as I find a Milton in Census records, or through marriage certificates and I will rule them out. Below are listed what I have found and where I am in that process.


I didn't save all the sources for each Milton Cook but I have found either a marriage license or some sort of proof for the majority of what I have researched. I haven't found any birth certificates but have found the parents listed from different family trees or on marriage a marriage license.

Milton Cook - Born Indiana 22 Dec 1822-1892 Vermillion Grove, Illinois
           Father Isaac Peter Cook
           Mother Eleanor "Nellie" Thornton
https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L7Y2-S36 
           https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:96FZ-GH3
           Wife Rebecca Goodwin married 1841
           Wife Minerva J Harris married 1848
           Wife Charlotte Ryan married 1851
           Wife Eleanor Reid married 1866
Obituary - http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?new=1&gsfn=Milton&gsln=Cook&rank=1&gss=angs-g&mswpn__ftp=Vermilion+County%2c+Illinois%2c+USA&mswpn=2989&mswpn_PInfo=7-%7c0%7c1652393%7c0%7c2%7c3247%7c16%7c0%7c2989%7c0%7c0%7c&msbdy=1822&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=23540&recoff=5+6&db=HaverfordQuakerJournals&indiv=1&ml_rpos=9 

Record of the family being accepted into the Quaker MM in Vermillion, Illinois 
https://familysearch.org/photos/images/15132952?returnLabel=Previous%20Page&returnUrl=javascript%3Awindow.open(%27%27%2C%27_parent%27%2C%27%27)%3B+window.close()%3B

* This same Milton is also listed with Greenbury Cook and Ruth Reece as his parents

Milton Cook - Born  in New Hampshire 4 March 1822 - 
Birth Certificate https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-155590-6?cc=1542861
             Father Greenbury Cook
             Mother Ruth Reece

            Wife Rebecca Goodwin married 1841
            Wife Minerva J Harris married 1848
            Wife Charlotte Ryan married 1851 
           Wife Eleanor Reid married 1866

            1860 Census Records Vermillion Illinois
                     Milton Cook 38 born in Indiana
                     Cholotee Cook 27 born in Indiana
                     Threassa J Cook 6 born in Illinois
                     Analisa Cook 11 Born in Indiana
                     Clara Cook 4      born in Illinois
                     Jessae G Cook 1 born in Illinois
                     Infant Cook 0 born in Indiana
                     John Ryan 19 born in Indiana
Obituary - http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?new=1&gsfn=Milton&gsln=Cook&rank=1&gss=angs-g&mswpn__ftp=Vermilion+County%2c+Illinois%2c+USA&mswpn=2989&mswpn_PInfo=7-%7c0%7c1652393%7c0%7c2%7c3247%7c16%7c0%7c2989%7c0%7c0%7c&msbdy=1822&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=23540&recoff=5+6&db=HaverfordQuakerJournals&indiv=1&ml_rpos=9 
***This Milton is not the Milton that married Olive Amanda Smith unless he did it in secret. He was still married to Rebecca Goodwin until she passed away in 1847?

***This Milton is not the Milton that married Olive Amanda Smith unless he did it in secret. He was still married to Rebecca Goodwin until she passed away in 1847?


Milton Cook born 1822 * Not the Milton Cook that married Olive Amanda Smith unless he did it                                                  in secret. 
            Father Edmund Cook (Ephraim Cook and Sarah Merrill are his parents)
            Mother Clarissa Mitchell
            Birth Certificate - http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=nhbirthrecs&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=Milton&gsfn_x=NN&gsln=Cook&gsln_x=NN&msbdy=1820&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=2&cp=0&MSAV=1&uidh=y5r&pcat=34&fh=0&h=92672&recoff=8+9+41&ml_rpos=1
              1st Wife Martha P. Schoff born 1814-1884
                      married in             
             2nd wife Wife Mary Bulkley
                    married in 1886 
             Marriage license Of Milton Cook and Mary Bulkley
                                  http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=vtvitalrecs&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=Milton&gsfn_x=NN&gsln=Cook&gsln_x=NN&msbdy=1820&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=2&cp=0&MSAV=1&uidh=y5r&pcat=34&fh=0&h=913783&recoff=7+8+44&ml_rpos=1
            Children of Edmund and Clarissa 
                                                     Sarah 1816
                                                    Nancy 1817
                                                    Charles 1819
                                                    Milton 1822
                                                    Henry 1824                       
                                                    Gilman 1826
                                                    George 1830
                                                   Angeline 1838

 1860 Census lived in Bloomfield Vermont
               Milton Cook 38 born in New Hampshire
               Martha S. Cook 45 born in Vermont
               Henry Cook 11 born in Vermont
               Abner Howard 39 born in Vermont
               Cora Howard 6 born in Maine
     1870 Census
             Milton Cook 48 Born in New Hampshire
             Martha Cook 54 born in Vermont
             Henry Cook 21 born in Vermont
             Amanda Blodgett 63 born in Vermont
https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AMilton~%20%2Bsurname%3ACook~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1820-1821~
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/9090499/person/559105525/photo/85db50dc-f720-4d1b-b86b-2a56c901f785?src=search

*** This Milton is also listed with the same parents but different wife

*****Milton Cook born in New York in 1820-1869
                 Father -
                 Mother - 
                 Wife - Sarah A West Born 1822 
                                  married 20 April 1845 in Monroe NY
                 children 
                              Mary Cook born 1853 in Ohio
                              David William Cook 1862
                              Susan Elizabeth Cook Seeffer Hackrader 1847
                                              married John H. Harkrader and burried in Monroe Cemetary, Ohio
                      possibly Florence M. Cook born 1876 in Ohio to an M.A.E. Cook and Sarah C. 

           1860 Census Record
                     Lucas Ohio 
                         Milton Cook 40 born in New York
                         Sarah Cook 31 born in New York
                         ? Cook  12 born in Ohio (probably Susan)
                         Mary Cook 7 born in Ohio
           1871 Pension Record https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTY5-77T?i=2279&cc=1919699

M A Cook in 1940 Census Hancock County Illinois.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12895-137712-37?cc=1786457 

              I believe this to be Milton Cook. It's a huge assumption and census takers weren't always extremely accurate. 

Milton H Cook - born in 1822 in Ohio

        Father - 

        Mother- 

        Wife - Mary born in 1822 in Ohio

                 married in 

       Children 

                 George

                 Sylvester

                 Clarand 

                 Charles

                 Hannah 

                 Ira

                 William

       1840 Census 

                 Milton H Cook Males 1 under 5 1 20-30 Females 1 under 5 1 20-30

        1860 Census Ohio

                  M H Cook 38 born in Ohio

                  Mary Cook 38 born in Ohio

                  George Cook 16 born in Ohio

                  Sylvester Cook 14 born in Ohio

                  Clarand Cook 12 born in Ohio

                  Charles Cook 10 born in Ohio

                  Hannah Cook 8 born in Ohio

                  Ira Cook 4 born in Ohio

                  William Cook 1 born in Ohio

***I do not believe this to be the Milton Cook I am searching for because his first child was born before 1840.
** Possibly Milton H. Cook 1812 in Virginia DIed Cincinnatic Ohio1889 married to Mary Margaret F. Morgan 1836-1851 Married Isabella C. Bishop died 1898 All buried in the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati Ohio/ Built the Cincinnati Court house

Milton Cook - Born about 1829 in Indiana

            Father - Jesse Cook 1793-1859

            Mother - Hannah Marshall

            Wife - Martha Hadley 

                     Married in 1852

             Children 

                     Lydia 1853-1889

                     Susannah 1854-1880

                      Jessie Ann 1856-1932

                      Abner B. Cook 1859

                      Rebecca Jane 1861

                      Rhoda Edith 1863

                      William H 1866

                       Mary Etta 1869

Lydia E Cook (possibly the Lydia born in 1853) was a member of Quaker North Branch Preparative and is listed in White Lick Monthly meetings in Indiana

* Information on the Jesse Cook Family http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mygermanfamilies/CookJesse.html

Milton Cook Born 1832 Not him

        Father-
        Mother-
        Wife Cynthia T. Burton Married October 27, 1952
             https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCVS-B5X?i=70&cc=1410397
        Children - 
               Clara A Cook 1856           
               Martha J. Cook 1859
               William Cook 1852
               Harley E. Cook 1867 born in Indiana https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6D9H-14W?i=2453&cc=1417505
              Joseph C. Cook 1869
              Virgil B. Cook 1871
              Tillia Cook 1875

Milton Cook Pension File
Widow Cynthia T. Cook Indiana
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TY5-7TZ?i=2277&cc=1919699

Milton Cook 

        Father - 

        Mother - 

        Wife - Louisa A

         married in 

          Children 

                 Edwin Cook 1848 born in Massachusetts 

                 Mary Melvina Cook 1845 born in Massachusetts 

                 Caroline Cook 1861 born in Massachusetts 

                  Walter Eugene Cook 1865 born in Massachusetts 

                 Emma Cook 1853 born in Massachusetts

Milton A Cook 1820-1854 - died before Civil War *Most likely not- ruled out by DNA testing

         Father -

         Mother -

        Wife - Laura Porter born in 1822

              married about 1845 in Jefferson NY

           Children 

                 Louisa Cook 1846-

                 Eliza Cook 1847-

                 George M Cook 1849-

                 Milton L Cook - 1852 (married Carrie G. Higgins)

                 Marvin Cook 1854 - 

1850 Census records Jefferson NewYork

            Milton Cook 30 Born in New York- Census record says his occupation is a carpenter and __ 

            Laura Cook 28 born in New York

            Loisa Cook 4 Born in New York

            George M Cook 1 born in New York

1860 Census Theresa, Jefferson, New York
            Samuel Porter 76 Farmer
            Lucy Porter 78
            Laura Cook 38
            Melvin D. Cook 6 

New York 1865 Census
            Laura Cook 43
            Milton Cook 13
            Melvin Cook 11
            Samuel Porter 83
            Lucy Porter 84

Samuel Porter and Lucy Spalding Family Tree

Searched 1860, 1870, and 1880 Census records on Ancestry and couldn't find any record of this family anywhere in the USA. 

According to International Genealogical Index (IGI) database, FamilySearch Milton A. Cook and Laura Porter were married in 1845 probably in Theresa, Jefferson, New York and Milton A Cook's father is George P. W. Cook. It also states he died in 1853. 
                                 Possible Parents for George P. Cook Ephraim R. Cook 
                                                                  George W. Cook Gideon Cook
George W. P. Cook Family 1801-1879
Father:
Mother:
Wife: 1st wife unknown

Children:
Milton A. Cook




2nd Wife: Margaret Hay
Married 25 Nov 1837 Clark Missouri 1st page #388
Children:


1850 Census 
          George P. W. Cook 49
           Margaret Cook   25
           Sarah M. Hack   10
           Benjamin Warens  27


George P. W. Cook Probate Will


Son of Milton A. Cook, Milton L. Cook buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Theresa, Jefferson County, New York with is wife. Born 1852 died 1925 


Milton H. Cook - Contractor born 1812, possibly father of Milton I'm looking for
                                 
Research on Jacob Koch family lists Milton H. Cook and his wife Mary Margaret F. Morgan but doesn't list their children. Milton H. Cook was a contractor. The Milton I am looking for was a contractor. 
https://books.google.com/books?id=ZEwtAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA252&lpg=PA252&dq=1869+Milton+Cook+Cincinnati+election&source=bl&ots=ceNNetB5c3&sig=pTO_bYb1rvoP4BHNp8mG45ble9M&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH_LHI2OPSAhVJLmMKHfikBC8Q6AEILTAD#v=onepage&q=1869%20Milton%20Cook%20Cincinnati%20election&f=false

Google book stating Milton H. Cook ran for election in Cinncinati in 1869

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZEwtAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA252&lpg=PA252&dq=1869+Milton+Cook+Cincinnati+election&source=bl&ots=ceNNetB5c3&sig=pTO_bYb1rvoP4BHNp8mG45ble9M&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH_LHI2OPSAhVJLmMKHfikBC8Q6AEILTAD#v=onepage&q=1869%20Milton%20Cook%20Cincinnati%20election&f=false

Milton's from other census records I haven't been able to attach to trees yet

1850 Census Wood Ohio

             Milton Cook 30 born in New York

             Sally A Cook 22 born in New York

             Elisabeth S Cook 3 born in Ohio

             Mary Clark 36 born in Pennsylvania

1870 Census Vermont

              Milton J Cook 49 born in Vermont

              Lydia P Cook 24 born in Vermont

              Alice H Cook 2 born in Vermont 

              Anna L Cook 1 born in Vermont 

1880 Census Vermilion, Elwood,  Illinois
            Milton Cook 58 Born 1822 in Indiana Farmer
            Ellen Cook 52 born 1828 in Tennesee
            Jesse Cook 21 born in Illinois Works on Farm
            Elisabeth Cook 16 born in Illinois

1855 Census New York
         Event Place E.D. 2, Ward 13, Brooklyn City, Kings, New York,
           M A Cooke 31
           E H Cooke 27
           Wm A Cooke M 10
           Tho R Cooke M 8
           Chas S Cooke M 2
       May A Dougherty F 24 Servant

*Possibly Milton and Ellen Cook from the 1880 census?

Milton A Cook buried in Spring Grove Cemetery Ohio 1/1/1891 Listed on-line but no picture of gravestone

Marriage License or Milton Cook and Dilemia Zeigler - Married in Fountain, Indiana 1861
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9856-10548-93?cc=1410397

Civil War Pension - 1879 Given to Dialenia Cook
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD57-GYX

If you have any information on any of these Milton's I would love to see what you have. 

Civil War Soldiers
Milton Cook
Rank - Private
Military Side - Union
State Indiana
Military Unit - 152nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry
Military Company - A
Affiliate Film Number - 15

Milton Cook
Rank - Private
Military Side - Union
State - Indiana
Military Unit - 89th Regiment, Indiana Infantry
Military Company C
Affiliate Film Number 15

Milton Cook
Rank - Private
Military Side - Union
State - Indiana
Military Unit - 101 Regiment, Indian Infantry
Military Company - A
Note - See also V.R.C.
Affiliate Film Number - 15

MIlton T. Cook
Rank - Private
Military Side - Union
State - Indiana
Military Unit - 54th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (3 months, 1862)
Military Company - E
Affiliate Film Number 15

** Milton Cook
Birth Year abt 1821
Born in New York
Residence in 1863 Waynesfield, Ohio
Congressional District- 10th
Class- 2
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=ChY1&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rank=1&new=1,1&MSAV=0,0&msT=1,1&gss=angs-c&gsfn=Milton&gsln=Cook&msypn__ftp=GA&uidh=000&pcat=MIL_DRAFT&h=3311222&dbid=1666&indiv=1&ml_rpos=579

Milton Cook Pension File
Widow Matilda J. Cook Indiana
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TY5-QRD?i=2276&cc=1919699