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Information on this page includes:
Cook - A Family History
from Evelyn Kathleen Cook
Rev. Thomas Cook Obituary
Thomas Cook Death Certificate
Cook on 1910 and 1920 Census
Cook Family Reunion
Buelah Grace Darr Cook Moody Obituary
Harold Cook Obituary
Charlie Sessions - A
Cook Family History
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This is a picture of Buelah Grace Darr as
a Baptist minister holding her bible. |
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There is no date.
Note on the back says this if 5 generations.
Fred Darr, Grace (Darr) Cook Moody, Violet Sessions
'Pug' Jackson, Donnie (baby) Jackson. |
Cook - A Family History by Evelyn Kathleen Cook
The following information was provided by Darlene (isher and Marlene (Frain) Willoughby from interviews with Evelyn (Cook) Klopfer. Marlene, Darlene and this writer are children of
Evelyn and Joseph W. Frain.
As new information is collected, corrections and additions will be made to this section. Some corrections have been made with family information received at a Cook family reunion in June, 1995. More on that later.
He did not like the name Joshua and preferred to be called Thomas. His mother's name was Catherine Gideus who died in 1929.
Buelah Grace Darr was born March 22, 1899 in Carrollton, Illinois. She died at St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton, Illinois on Sept. 19, 1964.
She did not use her first name and was known as Grace by her family and friends. Her father was Fred Darr and her mother was Sarah Rebecca Coonrod. Joshua was her first husband.
Sarah's father, George D. P. Coonrod, fought in the Civil War in the Cavalry. Family lore says he had his horse shot out from under him. There is more on George D. P. Coonrod in the
George D. P. Coonrod page of this web site.
Joshua and Buelah (Tom and Grace) had 4 children. Virginia was born in 1920 and died Jan. 1989. Evelyn Kathleen was born Mar. 31, 1921
and died Feb. 16, 2001. Violet was born Feb. 23, 1916 and died Mar. 25, 1987 of complications of diabetes. Harold was born July 20, 1914 and died in 1962 at the age of 48 due to an accident on the job. See obituary printed further down.
Joshua and Buelah were both Assembly of God preachers and were strict disciplinarians. It is said that Buelah lost her religion when she was married the Deacon Moody, her second husband who was a divorcee.
Their daughter, Evelyn Kathleen, married Joseph William Frain on 5/14/37. They had 3 children, Joseph Richard on 12/30/37, and twins Marlene Elizabeth and Darlene Grace on 4/15/39. Joseph and Evelyn were divorced on 9/25/42.
Evelyn married Air Force Major Gustav Joseph Vetter in April, 1948. They had 2 children, Barry born on 6/27/52 at Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, N.Y. and Michael born on 2/27/56 at Selfridge Air Force Base at Mt. Clemons, Mich.
After the death of Major Vetter on June 1, 1966, Evelyn married Joseph Bert Klopfer in May, 1971. Bert died July 19, 1998. She is of the Protestant persuasion.
Virginia's oldest boy Dick is an Assembly of God preacher - a family trait? Her youngest boy is Bill.
Violet first married John Shirrey Lemon who died young of
tuberculosis. They had two girls, Delores (Pug) and Blanche (Sis) and a daughter who died at birth. She then married Oscar Session and they had three sons, Charles, Anthony and Oscar. See more on the Session branch of the family further on.
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Rev. Thomas Cook Obituary
The following obituary was received from Marlene Frain. There is no newspaper masthead or date available. According to the Social Security Death Index, it may have been published in an Alton, IL newspaper in July, 1936.
Rev. Thomas Cook Dies at Hospital Former Pastor at Bethalto, Eldred, Staunton The Rev. Thomas W. Cook, 46, pastor of the Assembly of God Church at Winfield, Mo. and a former pastor of churches at Bethalto, Eldred and Staunton, died Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Hospital of a heart ailment and other complications. He had been in failing health since last November and had been a patient at the hospital here for two weeks. He was taken ill shortly after he came to Alton eight weeks ago on a visit to his sister, Eva Day, 819 East Sixth Street, and his condition had not improved sufficiently during that time to permit his being moved.
The Rev. Cook was born, June 21, in Pike County, Mo. He had followed the trade of painter and interior decorator prior to entering the ministry. He had been licensed to preach for several years but had not been ordained. His ordination had been set for the month of June, but because of illness he had not been able to go through with the ceremony.
Prior to taking over the charge at Winfield, Mo., the Rev. Cook had served as pastor of the Bethalto Assembly of God Church for 18 months. He previously had held charges at Eldred and Staunton.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Edwards Street Assembly of God Church with the pastor, the Rev. Phillips, assisted by the Rev. Malchulate of the St. Charles Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery. Friends may call at the Streeper funeral home to view the body
.
Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Grace Cook and four children, Mrs. Violet Lemon of Carrollton; Mrs. Virginia Sandbach, Worden and Evelyn and Harold of Alton.
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Thomas Cook Death Certificate
From the "State of Illinois Death Index by name, 1916 - 1938", showing name, death certificate number, date of death and place of death. Cook, Thomas Wright 0031606 1935-07-25 Madison/Alton
Thomas Wright Cook's Death Certificate provides the following information supplied by Mrs. Grace Cook, 819 E. 6th Street, Alton, IL. Thomas Wright Cook: White, Male, Married Residence: 819 E. 6th St., Alton, IL - 20 years Occupation: Minister, Assembly of God Church Born: June 22, 1890, Rawleigh, MO Died: July 25, 1936, 6:35PM, St. Joseph's Hosp., Alton, Madison Co., IL Cause: Principal - Ch. Arterioclerosis, hypertension, terminal uremia Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Alton, Madison Co., IL Wife: Grace Cook, still alive Father: Unknown Mother: Catherine Gideus.
Note - Joshua's birth date according to his daughter Evelyn was July 21, 1890. His birthdate according to his obituary was June 22. I believe Evelyn, she must have gotten him a birthday card every year.
Note - Can't find Rawleigh, MO on my maps, think maybe it should be Rolla? Inquiries to Rolla, Phelps County, MO, Dept. of Vital Statistics of MO and Pike County, MO have produced negative replies. No records were kept of births until after 1910 and none exist for Joshua Wright Cook.
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Cook on 1910 and 1920
Census The 1910 U.S. census of Illinois, Carrollton, Greene county had the following family unit. It appears to be Joshua's mother, 2 brothers and his sister Eva who was mentioned above. It has his mother as head of household. Dad was gone or deceased. Joshua (Tom) is not shown. He would have been 20 years old and may have already left home.
NAME AGE CENSUS AREA BIRTHPLACE Catherine Cook 58 Carrollton MO
Grover 23 MO
Joseph 19 MO
Eva 18 MO
The 1920 U.S. Census Index shows Thomas Cook born in Illinois, white male age 29 renting a home at 2326 Logan Ave., Granite City, Madison County, IL. Thomas' mother and father were born in Missouri. He was a house painter. Living with him was his wife Grace, born in Illinois age 20 and his children all born in Illinois; Harold age 5 7/12, Violet age 4 11/12 and Virginia age 7/12. Grace's mother and father were both born in Illinois (see Darr).
Again discrepancies with census data and other data. Most notably, Thomas' obituary claims he was born in Missouri.
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Cook Family Reunion
A Cook family reunion was held in June, 1995. It was organized by Mike Vetter and his mother Evelyn Klopfer, nee Cook. The following family members attended:
Evelyn (Cook) Klopfer Cook Family Matriarch
Bert Klopfer Evelyn's husband
Mike Vetter Evelyn's son by Major Vetter
Barry Vetter
Evelyn's son by Major Vetter
Joe Frain Evelyn's son by Joseph W. Frain
Marlene Frain Willoughby Evelyn's daughter by Joseph W. Frain
Darlene Frain Noreuil Evelyn's daughter by Joseph W. Frain
Paul Vetter Barry's son
Linda Frain Joe's wife
Laura Frain Joe
and Linda's daughter
Fred Willoughby Marlene's husband
Steven Willoughby Marlene and Fred's son
Lori Willoughby
Stephen's wife
Claudia Willoughby Stephen and Lori's daughter
Courtney Willoughby Stephen and Lori's daughter
Anne _______________ Mike's girlfriend
Dick Sandbach Evelyn's nephew by her sister Virginia
_____ Sandbach Dick's wife
Pug (Delores) Randolf Cecil's wife, Violet's daughter and Evelyn's
neice
Cecil Randolph Pug's husband
Sis (Blanche) Jackson Violet's daughter and Evelyn's neice
Charlie Session Violet's son and Evelyn's nephew
Tony Session Sr. Violet's son and Evelyn's nephew
Tony Session Jr. Tony Sr's son and Evelyn's grand nephew
Lisa Session Charlie's daughter
______________ Lisa's boyfriend
______________ Young Tony's girlfriend
Beatrice, Charlie's favorite mother-in-law.
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| This is just about everyone present at the
re-union |
This is Evelyn with flanked by Darlene and
Marlene, 'tis himself at the far right, Mike Vetter immediately
behind. Sorry, can't name the others. |
This is Mike Vetter, a son by Evelyn's second marriage and ,
therefore, my half-brother with soon to be wife, Anne. |
We all had a terrific time. We caught up on each other's family and reminisced about those days 50+ years ago. Told stories on each other.
A couple of interesting stories about Tom (Joshua Wright) Cook, my grandfather, illustrated the change his life took from being a 'rounder' to being an Assembly of God preacher. In the earlier days of his marriage to Grace, he got a girlfriend pregnant and had her live with him and his wife during the pregnancy.
From there he became the strict diciplinarian with his daughters and sons by Grace and became an Assembly of God preacher. He was so strict, Evelyn says she was not allowed to see a Shirley Temple movie or to go to a dance.
One day Tom was giving a sermon and had an aversion to cussing such that the word ass came hard to him. In describing Samson's heroics he paraphrased the bible with 'He beat their ass'es off with the jawbone of a mule.
Dick Sandback brought several family pictures and mementos to share. Two obituaries follow.
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Buelah Grace
Darr Cook Moody Obituary
This was clipped from a newspaper and the masthead was missing, however, it was probably in the Alton Telegraph in Sept. 1964.
Mrs. Moody Burial in Upper Alton Cemetery With the Rev. Richard Dortch, pastor of Edwards Street Assembly of God Church, officiating, funeral services for Mrs. Grace Moody were held at 2 P.M. today in Smith Funeral Home, Alton. Burial was in Upper Alton Cemetery. Pallbearers were the Rev. Richard Sandbach, William Sandbach, Cecil Randolph, Robert Cobb, John Gayan Sr., John Gayan Jr.
The following is information from Grace's memorial card which was provided by Dick Sandbach. The sentiment was
"The LORD is my Shepherd;......" In Memory of GRACE MOODY Born March 22, 1899 Died September 19, 1964 Services SMITH FUNERAL HOME Alton Illinois Tuesday, September 22, 1964 2:00 p.m. Officiating Rev. Richard Dortch Interment Upper Alton Cemetery Alton, Illinois.
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Harold Cook Obituary
Also, probably from the Alton Telegraph in 1962 after Sept. 8 when he was known to be still alive since he had just co-signed for a loan:
Harold W. Cook, 48, Dies; Was 2nd Victim of Power Line Mishap
The second victim of an electric powerline accident Wednesday died Friday at 4:15 p.m. in St. Joseph's Hospital. He was Harold Wright Cook, 48, of 324 Bluff St. who had been listed as critical at the hospital since he was admitted. The first man was Robert H. Dilling, 44, of Godfrey who was dead on arrival at St. Joseph's following the accident west of warehouse No. 8, at Owens-Illinois. Mr. Dilling was aiding Mr. Cook who was jolted to the ground when a crane boom he was working under struck a 33,000 volt overhead line. Mr. Dilling was electrocuted when he brushed the crane hook with his arm. Mr. Cook had suffered extensive burns. An Alton resident since childhood, he was born at Carrollton, July 20, 1914, the son of the late Thomas Cook and Mrs. Grace Cook Moody. He attended the Alton schools and was a member of the Eagles lodge and Pipefitters Local No. 553. He had worked as a pipefitter in this area for 26 years. Survivors beside his mother, who resides at Bethalto, are his wife, the former Florence Anthony of Roodhouse, to whom he was married Sept. 2, 1951, in Bethalto. He also leaves a daughter, Mrs. Barbara Cobb, East Alton, a child of a former marriage; a step-daughter, Mrs. Halle Riley; three sisters, Mrs. Virginia Sandbach, Bethalto; Mrs. Violet Session, St. Louis, and Mrs. Evelyn Vetter, Highland, Calif. and six grandchildren. Funeral rites will be conducted Tuesday a 1 p.m. in Gent Chapel after which interment will take place in Valhalla Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel after 7 p.m. Monday.
Joe brought some copies of this genealogy. It got a warm welcome and many enjoyed discussing it and offering some input and corrections which have since been added.
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Charlie Sessions -
A Cook Family History
The following family information was provided by Charlie Session and his
wife.
Violet Geraldine Cook married John Shirrey Lemons (no date). Violet was born Feb. 23, 1916 and died Mar. 25, 1987 from complications of diabetes. John died of tuberculosis (before 1942). They had 3 daughters, one died at birth. Delores Viola Lemons (Pug) was born Jan. 4, 1934 and Blanche Geraldine Lemons (Sis) was born June 27, 1935.
Violet Geraldine Cook married Oscar Session in 1942. Oscar was born June 15, 1905 and died July 15, 1993. They had 3 sons, Charles Joseph Session born Oct. 23, 1943, Anthony Oscar Session was born Nov. 6, 1949 and Oscar William Session born Sep. 24, 1951.
Delores Viola Lemons (Pug) married Donald James Jackson Sr. Delores was born Jan. 4, 1934. Donald was born Jan. 31, 1932 and died of a heart attack Feb. 26, 1984. They had a son, Donald James Jackson Jr. born Nov. 25, 1951 and a daughter, Dianna Marie Jackson born Jan. 26, 1953. Donald James Jackson Jr. married and divorced Marsha Jean Lynch. They had no children. Donald James Jackson Jr. married Shannon Knowles from Texas in May 1982. When this was written, they lived in Ketchum, Idaho. Donald graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in chemistry. Donald worked as a research chemist for Monsanto Corp. Shannon is a dietitian. Both love the out of doors and sports.
Dianna Marie Jackson married Danny Wilson Rapert on Dec. 11, 1971 at Emmaus Lutheran Church. Danny was born Mar. 5, 1952. Danny is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve (20 years) and a Police Officer (18 years). Cpt. Rapert served as a Commander for a firefighter unit of the 1st Armored Division in Operation Desert Storm, the Persian Gulf War. He has a Masters Degree in Criminology. Dianna has a degree in Elementary Education, teaches preschool and loves to sew. Danny and Dianna have 3 children, daughter Jennifer Lynn Rapert born Nov. 19, 1973, son Mark Daniel Rapert born Jan. 21, 1979 and daughter Jamie Marie Rapert born Aug. 6, 1981. Jennifer Rapert has one child; Brett Daniel Edward born Oct. 18, 1991.
Blanche Geraldine Lemons (Sis) married Cecil Denver Randolph on Nov. 10, 1956. Blanche was born June 27, 1935 and Cecil was born Mar. 2, 1933. They had 3 children, son Stephen Randolph born May 15, 1957, daughter Mary Dianna Randolph born May 27, 1960 and son Ronald Randolph born Oct. 6, 1963. Blanche retired from Sears, Roebuck and Co. Cecil retired in 1995 from Laclede Gas Company after 44 years.
Stephen Randolph married Julie Patricia Feldman on Sept. 17, 1988 at St. Margaret Mary Church. They have 1 son, Samuel Dennis Randolph born Sept. 22, 1992. Steve graduated from Washington University in 1995 with a degree in Engineering. Charles Joseph Session married Carol Ann Mask on Nov. 24, 1962 at St. Peter & Paul Church. Carol was born May 7, 1943. They have 4 children, son Charles Joseph Session Jr. (Joey) born Aug. 6, 1963, daughter Tracie Deanene Session born Sep. 23, 1964, daughter Christen Michelle Session born May 25, 1968 and Lisa Marie Session born Aug. 20, 1972.
Tracie Deanene Session married Charles David Williams on Oct. 20, 1986. 'David' was born Jan. 2, 1959. They have 2 sons, Justin Thomas Williams born Nov. 7, 1983 and Charles David Williams Jr. born May 18, 1988.
Christen Michelle Session married Sean Marquis on Oct. 31, 1987. Sean was born Jan. 29, 1969. They have a daughter Samantha Josephine Marquis born Feb. 10, 1988 and a son Richard Stephen Marquis born April 24, 1991.
Anthony Oscar Session (Tony) married Terry L. Young (no date). Anthony was born Nov. 6, 1949. Terry was born April 4, 1951 and died March 26, 1995. They had 2 sons, Anthony (Tony) Edward Session born Feb. 7, 1973 and Timothy (Tim) Patrick Session born March 19, 1976. Anthony served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. Sons Anthony and Tim both have a great musical talent.
Oscar William Session married Carolyn Diane Shockley on Nov. 10, 1972 at Assumption Church. Diane was born Mar. 9, 1952. They have a daughter, Jill Elizabeth Session born Feb. 15, 1978.
End of family information provided by Charlie Session and his wife.
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