Person:Alexander McCook (1)

Research Notes and Resources

• One of the famous "Fighting McCooks" of Ohio.
• see Photo at ohiomemory.org
• see photos at Find A Grave
• see McCook articles in Dayton Daily Journal -

To Do List

[this excerpt is from bottom of the DDJ⁷ article - needs to be moved to Albert Wilson's page, if it exists]

The following resolution was adopted on the death of Major Albert Wilson, former surgeon of the regiment: We have learned with great regret of the death of our former comrade, Major Albert Wilson. Dr. Wilson was for years associated with our regiment and won the regard of his comrades by his care for their comfort and his lively sympathy with their suffering. His regord as a soldier covers the duration of the struggle for the preservation of the Union and is a priceless legacy for the family he leaves behind him. We respectfully tender his widow and daughter our sympathy and mourn with them the taking away of a man true in all the relatinos of life and a patriot who among the earliest rallied to the defense of his government. Resolutions upon the deaths of the following members of the regiment were also adopted:William Hatfield, Centreville; Sam A. Archer, Delphos; Philip Ritter and Richard Manchester, Dayton. The following officers were then elected:President, COl. E. A. Parrott; vice president, J. B. Cumins, Xenia; secretary, H. H. Sinks, Union; treasurer, J. C. Cline, Dayton. The next meeting will be held in Old Guard hall in October of next year.

Dayton Daily News. (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States), page 1 columns 4 and 5, 2 Aug 1947. Services for Mrs. Craighead to Be Held Monday Afternoon - obituary including large portrait of her in Red Cross outfit.

Mrs. Kathleen McCook Craighead's obituary mentions that McCook Field was the forerunner of Wright Field [Wright Patterson Air Force Base]. McCook Field was named after Major General Alexander McCook.

1. ↑ Johnson, Eric E. Ohio's West Point Graduates: 1815-1863. Article in Ohio the Cross Roads of Our Nation Records & Pioneer Families. volume 53, issue 4. pages 168-174.
2.   Painting the Fighting McCooks, in Ohiomemory.org.

   [Description: Daniel McCook, along with eight of his nine sons, served in the Civil War. Eighteen years pior to the Civil War, J. James McCook (1823-1842) died while at sea and was buried in Brazil. The father and sons, Robert (1827-1962), Daniel, Jr. (1834-1864) and Charles (1843-1861) were killed in the war. Latimer (1820-1869) died later of wounds. Edwin (1837-1873) was killed during the Indian Wars. George (1821-1877), Alexander (1831-1903), and John J. (1845-1911) lived in and made future contributions to the state of Ohio. Daniel McCook's brother, John, had five sons who also served in the Civil War. They are not pictured here. Fourteen of the fifteen young men were commissioned officers, while Charles preferred to serve as a private in the volunteers and was killed at the first battle of Bull Run.; Painting on exhibit at the Ohio Historical Center, Columbus, Ohio.]

3.   Photo of Alexander McDowell McCook, in Ohiomemory.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Alexander McCook, in Ohio History Central.

   [Includes same photo as ohiomemory.org]

5. ↑ Death Notice. Gen. McCook, in Dayton Daily Journal. (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States)
   p 1, col 4, 13 Jun 1903.

   GENERAL McCOOK. Death of a Gallant Commander.
   HE PASSED PEACEFULLY AWAY, READY, AS HE SAID, TO DEPART.
   Brilliant Historic Record of a Notable Son of the Fighting McCooks.
   Courage Proved on Many a Battlefield of Civil War.
   The death of General Alexander McDowell McCook occurred early yesterday morning after an illness of about ten days at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Charles A. Craighead. 217 West Monument avenue. The sad news of his death, which was soon heralded upon the streets and throughout the country brought sorrow to all who knew him personally or by reputation. General McCook came to Dayton on May 23rd, and it was while here that he was stricken and death relieved his sufferings yesterday morning.
   He was first stricken on Monday evening, May 25th, at the homes of his daughter, Mrs. Craighead, and recovered partially from the first attack. At 6:30 on Friday morning after another stroke he passed away. His widow and daughters were with him during his last days.
   General McCook was a man of attractive manner and was admired for his bravery as a soldier and his upright character as a man. He was a favorite wherever he was known, and his death has been the cause of much genuine sorrow.
   General McCook was the son of Major Daniel McCook, head of the Tribe of Dan, of the fighting McCooks. Daniel McCook, who was the second son of George McCook and Mary McCormack, was born in Pennsylvania and after his marriage to Martha Lathner they came to Ohio and settled in New Lisbon and later in Carrollton. At the beginning of the war he was in Washington, and although 63 years of age, he at once tendered his service to President Abraham Lincoln.
   Each of his eight sons, then living also promptly responded to the call of the President for troops. Of this family there were engaged in military service besides the father: Major Daniel McCook, Surgeon Latimer A. McCook, General George W. McCook, Major General Robert L. McCook, General Alexander McDowell McCook, General Daniel McCook, Jr., Major General Edwin Stanton McCook, Private Charles Morris McCook and Colonel John J. McCook. Another son Midshipman J. James McCook, died in the naval service before the rebellion.
   Of the family of Dr. John McCook, who was a brother of Daniel McCook, and an uncle of the deceased general, there were engaged in the service five sons, making a total of 15, every son of both families, all commissioned officers except one, who was killed in the first battle of Bull Run, and who declined a commission in the regular army, preferring to serve as a private volunteer.
   General McCook’s father, the venerable Major Daniel McCook, was mortally wounded in the famous Morgan raid into Ohio, and died on the following day, July 21, 1843 in the 65th year of his age. He is buried at Spring Grove cemetery as are also several of his illustrious sons and by whose side the remains of General McCook will be placed for final repose on Monday afternoon next.
   His first wife was Kate Phillips, daughter of the late Jonathan D. Phillips, of this city who died some years ago. Subsequently he married Miss Colt of Milwaukee. His widow and three children by his first wife survive him, they being Mrs. Baker, wife of Major Baker of the army, Mrs. C. A. Craighead of this city, and Mrs. Dunlop of Washington, D. C. The interment will be at Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Monday.

6.   McCook Funeral, in Dayton Daily Journal. (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States)
   p 8, col 3, 15 Jun 1903.

   McCOOK FUNERAL. REV. WILSON WILL CONDUCT THE SERVICES THIS MORNING.
   Remains Will Be Taken to Cincinnati for Interment-Six Soldiers as Pallbearers.
   The funeral of General Alexander McDowell McCook, who died Friday morning at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Charles A. Craighead, on West Monument avenue, will take place today. The services will be conducted at the family residence at 8:30 this morning by Dr. M. E. Wilson, of the First Presbyterian church, and immediately afterwards the remains will be taken to Cincinnati for burial in Spring Grove cemetery, where his father and brothers are buried.
   
   Six non-commissioned officers from Ft. Thomas, Ky., representing the U. S. Army, will act as pall-bearers, and representatives of the 1st O. V. I. and the Loyal Legion will also attend. Many messages of sympathy have been received by the family. The eight sergeants of the Third infantry at Ft. Thomas who have been chosen to serve as pall-bearers are Sergeants Ayres and Bowles of Co. C. Sergeants Boyden and Wald of Co. A., Sergeants Cooley and Seither of Co. B, and Sergeants Hickey and Geoghan of Co. E.
   
   Among those who are here from a distance to attend the funeral are: Mrs. John J. McCook and daughter Janet of New York; Mr. and Mrs. George McCook, son and daughter of Steubenville, O.; General Anson G. McCook and Robert L. McCook of New York; Judge and Mrs. Billingsby of Lisbon, O.; and Major Alexander McCook Guard of Detroit. Many others from New York and other cities will attend the obsequies at Cincinnati. The members of the Loyal Legion of this city will officiate as pall bearers here and members of the same organization will act in that capacity at Spring Grove cemetery.

7.   Alexander McCook, in Dayton Daily Journal. (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States)
   p 4, 30 Oct 1903.

   REUNION. Annual Meeting of First O. V. I. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED RELATIVE TO DEATH OF GEN. ALEXANDER McCOOK.
   
   Small Attendance Indicates That Many Have Answered the Call of the Great Bugler - Resolutions on Death of Maj. Wilson. The annual reunion of the First O.V.I. was held yesterday in Old Guard hall, but evidence that the ranks are thinning out was given in the small number in attendance. The meeting was presided over by J. B. Cummins of Xenia. Various speeches were made and then a committee composed of Col. E. A. Parott [sic], C. H. Ware and J. C. Cline was appointed to prepare resolutions upon the death of General Alexander McDowell McCook, who commanded the regiment.
   
   The resolution as adopted was as follows: At roll call this year there is no response to the best known and most honored name on our roster. The generous greeting and hearty hand clasp of General Alexander McDowell McCook will never more testify to his pleasure in meeting his old comrades of the First Ohio, as he showed his pleasure at our last reunion. He is dead, but our pride in his association with our history and in the splendid service rendered our country still lives. He was made colonel of the First Ohio infantry by the vote of the rank and file, as was then the regulation, in April, 1861. At the time he was unknown, either personally or by reputation, to a single member of the regiment, but he was elected on the strong recommendation of a professor at West Point, who happened to be in Harrisburg when the regiment was being organized, as the choice of field officers, and no incident in the subsequent life of General McCook has detracted from the high character then given him. By drill and discipline he brought his regiment to such a high state of efficiency that Governor Dennison distinguished it by allowing it to return to its old number at its reorganization as the head of the roster of the Ohio volunteers. His service until the three months' service led to his speedy promotion. During the progress of our enlistment he was ordered with his new rank to the command of the brigade in the army of the Ohio. He did not forget the comrades he left behind him in camp, but secured the asignment [sic] of his old regiment to his new field. From then on during our term of service we were under him as a brigade division and corps comander [sic]. With this regiment as a stepping stone, General McCook mounted to well deserved eminence in the Union army and in a special measure therefore we took a lively interest in his career and felt that in some degree we shared in the honor that crowned. He returned in abundant fullness our own attachment. To have served in the First Ohio was to have established a good claim to the acquaintance and regard of General McCook. By his death the nation has lost one of its illustrious captains, but the First Ohio has lost a tried comrade and a friend of many years' standing. Among us "none knew him but to love him, none named him but to praise." He was a genial and interesting companion, a man of generous and impulsive nature, a soldier of ability, without fear and without favor. It might have been written of him, "Unbounded courage and compassion meet to make the hero and the man complete." Addresses upon the life of General McCook were made by Colonel Parrott and others.

8. ↑ ^8.0 8.1 Alexander McDowell McCook , in Find A Grave.

   [Includes monument photos and several portrait photos]

9.   Library of Congress Civil War Manuscripts Collection McCook Family Papers.

   Title McCook family papers, 1809-1966
   Span Dates 1809-1966
   Bulk Dates (bulk 1850-1900)
   ID No. MSS31963
   Creator McCook family
   Extent 6,500 items ; 19 containers plus 5 oversize ; 7.6 linear feet ; 1 microfilm reel
   Language Collection material in English
   Location Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
   Summary Correspondence, scrapbooks, journals, diaries, photographs, memorabilia, printed materials, and other papers relating to the Ohio family of "Fighting McCooks" that became prominent through the service of fifteen of its sons in the Civil War. The McCooks were active in legal and military affairs and in national and state politics in Ohio and New York. The larger part of the collection concerns the military and political career of Anson G. McCook (1835-1917).
   Finding Aid Permalink Cite or bookmark this finding aid as: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms012155
   LCCN Permalink LC Online Catalog record for this collection: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm78031963
   
   General Alexander McDowell McCook campaigned in TN and KY