Forrest F. Cooke By Barbara Schock
Forrest F. Cooke was a well-known Civil
War veteran and attorney in Galesburg.
He was elected mayor of the city three times in
the 1890s. The city became known for its brick
streets during his tenure.
His parents, Milo D. And Betsie B. Evarts Cooke,
had come to Galesburg in 1856. Both were born in
Vermont. Mr. Cooke had graduated from Middlebury
College and taught school for a number of years.
When Galesburg received its municipal charter in
1857, the first election of city officials was
held. Mr. Cooke was elected Police Magistrate and
continued in that position until his death in
1889. He was licensed to practice law, but never
engaged in it. Mrs. Cooke was the first music
teacher in Galesburg.
Forrest Cooke was born February 4, 1848, and was
about six years old when the family moved to
Galesburg. He began his college education at
Lombard College, but left school to enlist in the
139th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Regiment. The unit was organized at Peoria June
1,1864, for 100-day service.. It performed
garrison duty at Cairo, Illinois, as well as
raiding farms of Confederate sympathizers in
Kentucky.
Even though the enlistment period for the 139th
had expired, President Abraham Lincoln asked the
men to participate in the pursuit of General
Sterling Price in Missouri.
The Battle of Westport is sometimes known as the
"Gettysburg of the West." It took place on October
23, 1864, within the boundaries of today's Kansas
City, Missouri. More than 30,000 men participated
in the battle. It succeeded in forcing General
Price to end his incursion west of the Mississippi
River.
Two days later, the men of the 139th
were mustered out of service. President Lincoln
sent a letter of thanks to the regiment for their
additional service. There were no battlefield
casualties in the regiment, but 16 men died of
disease.
Forrest Cooke returned to Galesburg and enrolled
in Knox College. He completed his studies in 1870
and was licensed as an attorney in 1872. Among his
future clients would be a man named August
Sandburg. On March 17,1875, he was married to
Sarah Louise Collins. They had three children:
Florence A. Chauncey L. and Bessie. (The younger
daughter attended school with Carl Sandburg.)
The Cooke family lived at 654 South Academy Street
in a Greek Revival house built about 1860. The lot
is now occupied by a 12-unit apartment building.
In 1904 the Cookes moved to 679 North Kellogg
Street. Having lost his first wife in 1908, Mr.
Cooke married Ella Tully in 1911.
Mr. Cooke died on a train August 25, 1915,
traveling between Chicago and Joliet. He and his
wife had been on a vacation in Iowa City, Iowa,
where he broke his leg. The recovery was slow, but
the doctor finally gave permission for Cooke to
return home using crutches.
Friends were at the railroad station in Galesburg
to meet the Santa Fe Flyer, but were given the sad
news that he had died.
The funeral was held in the Universalist Church on
South Prairie Street and was conducted by Mrs.
R.C. Rice of the Christian Science Church. Verses
frorri the Bible as well as passages from the
Christian Science Text by Mary Baker Eddy were
read at the funeral and graveside.
The church was filled with friends as well as
members of Post 45, Grand Army of the Republic,
the Knox County Bar Association and the Elks
Lodge. The three organizations formed an escort to
Hope Cemetery.
Cooke School on South Henderson Street was named
for Milo D. Cooke as he served on the school board
for many years. He and his wife believed that
music should be taught in/the public schools.
Next week: How Forrest F. Cooke was connected to
August Sandburg.
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