Dale Walker Letters

Dale Walker.
Photo courtesy
of Sandra Stanton.

Dale Lee Walker, a descendant of John Cooley and his son James Cooley, was born 5 June 1946 in Van Nuys, California to Delta Maureen Cooley, daughter of Daniel Cooley and his wife Martha Frances Davison. Dale took the name Patrick when he joined the Catholic Church. He died on 4 May 1993 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dale published Cooley Cousins for several years. He was a prolific letter writer and committed to genealogy. Most of his work has disappeared, but several letters survived and are now in the possession of Mary Cooley. They are here as transcribed by Dennis Young. Dennis's introduction and comments are included.

Please note that many of Dale's conclusions were wrong and many of the connections he sought out have since been uncovered. For example, at the time of the writing of this first letter, he believed that Timothy's father was Daniel Cooley. He later discovered that James was, in fact, "Tink's" father. Despite the errors, there's still much of interest here.

I've started transcribing some of Pat Walker's letters. There are about a dozen. Here is his letter to Bernita Jones Sharp dated Sept. 23, 1978. This is the first letter written by him to her. Thanks to Mary Cooley for the loan of the letter. (Note: there was no genealogical chart attached. I am unaware of its disposition - it was apparently not saved with the letter.)

Dennis

Saint Louis, Mo. Sept. 23, 1978 Dear Ms. Sharp I saw your notice in the May-June issue of the Genealogical Helper regarding the re-union of the Officer-Cooley family. I am a descendant of Daniel Cooley who went from Kentucky to Howard County, Mo, in about 1816. His son Timothy went into Macon County, Missouri in 1832 and was my Great-Great Grandfather. There was also a James Cooley who went early to Howard County, and I believe, this was a cousin to Daniel Cooley. Anyway, I have been trying to make some sense out of the Howard County Cooleys, and I do know that some of them married into the Officer family as well as went to Oregon. I am also descended from Randolph White, whose brother Thomas K. married Jemima Cooley Dec. 21, 1817 in Howard County. I would be extremely grateful if you could help me with any information you might have regarding the Cooleys who were in Howard County. I am very interested in all aspects of the Cooley family and any knowledge would be most welcome. I am enclosing a personal genealogical chart that includes everything I know about my line of the family. Perhaps it will be of some interest to you or other Cooley descendants. Also below are some items from Missouri records, much of which you may already be aware of, but perhaps not. I close hoping to hear from you, and remaining Most sincerely, D. Patrick Walker D[ale] Patrick Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt. 6 Saint Louis, Missouri 63110 Howard County, Missouri Records --Will of James Cooley, deceased. Oct. 12, 1844 Principal heir: Elizabeth Cooley Secondary heirs: Joseph Cooley; Benjamin Cooley; John Croff, and Joel W. Morris, and Robert Reynolds --Rebecca Cooley administrator of Mark Cooley, decd. Nov.24, 1826 Secondary heirs: Crenshaw White and David Street --Jane Cooley and Thomas K. White administrators for James Cooley decd. Secondary heirs: John Cooley and Randolph Cooley. --John Cooley, adm. For Daniel Cooley, Jan. 18, 1832 Secondary heirs: Benjamin Williams and John Burch --Benjamin Cooley m. Elizabeth Cooley Jan. 11, 1843 --Elias Cooley m. Mahala Lane Oct. 2, 1828 --Isaac Cooley m. Elizabeth Monroe Jan. 15, 1827 --John Cooley m. Eliza Locke April 4, 1832 --William Cooley m. Elizabeth Fields April 30, 1840 --Jemima Cooley m. Thomas White Dec. 21, 1817 --Ann Cooley m. John Elliott Sept. 21, 1829 --Eleanor Cooley m. William Green Oct. 3, 1816 --Tempey Cooley m. Wm. Cunningham Feb. 4, 1819 --Polly Cooley m. John Smart Jan. 27, 1826 --Hannah Cooley m. William Wilson July 17, 1823 Some Clay County, Mo records --Harrison Cooley, settler of Sec. 35, T52 R30 80 acres July 1, 1839 --Christopher C. Cooley m. Nancy Officer Sept. 30, 1834 He went to Oregon --Harrison, Cooley m. Nancy Bean Jan. 22, 1839 --Mary Cooley m. John Ferguson Dec. 29, 1828 --Cassandra Cooley m. James Hanley Jan. 22, 1835 --Nancy Cooley m. Simpson Hunt Aug. 26, 1852 --Evelina Cooley m. James Officer Feb. 19, 1828 --Robert Officer m. Rebecca Shackleford May 23, 1833 --Dorothy Cooley m. Joel Smith Feb. 12, 1843 --Margaret Officer m. Alexander Hardwicke Oct. 18, 1825 --Rebecca Officer m. John T. Hudson Dec. 21, 1848 --Lucinda Officer m. Francis Wrightman Jan. 19, 1832 Next letter, dated Oct 20, 1978. Saint Louis, Mo. Oct. 20, 1978 Dear Ms. Sharp It was indeed a great pleasure to receive your most kind letter and the wealth of information it contained. I am so very interested in my Family, and was terribly excited to hear from you. I was especially pleased to receive the name and address of Mrs. Shirley Buirch - and I have already written a 20 page letter to her sending all the material I thought she might be interested in and asking for what she may know. It is definite in my mind that your Cooley line and my own are somehow entwined, but I still don't fully comprehend it all. You mention that you are descended from Joseph, born 1767, and that John Cooley, born 1793 in No. Carolina was his son. Well this very same John Cooley and his wife Elziabeth White had, as you know, a son named Washington Talbert Cooley who married Amanda Hinton. Well this couple W. Talbert & Amanda had a son named Talbert Cooley, who married Elnora Cooley, a daughter of John I. & Belle Cooley (my great grand parents). Elnora was born 1877, and Talbert was older than she. He served time in the Mo. State Pen for cattle rustling and moonshining. Elnora died fairly young, and her son Ted Cooley was raised by my grandparents Daniel I. & Martha "Mattie" Cooley (Elnora's brother.) I knew Ted very well as a young boy, he was a special favorite of mine, and I was one of his heirs. He was a real character and a well-liked citizen of Kirksville, Mo. My mother considers him like a brother, as they were children together in the same household. Yes, I have always understood that John Cooley was murdered in 1844, but I do not know the circumstances. By the way, as you know Nancy born 1828 married John Banta - There are numerous connections between my line and the Banta's. Cooley's - Banta's - Miller's - White's and Gilstrap's were all immediate neighbors South of Beiver, Mo., and these families intermarried much. Well, to take up the controversy as you outline it, I have always been told that the Cooley's were a Dutch Family (our line) descended from Van Cuyler's of Amsterdam, Holland. 2 nephews of Aadren? Van Rensalear came to New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1625 to run his property in the new world. There is a New York record (Orange Co. N.Y.) that shows that a Jan Coele, from these Dutch Van Cuyler's, stated that he chose to change his name, (anglicizing it) to John Cooley - But right now I can not find my notation of that, but remember it. I believe we are descended from this John Cooley of the 17th Century. There is a very well documented Irish family of Cooleys descended from a Benjamin Cooley who came to Longmeadow, Massachutsetts around 1646. This is a distinct line, but I have some Virginia and Kentucky notes that show a possibility that the two lines intermarried. I am of the strong opinion that we come basically from the Dutch line. I have done some New York & Pennsylvania research but not enough to fully establish the descent. As regards the White's. I do no know that Randolph White Jr. and Thomas K. (Kirkland) White were brothers, and I have proof that Thomas M. Jemina Cooley as you show. I even thought that Randolph Jr. might have married a Cooley - But you show Elizabeth Riley. So that clears up a lot for me. Randolph Jr.'s daughter Mary Jane "Polly" White married John H. Youngblood and was my Great Great Grandmother. You also show that John White married Nancy Vestal - The Vestal family is quite prominent in early Macon Co. Mo. and were settlers in Bevier Twp. There are several Vestals still living there. My kinsman and good friend Bill Gilstrap (who farms part of the original Gilstrap property that borders on the East the Home place of Timothy Cooley) knows many of these Vestal's. Well, I know I have a tendency to ramble and get off track - But to return to Cooley's - You mention William Cooley who went into Kentucky with Daniel Boone. This complete story is told in a recent book: The Long Hunter, a life of Daniel Boone, by Lawrence Elliott. pub. 1976. See if you can obtain this from library. It is a interesting story. Seems William was a bit of a coward! I have always imagined that my line was descended from this William Cooley (born 1747 and died 1818 in Jessamine Co., Ky.) But I am beginning to think otherwises with mention of the Will of James that mentions Timothy Cooley. You say that Missouri may be be populated by Cooley's - Well There are quite a few of that surname here in the Show-Me State. Both St. Louis and Kansas City have quite a few (many of the Kansas City ones from my line), and Macon, Putnam, Adair, and Dent Counties have a sizeable number. Most of the St. Louis Cooley's seem to be from Dent County or from elsewhere than Missouri. I have a friend Gerald Cooley who is of this Dent County group (around Salem, Mo.). I am very interested in the Cooley's of Oregon. I was born in California lived most of my life there, and have traveled extensively in Oregon and Washington (Lived in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Goldendale, Washington) and I truly love the great North-West and hope to return there eventually. Right now - I have a very good job and find it hard to leave here. I have been in St. Louis since Oct. 1975 and it looks like Ill be here a couple more years, but travel is my favorite (next to genealogy) thing and I have been all over North America. Anyway, I have either read some where or was told that some Cooley's went to the area around John Day Oregon in Grant County - Could this be where the Officer-Cooley reunion was held? I am fairly familiar wh with that country - It is a well-known Cow Country, and I was raised on a Cattle ranch in Southern California. Also Silverton is one of my favorite places - I have visited that area often, and have Priest friends at Mt. Angel. Silver Falls Park is simply beautiful. I was very interested to hear of your travels in North Carolina, etc. It is a awful lot of fun seeing the places the family lived at. If for any reason whatever, you have the opportunity to visit Missouri, I would be very happy to show you the areas of interest. By the way, Bill Gilstrap who I mentioned is a descendant of Peter Gilstrap and his wife Amy Mullinix (Lucinda Cooley's sister), and 3 generations of his family attended the Old Cooley Schoolhouse which was built by Timothy Cooley on land owned by him for the benefit of his grandchildren and the neighbor kids. In 1915 it was moved 1/2 mi. S of original site to join a county road and later renamed Miller School because at one time over 60% of the students were named Mill -Gilstraps, Bantas, Vestals and Cooleys made up most of the rest. This school was closed in 1953 when the consolidated system came in. There is also a "Cooley" Well, that for many years was the only sure source of water for many people even in the worst drought. Well, I have so much to write about but I do want to get this into the mail to you, to express my sincere gratitude for your most kind response. I promise to keep in touch, and as I think of things you might be interested in, or find out new things I will send them along. Yours most sincerly, D. Patrick Walker D. Patrick Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. St. Louis, Mo. 63110 Next letter, dated Nov 26, 1978. Saint Louis, Mo. Nov. 26, 1978 Dear Mrs. Sharp  Thought I should write a few lines to both keep in touch and to pass along the results of my latest research into our respective families. I will always be grateful to you for putting me in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Buirch. The clues they were able to offer have opened up new insight not only to the Cooley line but the Mullinix as well. As the result of their help and my own recent research as a consequence, I have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that your great-grand father Christopher Columbus Cooley was a first cousin to my great-great grand Father Timothy Goode Cooley. Timothy was the son of James Cooley)B. 1772 Stokes Co., N.C.), a younger brother of C.C.'s father Joseph. James Cooley died Jan. 9, 1822 in Howard Co., Mo. James Cooley was married to Jane Goode (I have lots of Goode family material from Kentucky and need to do much more work here), and they had several children, of which the sons are determinable: James, Isaac, John, William, Benjamin and Timothy. -- James married Jane White, daughter of Randolph Sr. He apparently died fairly young in Howard Co. She later remarried to Thomas Tuttle, and they went into Macon County. I believe you have these records as reflected in chart of Randolph Sr. you sent me. -- Isaac married Nancy Massey Oct. 9, 1836 in Randolph Co. It is believed that this couple went into Adair County, Mo. and are the progeniters of that Cooley line there. -- John married Milly I. ? . He was born about 1801, and they were in Macon Co. by 1850. There are no records of any children. -- William, born about 1803. He married First to ? , she died before 1838, and he married Sarah Ann Ballinger Jan. 10, 1839 in Randolph County. His known children are as follows: 1. James - born about 1833 2. William - born about 1835 3. Martha - born about 1841 - By Sarah 4. Jonathan - born about 1845 5. Casseldana - born about 1847 6. Sarah Jane - born Feb. 1850 William settled in Macon County where he was a horse trader and stock-man (Timothy was quite noted for his raising of fine horses). It seems that this family went to California shortly after 1850, and some later returned to Macon County after 1880. -- Benjamin B., born about 1815. He married his cousin Elizabeth Ann Cooley, daughter of John and Elizabeth (White) Cooley, on Jan. 11, 1843 in Howard County. Elizabeth Ann was born July 20, 1824. This again illustrates how very intertwined the various Cooley lines really are. Benjamin and Elizabeth went to Macon County where he was a farmer. They had the following known children: 1. Mary Frances - born about 1844. 2. Dasia R. - born about 1848 3. Martha - born about 1850 4. Benjamin Jr. - born about 1854. He was married to Mary Jane ? , and was a farmer in Narrows township of Macon Co. 5. Nancy - born about 1857 6. Dolly - born about 1859 7. Delisha - born about 1864 -- And, of course, Timothy who married Lucinda Mullinix March 21 1833. You have this information. You have mentioned Dr. Franklin Cooley, a brother to Christopher C.. I have a note extracted from the Old "Liberty Tribune" newspaper published many years in Clay County, Mo.: "Dec. 8, 1882 - Miss Kate Cooley, daughter of Dr. Franklin Cooley of McGee Street in Kansas City, was married to Mr. Oscar Robertson of Missouri City. The couple will make their home in Missouri City." Missouri City is a small town on the River just a few miles from Liberty. This area is, of course, all part of the "Jesse James" area of Missouri. Something you may find interesting is that, although Jesse W. James, the noted American outlaw was killed in 1882. His brother Frank, also an outlaw, lived until 1915. My grandfather Daniel I. Cooley met both Frank James and Cole Younger, as a young man when they brought a circus and wild-west show they owned to Macon County. He spent quite a bit of time talking to the two old outlaws, because of an incident that had occurred back in their out-law days in the early 70's. Jesse, Frank and another man (some say he was Wood Hite and others say Jim Younger) stopped at the farm of John I. Cooley in Beiver township of Macon County, and were invited to stay for supper, which they did and spent the night in the barn, leaving before dawn the next morning. Even though John Cooley had been an Union soldier in the Civil War, he was an admirer of the James brothers, because they were considered to be champions of the small farmers and poor folks of the region. You would have to visit the area of Northern and Central Missouri to realize the lasting interest and respect that exists regarding the Post-Civil War Outlaws of Missouri. Liberty, Missouri was the scene of the First armed robbery of a bank in the world, a crime enacted in 1866 by several ex-confederate soldiers turned outlaw including Jesse and Frank James. By the way, the 1830 Census (a least part of it) for Clay Co. was taken by Coleman Younger, the father of Cole, James, John and Bob, the outlaw brothers. A couple other notes from the "Liberty Tribune." March 3, 1885 - Wm. J. Cooley was an attendant at the wedding of John Searles and Nannie McCoy, in the residence of George Ferguson. Aug. 12, 1875 - Miss Octavia Cooley, daughter of Harrison Cooley, was married to Mr. Lewis Vermillion in Fishing River town-ship. Aug. 21, 1867 - Miss Fanny J. Gosney of Clay County was married to Mr. James H. Cooley, of Champaign, Ill. In your marvelous letter of Oct. 12th you mentioned a reference to Pg. 892 of "The Cooley Genealogy" regarding James Cooley who married Frances Miller. This fascinates me - because there are both Wisdom and (many) Miller families in early Macon County. The twin sister to Timothy's wife Lucinda: Malinda Mullinix - born Jan. 21, 1816 married John Miller May 15, 1834 and raised a large family. Another sister to them - Sarah born 1820 married Frederick Miller (Brother to John). There are also Cooley-Miller marriages in later generations, so I am quite interested in the Miller lines also. I would especially like to know the descent of the person you mention in Santa Barbara, California. Do you have that, or could I get the address from you to enquire. By the way, I spent most of my life in Ojai, California which is only about 25 miles from Santa Barbara, and am very well aquainted in that City. I do know that a Cooley - somehow Adrian comes to mind - that was the Fire Chief of Santa Barbara. I have this information in the History of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties 1921, which is in storage in Calif. I just can not remember all the details. Another thing - In looking at the 1850 Census of Marion County, Oregon for the Cooleys and Officers I discovered living not very far away a connection to my Davison line. Two uncles and an aunt to my great grandfather Frank Davison, who I could not account for in Ohio after 1840 - now it appears that they went to Oregon. Could it be possible that they joined the same wagon train as C.C. Cooley and the others? Does there exist there any lists of the members of the 1845 "Tetherow" wagon train? I can not find any such lists here even with the wonderful collection that exists in the St. Louis Public Library. If you do know of such a list - Does William, John J. or Susannah Davison appear on it? Further - you mention Cornelius Cooley - This given name appears very frequently among the Cooley records of New York and Pennsylvania. Cornelius seems to be one those names that continued thru several generations of the Cooleys. There is so much research I need yet to do - many areas I am aware of that I need to work on - But I have so little time to do this work in - I am only able to get a few hours on Sat. afternoons and Monday evenings. About 10 hrs. a week. Recently my time has been completely taken up with the recently arrived 1900 Census for Macon County, as soon as I am finished with that I will expand my searching in Howard, Carroll, Ray, Clay, Linn, Platte, Chariton and Sullivan Counties, etc. I will, of course, pass along anything that I may learn. I would appreciate it if you could add any information other than that sent on the family group chart - of the children of Christopher C. and Nancy. I am really interested in that continuation. Well, I guess I have spent enough of my Sunday on this letter and will close for now. We are having the first real winter storm here, a cold freezing rain mixed with snow, and it is good to be in the house and work on family genealogy. Hoping this letter finds you well and in good spirit, I close and remain Your sincere friend, Pat Walker D. Patrick Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt. 6 St. Louis, Missouri 63110 P.S. See over for Note! Re: Cooley Lake in Clay County. Yes, this is in Fishing River township, less than 1 mile from the Ray County Line. In consulting the topographical charts I have for the entire Missouri River Basin I discover that there is also a Station on the Wabash RR adjacent to the Lake itself - also named Cooley Lake, and at Miltondale Village there is a navigational station on top of the hill above town named Cooley. As to why it is named that - The Clay County land records show that Joseph Cooley entered land adjacent to the Lake, and because he was there so early - He well may have named the Lake himself - or at least his neighbors probably started to call it "Cooley's" Lake, and the name has stuck until this day. The lake was never a constant body of water, but filled and dried as the seasons turned. It was truly a large marsh, and a haven for waterfowl. At least this is so for the past 75 years or so, the Lake is originally a "Ox-Bow" Lake formed by the changing channel of the Missouri River perhaps hundreds of years ago. Next letter, dated Dec 12, 1978. Saint Louis, Mo. Dec. 12, 1978 My dear Mrs. Sharp - Firstly I must object to the Mr. Walker bit - Pat does nicely thank you. Secondly, again I am most grateful for your very wonderful letter and enclosed material. They are like rays of sunshine to me. My interest in our mutual family lines is great indeed, I spend nearly all my free time working on Genealogy and truly resent the hours I must spend on such mundane things as sleeping and earning a living. About 10 hours a week is all the time I am able to research at our wonderful Public Library. But I try to make the best of it. I have been working on extracting items from the 1900 Census of Macon County, as that is where all my immediate family roots are planted. I have now finished that work, and as soon as the Holidays are over, I will be able to pursue some of the hundreds of other areas I need to work on. I did check out some Clay County items in the "History of Clay County" 1884, and copied a few pages (Poor Copies) which are enclosed. They are a little frustrating to me, as they constantly mention "Cooleys Lake" but not much about Cooleys. However there is some good mention of your Thomas Officer. Other notes of Clay County not included on the printed stuff show that Eli Casey brought a stock of goods and opened a store in the village of Missouri City in 1840. One of his clerks was young Frank Cooley. Also note that the Oscar Robertson who married Dr. Frank's daughter, was the son of Andrew Robertson Jr. and grandson of Andrew Sr., a early pioneer of Clay Co. I will check for more information about Dr. Franklin in our Jackson Co. records here. I simply cannot imagine anyone being upset over a connection to Jesse James - most would be proud of it. The times (Post Civil War) were very unsettled and created desperate men who reacted to the oppressive policies, etc. That is not to condone Robbery, etc. - But to accept life as one finds it in a given period of history. All in how one looks at it. Thanks especially for the detail on the children of Christopher C. Cooley. If you have it, and have time, I would appreciate the next generation. That is the children of James H., Martha L., etc. Well, another tiny mystery crops up - You have mentioned that Dr. Franklin Cooley married 1st to Elizabeth Chinn. Well amongst my notes I have a marriage from Shelby County, Missouri: Vestrum Cooley marr. Vina Chinn Feb. 13, 1866 Who this Vestrum is I have no idea as of yet - I have not done hardly any work in Shelby County, but as Shelby County is immediately adjacent to Macon County on the East - I feel I must soon investigate. Perhaps here a little bit of Geography is in order - You have mentioned College Mound in several instances. College Mound is, at present, a tiny village about 100 population just above the Randolph County line. My grandparents Daniel and Martha Cooley lived there right after they were married in 1902, and their first child - my aunt Lou Etta was born there. In those days it was a much larger town - a coal mining center. They then moved to Ardmore, which is about 2 1/2 miles NE. Ardmore is almost totally gone now - less than 20 people in the vicinity - it once was a town of several thousand - a famous coal mining center. They lived there for several years 1904-1915, and my grandmother's Brother James H. Davison ran a saloon and was the town marshal there. The house he lived in still stands - but most of the others are gone - only about 10 building left - including 2 churches. College Mound and Ardmore are both in Chariton township - which is just below Beiver township where Timothy Cooley settled. College Mound was the early Post Office for the area including Beiver twp, before the town of Beiver grew up. Beiver is still a pretty good size town (about 800). I know the Gipson (Gibson) Cemetary which is just adjacent to village of College Mound. By the way the Robert Gipson it is named for lived to be 120 years old, and had hundreds of descendants - many of which still live in Randolph and Macon Counties. All this area of Northern Missouri is part of the hilly country known as the "Green Hills" region, and along the Chariton River was the area of the earliest settlement. It is fairly well timbered - and is an important coal mining area. Much of the land has been disrupted by strip mining. Coal was discovered in Macon County about 1865 and by the 80's mining was one of the major activities of the region. Most of Tim's sons and many grandsons - including my g.f. Daniel - were coal miners at one time or another. The Chariton River was once navigable and had steamboat traffic up at least as far as Thomas Hill. The River and the timber along its banks were the focal point of the early pioneers. Because of the presence of water - wood - and game - the settlers stayed fairly close to the River at least until after 1850 or so. The Chariton River continues from its mouth at the Missouri on up into Iowa and encompasses most of the "Green Hills" region of Missouri. Tim Cooley settled on Claybank Creek 2 miles south of town of Beiver. My 4th cousin Bill Gilstrap lives just across the Creek where his East fence borders the Original Cooley place. Yes, I am definitely interested in the Youngblood line - of all my family branches, it is the Youngbloods that have been the most trouble. I have hundred of pages of facts gathered on them but just can not seem to make the right connections. My Youngbloods came from South Carolina thru Georgia and Alabama to Missouri. The oldest solid fact I have is my great great grandfather John H. Youngblood who was born 1824-25 in Alabama, and was in Macon County, Missouri by 1843. He was married to Mary Jane "Polly" White on Oct. 29, 1843. He is shown as a farmer in the 1850 Census. Their daughter Martha Isabelle "Belle" Youngblood was born July 1847, and is the only child I know anything about. The family supposedly later removed to either Oklahoma or Arkansas. John H.'s father may have been Jeremiah Youngblood who was born 1796 in South Carolina. He was in 1860 Census for Macon County, with wife named Delilla which appears to be a second wife. Martha Isabelle married John Iven Cooley June 16, 1864. These are my great grandparents. Well, I will close off for now - and try to write more later when I have a chance to do some more research. Sending my best wishes for a truly Happy New Year D. Pat Walker Next letter, dated Jan 7, 1979. St. Louis, Mo. Jan. 7, 1979 Dear Bernita - This will be just a short letter - but as I was at the Library yesterday doing a little family history work - and I ran across a real interesting little bit - I just had to send it along! Actually I was attempting to search out the movement of my Mullinix line into North Carolina - when I ran across some Cooley material almost by accident and spent the rest of my time trying to find out more. The very little bit I did discover has excited me - and I have a strong feeling that with a few more hours of work I will be onto something really good. In looking though some Virginia records, I came across a reference to Cooleys in Grayson County - So pursueing that clue - I went into the local history shelves and grabbed a marvelous little book - The following is from "Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County Virginia" by B.F. Nuckolls, 1914 Pages 186-189 (didnt have enough change to make extra photocopy - will do so soon and send along) "Matthew Dickey, Sr. and his wife, Rebecca Wiley, had a daughter that married Benjamin Cooley, Esq. Dr. A.B. Cox, author of "Footprints on the Sands of Time," says, "No modern Tubal Cain could have excelled him as an artificer in his superior skill in working metals. He made some of the finest clocks in the United States. One of these clocks was purchased by John McMillan, of Alleghany Co., N.C., and it not only kept the usual order of time, but the days of the week and the month, and the changes of the moon. Esquire Cooley was a useful and honored citizen, and had an intelligent and highly respected family." Benjamin Cooley, Esq., was among the early settlers of that part of Grayson that is now Carroll County. He lived on Coal Creek. There were but few clocks or time pieces in the Country at that time. The 12 o'clock mark for the sunshine in the open door on the floor, was the only way many of the pioneers could tell the time of day. Esq. Cooley decided that he would go to Salem, No. Carolina, and get the Moravians to teach him how to make clocks. Upon arriving there he found that they demanded what he thought a big price to teach him, and he swore that he would not pay the price, but would learn to make clocks by himself. William Bourne, living on Knob Fork, owned a fine Grandfather Clock. The works were brass, and in addition to the time of day, the changes of the moon were shown. It was the first clock ever brought into Grayson County. After Mr. Cooley returned from N.C., he went to see Mr. Bourne and asked if he might take the pattern of his clock. Mr. Bourne consented, and Cooley took the clock to pieces and made patterns of all the running works. From these patterns he made clocks and sold them all over the country. Benjamin Cooley and his wife Jane Dickey, had two sons: First son, Martin Cooley, married Catherine Currin, daughter of Major George and Martha (Swift) Currin. They had two sons who moved to Oregon. Second son, James Cooley, married Caroline Higgins, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Edwards) Higgins. Their first daughter married Robert Jones and lived in Galax, Carroll Co., Virginia. Another daughter, Fannie, married Henry C. Nuckolls and died at Quinton, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma in 1911. One of their sons, Frank, remained single; one son, Rufus, was a minister of the Christian Church; two other sons were teachers; another son, George Cooley was a teacher and farmer. Rebecca Cooley married Jesse P. Worrell and they moved to Texas where they raised a family of sons and daughters. Amanda Cooley married Logan Roberts of Mt. Airy, Surry Co., No. Carolina and died without issue. Julia Ann Cooley married a man named Price, but had no issue. She was a teacher for a number of years. Benjamin Cooley had a brother [Peter] who married Mary Hanks, and lived on Coal Creek nearby. This brother had a large family of children. One daughter, Matilda, married John Carico, a son of Rev. William Carico. They established a home near Providence Camp Ground (I cant find this place), and raised a large family. Two sons Andrew and Harden Cooley moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where Harden was a Methodist minister. Another daughter married Peter Beamer and lived near Fancy Gap, Carroll Co., Virginia. Benjamin Cooley, Jr. [Son of Brother to Benjamin Esq.?], lived and died at the old home. All these were useful men, had nice families, most of them members of the Methodist Church, and died in the Christian Faith, and their posterity shown to the world the benefits accruing from good ancestry and parental training." Just what all of the above means is not at all clear to me - But I'll bet a nickel that somehow this family ties into our own lines. The lack of dates in this narrative make it somewhat difficult to put a time frame on this family - But from another source in the same book is: "Matthew Dickey, Sr., married Rebecca Wiley in North Carolina and then moved to Grayson Co., Virginia were he died June 15, 1827, aged 75 years." This would make him born 1751-1752. I also have found traces of Cooleys in Surry, Stokes and Yadkin Counties of North Carolina and in Patrick, Carroll and Henry Counties of Virginia. You will notice that all these Counties are adjacent to each other along the present state boundary. I have the feeling that their is a connection between these Cooleys and the William Cooley, known to history as a companion to Daniel Boone on the exploring trip into Kentucky in 1769 [Related in the book "The Long Hunter - a Life of Daniel Boone"]. Also you know that it is indicated that some of our John Cooley, Sr.'s children (including my James) were born in Stokes Co., N.C. I am positive that somehow there is a connection between all of these people, and if it takes me twenty years, I will find it out, if it is there. The 1790 Census of Stokes County, North Carolina shows: John Cooley Edward Cooley all Salisbury Dist. Joseph Cooley Furthermore, as I have told you before: My Great-Great Grandfather was Timothy GOODE Cooley. And the same 1790 Census shows neighbors to the above Cooley's to be: George Goode Maj. Richard Goode Thomas Goode, Sr. Thomas Goode, Jr. There just must be a connection somehow! NOTE: The Goode family came to Virginia in 1678, and there is a book "Virginia Cousins" - about the Goode Family - By G. Brown Goode published 1887 and re-issued 1963 - I aim to buy this book very soon, and hope it will be invaluable to me. There were also Cooleys and Goodes in Henry County, Virginia 1782-1787 Well, like I said this was only a short letter - but I wanted to pass along this little bit - Sure is fascinating, isn't it. Oh by the way - The Officer's were also in Henry County, Virginia - The intanglements are amazing - Someday, God willing, I will get it all straightened out. Peace and Love, Happy New Year Pat Pat Walker 4256 Botanical Ave Apt 6 Saint Louis, Mo 63110 Next letter, dated Feb 1, 1979. St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 1, 1979 My dearest Mrs. Sharp - I was so very pleased and excited to recieve your marvelous letter. Thanks so very much for the wonderful revealing information. The photograph of C.C.C. is a true treasure and believe me I shall value it as a precious possession for all my life, and promise that it will be eventually passed on to a descendant of our mutual family line. Few material items I have ever recieved have brought me greater pleasure. Bernita, allow me this intimacy, the resemblance of Christopher to my own grandfather Daniel Cooley is simply remarkable. If one held photographs of the two together many would say they were brothers (even though generations apart). There is truly a "Cooley Look" - I am not kidding - a couple of years ago while on my job - a new truck driver came to deliver some supplies - upon seeing him for the first time in my life - I was struck by his resemblance to my uncles and I asked him his last name - YES he said it was Cooley. He is Gerald Cooley of Dent County, Missouri, and we discussed family lines - he knows very little about his own family beyond his father, but we are certain that somewhere in the past we are linked by blood. Do you remember the Bandleader of the 40's and 50's Spade Cooley? If you have a mental image of him, He - My uncles Reggie and Elmo Cooley, and Gerald Cooley are remarkably alike. I have also been told that Spade Cooley was a descendant of one of Timothy's brothers - This may just be a family legend - I really don't know - I met Spade Cooley several times as a young boy, and my mother always has claimed him as a distant cousin. This was, of course, before his tragedy. I have always intended to try to trace the relationship but Frankly have never and mainly because I have not taken the time. As to Gerald Cooley, my friend here in St. Louis - he is descended from the James Cooley who appears in the 1880 Census of Dent County, Missouri as follows: Cooley, James age 65, Norman twp. Dent Co., Mo, born Missouri -- Elizabeth wife age 33 born Mo. -- Eli 19 son born Mo. -- Andrew 14 son born Mo. -- Joseph 8 son born Mo. -- Mary 6 dau. born Mo. -- Albert 4 son born Mo. -- Frank 1 son born Mo. Gerald is from the Albert born 1876. Someday I will devote the necessary time to attempt to link this James C. 1815? or so with our own lines. I truly do hope that sometime this year you and your daughter will be able to visit here in Missouri - I would so much like to have you stop by here. You would be most truly welcome. My work hours are long and only Sat. afternoons and Sundays do I have to myself, but any evening and weekends I would sincerly love to have you visit. We can write more about this all later. By the way, I hope to make a pilgrimage of my own this year - to visit family places in Ohio - Ky - Tenn - N.C. - S.C. and Georgia. Planning to go in Oct. Regarding the size of Our Nation - I have been all over No. America and truly it is a broad and vast land. All but 2 of these United States have I not been to - Hawaii & No. Dakota - Hawaii for obvious reasons and N.D. because it does not seem to be on the way to anywhere I was ever going. Travel is one of my greatest pleasures in this life - nothing much (except genealogy) motivates me like travel. I get excited about going to Louisiana, Missouri (my room-mate's home town) only 80 miles North of here as we do several times a year. You spoke of my handwriting and tonight I seem to be trying to prove your statement wrong! But I am proud that I write well enough to be understood. I have a fine typewriter but prefer to write in longhand. I am writing this on my lap while watching a documentary on T.V. I should go to my desk - please forgive! The group sheet and copyed letter from Tim Clark was especially pleasing to me. I will write to Mr. Clark probably tommorrow night, and share all I know - never fear I will always see that whatever might pass between T.C. and I will be shared with you at all times. Something in his letter did hit me like a ton of bricks - "Tink" - my heavens I have not thought of that nick-name since I was a tiny boy - But I distinctly remember my grand-father referring to his grand-father as Tink Cooley. He was always called Tink by his friends and aquaintances. I have no doubt that Tim Clark knows of what he speaks - His reference to the Horse Racing activity of Timothy Goode Cooley is truth - Pure and simple - He owned, trained and raced some of the finest blooded thoroughbred Horses in Missouri. Macon County was a "hotbed" of horse racing activity and T.G.C. was smack in the middle of it all. His son John I. (my g-grandfather) also was a jockey and horse trainer - but it seems that the infusion of Youngblood genes into my line destroyed the size factor - all of the next generation and my own are of normal size and some even large men - my grandfather was 5'10" and weighed about 160 lbs. I am 5'10" and weigh 200 lbs, and so forth - But size has never prevented a Cooley from being a horse enthusiast. I have been nutty about horses all of my life - and have owned many - mostly stock-horses - I was raised among the cowboys of California and am a true "Racing" nut. I have a theory - and hope to soon prove it out one way or the other - I refer to the Goode Family. I believe that Jane Goode who was married to James Cooley, was the daughter of Timothy Goode of Lincoln Co., Kentucky. He is mentioned as eldest (only) son of his father John Goode in John Goode's will dated April 6, 1800 in Book C, page 23 of Lincoln Co. wills. I have just ordered from Goodspeed's in Boston a Book called "Kentucky Cousins" - a history of the Goode family By Cecil E. Goode (1957) and expect delivery in a couple weeks. Perhaps the answer lies in this book? I also ordered at the same time the 1883 history of Howard and Chariton Counties, Mo. which I have already researched. Regarding the Henry Co. Va material - I only have a few marriages (only the one you mention, Thomas O. m. S. Dillion) from a Virginia Historical review in our public library - but I have not dug very deep into Henry Co. yet. Just no time - If I have my way I would spend 8 hours a day - 6 days a week at the library doing Genealogy research. I do not have here in St. Louis a picture of my Grandfather of G. Grandfather - but my mother is supposed to be coming here from California in April and will be bringing all the family pictures with her. Afterward I will try to get a copy made of both John I. and Daniel I. to send along so you can see the resemblance between C.C.C. & Daniel. One thing, I do especially think that the Marriage from Lawrence Co., Mo. For Dec. 26, 1860 of Pleasant Youngblood is important to me. It seems that some of my John H. Youngblood's family went to Carroll County, Arkansas long before he left Macon Co. for there in abt. 1865 - so it is a good clue for me to work on. Thanks awfully! Mrs. Sharp, I will write again really soon - so I will close for now - sending my best wishes and prayers for your continued health and good spirit. Most sincerly, Pat Feb. 1, 1979 D. Patrick Walker St. Louis, Mo. Last letter for tonight, dated Sept 30, 1979. As with the first letter, none of the attachments - charts, group sheets or pictures - were saved with the letter. There are a few more letters to transcribe, I'll try to post in the next day or so. Dennis St. Louis, Mo. Sept. 30, 1979 Dearest Bernita - It has been quite some time since I last wrote so thought I had better drop a few lines to say hello and keep in touch. I have been meaning to write a lot sooner, but have been keeping pretty busy - Having been away most week-ends and when I have been home I have been making contact with a number of new relatives and have been sharing family history with them. Through Les and Shirley Buirch of Lodi, Calif. who I, of course, met with your help, I made contact with Dr. Richard Nimer, M.D. and his wife Evelyn. Dr. Nimer is a descendant of your Joseph Cooley line, thru the son John who married Elizabeth White. Perhaps you already know Dr. Nimer, but I want to make sure by passing along that line. Dr. and Mrs. Nimer live in Pleasant Grove, Utah and, of course have access to the LDS library in S.L.C. They are also Mormom themselves, so are interested in genealogy and keep good records, etc. Dr. Richard Albert Nimer was born April 20, 1925 in Provo, Utah. He married Evelyn Park July 31, 1947. He was the son of Edward E. Nimer and Ida Alberta Eichenberger. It is his mother's line we are interested in. Ida Eichenberger was born Mar. 9, 1901 in Macon, Mo. She was the daughter of Arthur Frederick Eichenberger and Minnie Alice Banta. The Mother was the daughter of Charles F. Banta and Elizabeth Ann COOLEY. Elizabeth Ann Cooley born Jan. 29th 1854 in Macon Co., Mo. was the daughter of Washington Talbert and Amanda M. (Hinton) Cooley. As you know Wash. T. Cooley was a son of John and Elizabeth (White) Cooley. I am sure you also remember that Elizabeth Ann Cooley had a son born out of wedlock named Washington "Talbert" Cooley who married my Grandfather's sister Elnora. After the death of Wash T. Cooley (older) his widow Amanda (Hinton) Cooley remarried to Marquis de Lafayette Rice, and lived in Randolph Co., Mo. Dr. Nimer was kind enough to send me a Xerox copy of a photo of Layfayette Rice and Amanda (Hinton) Cooley Rice. It turned out pretty good on the copier. Well I will send along a Pedigree chart to illustrate Dr. Nimers family line, and go on to other news. A few months ago I wrote to a man in Macon Mo. who I was pretty certain was the grandson of my great-grandmother's sister, a fact that turned out to be true. Sad and strange as it seems, the man, Mr. Fred Llewellyn, died before he had the chance to answer me. About a month ago, a cousin of his was down to Macon from her home in Novinger, and in going thru some of his things discovered my letter and wrote to me. The way she and I are connected is not of interest to our Cooley line - but the amazing thing is that in mentioning my line to her I, of course, told of the Cooley line, and knock me down in a windstorm, if she doesn't write back to say her next door (farm) neighbor is a Cooley. That is Mrs. Mildred Pickett, whose maiden name was Cooley. She is a great granddaughter of Timothy Goode Cooley. Her grandfather Ben and my great grand father John were brothers, and she was able to give me a lot of new and welcome information on her line. Since she and you have a common ancestor in John Cooley, I thought you might like to have a bit of that information, so I am including a Pedigree Chart to illustrate that, and a family group sheet on Benjamin Franklin Cooley. By the way, I and a 2nd cousin of mine in Lyons, Illinois have been doing some research in Old New York State records and trying to correlate them to the North Carolina Cooleys, and as a result - I am fairly convinced that John Cooley was the youngest son of William Corneilius Cooley - "William the Strong" who appears in the records of Orange County, New York (area around present day town of Goshen). It sure seems to fit - He had a son John born 1740, which is just about right for Our John. I will, of course, keep searching to see what I can find out, and immediately share with you. Well now, Bernita, having written all of this I have a final bit of news that is very exciting to me. My mother and I just (2 weeks ago) bought a house in Beiver, Missouri: the Old "Cooley" Country, and Mother will be moving up there next week-end. I, of course, will remain here in St. Louis. We are both so pleased about it, and just amazed at how many of the neighbors are kinfolks. We are surrounded by Cooleys, Davisons, Millers, Whites, Wrights, Mullinixs, Richardsons, etc. It is truly like going home! We have gotten aquainted with the man (Mr. Lenzini) who now owns most of the Old Tim Cooley farm, and have been able to walk the land and see several of the "Cooley" houses that still stand. We are just tickled pink over our little house and Mother is certainly looking forward to getting in up there. There is a wealth of information to be learned from nearly everyone in Beiver and I am sure going to gather all I can. In fact, the house we now own was owned previously for many years by the great grandson of Mark White (1825-1896) who was a brother to my great great grandmother Mary Jane (White) Youngblood, and whose parents were Randolph and Elizabeth (Riley) White. His widow Opal Richardson is who we bought the house from. She is quite elderly and is going in a senior citizens unit. You see Mark White's daughter Mary Elizabeth (1852-1924) married John B. Richardson. I am sending a photo of the house, which is located at 308 North Linn St. in Beiver, Mo. 63532, and also a picture looking south down Linn St. Nearly every house in view the residents have some family connection to us. Of course, when we get Mother moved in, all the junk alongside the house will be removed and the place shaped up. It is in really good repair for its years and has been modernized inside - We were quite fortunate to find it for Sale and so very reasonable also. Nice big lot also. Well Bernita, guess I shall bring this to a close, sending all our love and hoping you are well and in good spirit - Please give our best to Sandy. We certainly were so happy to have had your visit earlier this year. All my deepest regards, Pat Walker D. Patrick Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt. 5 St. Louis, Mo. 63110 P.S. Beiver is just my kind of town! Population 806 (807 with Mom). A truly delightful Country Village. I'm posting the last few letters tonight, this one is from Nov 21, 1982. As with the other letters, no narrative was saved with the letter. Wonder where all those attachments have gone? Dennis St. Louis, Mo. Nov. 21, 1982 Dearest Bernita - I was truly delighted to recieve your wonderful letter - I apoligize for being so very long in writing. No real excuse - just haven't! I am so very sorry to have heard about the damage you had from the storm - certainly a terrible shame. I do hope everything is back to normal with you in your new apartment. So much has happened since last I wrote - I really do not have the slightest idea where to begin to bring you up to date. I have in in constant pursuit of Genealogy and certainly have made great discoveries in many areas - but not necessarily in the area of your own line. I did finally get the opportunity to visit Cooley Lake in Clay County. It is simply beautiful - It is now owned by the Missouri State Conservation Dept. as a wildlife refuge. A couple cousins of mine and I made a family quest in August to visit all the places in Missouri where our family lived, etc. Bernita - I am fully aware of Edward F. Cooley. I too have recieved numerous letters from him - I have tried to help him but like you, can't get much out of him that makes any sense. I have long ago just quit answering - sent him everything I thought might help him anyway. As to the Elizabeth White letter of 1878 - I ascribe the decespancies in her narrative to poor memory. Several points she makes have long ago been proved differently. However, I do appreciate the story of a wonderful old Pioneer woman. I am quite certain the White you refer to in Macon is Laurele White - She and husband Grisham are very dear friends - Grisham is a descendant of Thomas K. White and wife Jemima Cooley. I would bet the other one is Virginia Alexander of Jefferson City. I am also aware of her. I have not met her yet however. Someone you should know of is Edna Traylor, 203 N. Water St., Huntsville, Missouri 65259 - She shares a common descent with you from Joseph Cooley - via son John who married Elizabeth White. She is a retired teacher and very interested in genealogy. Great Lady! Yes, Edward F. Cooley is completely confused - John Cooley was definitely a son of Joseph Cooley. I would certainly like the address if you have it - of the White desc. in Crete, Nebraska. I would love to see what she knows about the children of Wm White & Elizabeth Cooley. Yes, my Mother returned to the "Golden State" - just could not handle the winters of the "Show-Me State"! Ha I do still own the property in Bevier, although I do have it for sale at present. Another couple you should know, if you alreay do not, is Bruce and Marta Metcalf of Manhatten Beach, Calif. - 582 Rosecrans Ave. 90266 - Bruce is a descendant of Jackson and Harriett (Dimick) Cooley - via their son Jefferson D. B. Cooley. His grandmother was Lola L. Cooley, born Oct. 14, 1891 in Salem, Oregon. She married Ray Metcalf - did you perhaps know of them? Luther Island - is Loutre Island a major body of land in the Missouri River located in what is now Montgomery Co., Missouri. There was a White (people) settlement there as early as 1798. So it was an "old" settlement when the Cooleys came in 1811. I am enclosing with this letter a wonderful narrative written by Joseph T. Cooley - he was the grandfather of Edna Traylor mentioned above. He died June 27, 1934 at age 91. I know you will enjoy this. Well, I really wish I could send along a "ton" of wonderful "new" stuff - but alas I just dont have it to send. I am so happy to have heard from you and certainly promise to not be so tardy in writing again. Very best wishes, Pat D.L. "Pat" Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt 6 St. Louis, Mo 63110 Next letter dated Feb 11, 1984. Saint Louis, Mo. Feb. 11, 1984 Dear Bernita, I am sorry for all the confusion - perhaps I owe you an explaination! My name is Dale Lee Patrick Francis Walker. My family calls me Dale - Nearly all my friends and correspondants know me as Pat - I often sign myself as D. Patrick Walker. Thus the misunderstanding. I am glad you enjoyed the newsletters, The next issue will be forthcoming about April 1st. Yes, I'm sure in future some notes on your line will be included - In issue #2 page I - The Archie Cooley, whose wife died, is of your line. His descent is as follows: Joseph Cooley | John Cooley m. Elizabeth White | Joseph Cooley m. Elizabeth Locke | Joseph E. Cooley m. Julia Rice | William P. Cooley m. Keturah Teter | Archie Lee Cooley b. Aug 1, 1903 2 other members (beside Bruce Metcalf) of our Cooley Cousins Assoc. who are of your line are: Edna Traylor of Huntsville, Mo. & Hugo Alexander of Macon, Mo. Edna's descent is as follows: Joseph Cooley | John Cooley m. Elizabeth White | Wm. C. Cooley m. Elizabeth J. Fields | Joseph T. Cooley m. Rhoda J. Rice | Lou Ella Cooley m. Chas. W. Singleton | Edna Singleton Traylor (b. May 17, 1903) Hugo Alexander's descent is thusly: Joseph Cooley | John Cooley m. Elizabeth White | Wm. C. Cooley m. Elizabeth Fields | Nancy C. Cooley m. Charles A. Alexander | Hugo Alexander | Hugo Alexander (b. 1903) Feb. I think? So you can see - you have others of your line as members also. All three of them (Archie, Edna, and Hugo - were born in 1903, thus all of them are 80 with Hugo the oldest. Anyway he was the oldest in attendance at the Reunion. I am so sorry to hear of Sandy's injury. Please give her my best regards when you see ner next. I hope this year is more enjoyable then the last one ended for you. Hope you enjoy future numbers of the newsletter - I'll try to be more "faithful" in writing. Very best wishes, Pat Dale L. "Pat" Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt. 6 Saint Louis, Mo. 63110 Next letter, dated May 13, 1984. Charming story (little scary) about Tink and the bushwhackers during the Civil War. I've not seen the "Cooley Cousins" newsletter that Pat apparently edited. I do have all the old Cooley Family Association Bulletins & Communiques, however. St. Louis, Mo. May 13, 1984 Dear Bernita - I certainly want very much to thank you for the recent letter and very interesting news article. I really do appreciate it! Thanks so much for thinking of me. Yes, I have always had a strong interest in the 19th Century Missouri Outlaws - The Jameses and Youngers and others. The memory of these men and their time was a great part of the stories that I remember the elders telling when I was a small boy. Missourians to this day have a deep interest of and even a "pride" in these characters. The "bushwhacker" era, tragic as it was in those days, has become with the distance of time part of the "romance" of Missouri History. Perhaps you are not aware ofthe connections of Macon County Cooleys to the guerilla forces during the Civil War - I refer to the raid in the fall of 1863 by The bushwhacker band led by "Bloody Bill" Anderson (of whom Frank James and later Jesse James were a part) into Macon County. Although historians credit the James Boys with the "invention" of Bank Robbery at Liberty, Mo. nearly 3 years later - They darn well may have gotten the idea while riding with Anderson in Macon County. Perhaps the easiest way to tell of this incident is simply to quote from my manuscript "TINK" - The story of my Great, Great Grandfather: "It was late in the evening, the businesses of Bloomington were closed. Most of the people were in their homes having supper; it was a peaceful small town scene that was being repeated in hundreds of places all over America. But this was Missouri, and a Civil War was raging. From the West came a large band of Horsemen. They rode into the edge ot town quietly, and made their way quickly to the home of George Shortridge, the Cashier of the local branch of the Western Bank of Missouri. Surprising Shortridge at his supper table, the raiders took him prisoner, and placing a guard over the others in the house to prevent them fromo spreading the alarm, made him go to the bank with them. With drawn revolvers the robbers forced the Cashier to open the vault. From it they removed $16,000 in cash and bank notes. Turning Shortridge loose, they rushed for their horses and firing their guns to frighten the populace, they galloped from the town toward the South. A couple hours later, and several miles South the bushwhackers opened the gate at the lane leading up to the Cooley house. Inside the Cooley house the family was just settling down for the night. Tink and Lucinda were already in bed as were the younger children: Mary, Pres, Jess, Will and Jemima. David was not at home, off visiting a neighbor family over toward Macon. Jeff and John, 23, and 18 respectively, were in the living room quietly talking just prior to their own retiring. In the slave cabin to the rear the negroes were already asleep. Suddenly all Hell broke loose! The first inkling that anything was amiss, was the sudden barking of the dogs. Immediately the still night was filled with gunfire and shouting. Startled from his rest, Tink leaped from his bed and ran downstairs in his nightshirt, with son Preston right behind him. Jeff and John had immediately grabbed their rifles and peered out of the front windows: the yard was full of horsemen, the house surrounded by shooting, shrieking bushwhackers. A voice rang out "This is Captain Anderson - come out of there or we'll burn you out!" Lighting a lantern, Tink cautiously opened the door and stepped out on the porch with a revolver in his other hand. The lantern threw a faint light out into the shadows and Tink could see that at least 20 riders were in the yard visible to him - from the shouting he determined that others were to the rear of the house. A black bearded man on a prancing gray rode up close to the porch and spoke: "I mean no harm to any of you, I know you are good Southern people, but be warned that I tolerate no opposition - I wan to see all of your men folks out on the porch." Realizing that all resistance was futile, Tiink motioned for the boys to step outside. The infamous guerilla leader "Bloody Bill" spoke again, "Why is it that I see two able-bodied men at home when they should be out defending the Confederacy?" As he spoke a couple of the raiders came around the corner of the house herding the Negro family along. Anderson's eyes fell on them and again he spoke "Tonight I shall teach these damn niggers to remember their places," and turning to those guarding the negroes, continued "Tie them bucks to that Oak and whip them." Tink bravely objected, "You'll not whip my Negras!" With vehemenance, Bloody Bill spit out the words "Would you have me then whip these fine white boys?" indicating Jeff, John and Pres. "Keep your damn mouth shut, or I'll make them dance." Turner and his son Gomer were bound to the giant Oak tree in the yard and a big, ugly bearded hillbilly of a bushwhacker laid his blackshake on their bare backs. At least twenty lashes fell before the insanely laughing monster quit and remounted his horse. Continuing to train his pistols on Tink and his sons the guerilla leader shouted orders: "Fire that barn, and get all those horses and mules." Shrieking raiders scattered to do his bidding - before himself turning away, Anderson spoke one more time "We commender all your livestock in the name of the Confederacy and warn you that I will return to see why you younguns ain't joined the Army." As he reined his horse away the flames leaped from the barn some hundred yards away." Anyway, I thought you might find this little "sidelight" of history of interest. It is pretty well ascertained that Frank James was riding with Anderson at the time of the Macon County raid - Jesse probably did not go out with them until the next Spring. Thanks again for your rememberance of me - The "Cooley Cousins" will be a bit early this next issue as I will be visiting in California in the latter part of June. Best wishes as always, "Pat" Dale L. "Pat" Walker 4256 Botanical Ave. Apt. 6 Saint Louis, Mo. 63110 Last letter!, dtd Nov 3, 1985. Thanks again to Mary for the loan of these documents. St. Louis, Mo. Nov. 3, 1985 Dear Bernita - I was delighted to hear from you and grateful for the material enclosed. I am especially pleased to get the Ball family information, as I have other connections to that family on other of my direct and Collary lines. First, however, I must address your enquiry in regard to family of James Cooley. From your questioning it is obvious to me that I never updated you on information learned after the time you and I wer activily corresponding. Having finally obtained copies of the probate papers of James Cooley and much subsequent correspondence/research, etc. - The knowledge of James Cooley's family has become much clearer from what was known or believed at that earlier time: James Cooley was born June 12, 1772 in Stokes Co., No. Carolina, the son of John Cooley. Early in the 19th Century he removed "over the mountains" to South Central Kentucky and after a few years, further removed into the "Booneslick Country" (Howard Co., Mo.). He died there on Oct. 1, 1821. His widow was Elizabeth Cooley nee Goode. Now it has been oral tradition in my family for generations that her maiden name was Goode - but the Jane part was told to me by another source, who I am now convinced had confused her with her daughter-in-Law: Jane (White) Cooley. Also it has been ascertained that she was not, as previously believed, the daughter of Major Richard Goode. Her actual father is not proven yet, but probably was one of Major Richard's brother: perhaps William Goode? The children of James and Elizabeth Cooley were: 1. Elnora or Eleanor Cooley, born ca. 1796 in Stokes Co., N.C. She married William Green on Oct. 3, 1816 and died before 1822. 2. Demarcus D. Cooley "Mark", born ca. 1798/99 in Stokes Co., N.C. He married Rebecca ? and died Nov. 24, 1826. 3. Jemima Cooley, born Sept.9, 1800. She married Thomas K. White on Dec. 21, 1817. They lived in Macon Co., Missouri. 4. James M. Cooley, born ca. 1802. He married Jane White and died before 1833. 5. Theodosia Cooley "Docia", born ca. 1803. She married 1st to William Cunningham and 2nd to John Roberts. She died April 12, 1855 in Buchanan Co., Mo. 6. John H. Cooley, born ca. 1804. He married Elizabeth Locke on April 4, 1832. He died in the 1840's. 7. Isaac N. Cooley "Ike", born 1807. He married nancy Massey on Oct. 9, 1836 and died 1838 in Randolph Co., Mo. 8. Timothy Goode Cooley "Tink" - my 2nd great Grandfather! 9. Cornelius Cooley, born 1810-1815, nothing further known. 10. William Cooley, born 1810-1815, nothing further known. 11. Matthias M. Cooley, born 1810-1815, nothing further known. 12. Benjamin R. Cooley, born 1816 in Howard Co., Mo. He married Elizabeth Cooley, daughter of John and Elizabeth (White) Cooley. He lived in Macon Co., Mo. Hope this clears things up a bit for you. I now turn to Daniel Cooley's family: Daniel Cooley was born ca. 1763 in Stokes Co., N.C., the son of John Cooley. He married Mildred "Milly" Ball Jan. 19, 1786. He died 1826 in Ray Co., Mo. Children, as known, were: 1. William Cooley, born 17?? He married Martha "Patsy" Reed. Nothing further known. 2. John Cooley, born 17?? He married Mahala Hardwick on Dec. 12, 1807. Nothing further known. 3. Sarah "Sally" Cooley, born Mar. 15, 1792. She married John Maybrey (or Mayberry) on June 15, 1826. She died Feb. 4, 1849. John Mabrey was born March 1, 1782 and died Dec. 18, 1854. Their known children were: --Elizabeth Mabrey, born Jan. 26, 1826 She married Thomas M. Hardwick and died April 10, 1906. --Mary "Polly" Mabrey, born Aug. 2, 1830. She died Aug. 2, 1833, exactly 3 yrs. old. --John Mabrey, Jr., born Aug. 21, 1832 and died Sept. 17, 1838. --Reuben Mabrey, born Mar. 18, 1834. Nothing futher known. --William Mabrey, born Aug. 27, 1836. He died Nov. 8, 1855. 4. James Cooley, born Jan. 22, 1795. He married Frances Miller June 2, 1814 and died Sept. 1, 1835 in Carroll Co., Mo. 5. Daniel Cooley, born ? He married Elizabeth Hardwick on June 3, 1810 and died 1832. 6. Reuben Cooley, born? He married Maria Hardwick Dec. 23, 1830 and died 1832. 7. Elias Cooley, born ca. 1806. He married 1st to Mahala Lane on Oct. 2, 1828. His 2nd wife was Nancy R. ? He lived and died in Chariton Co., Mo. Three known children: --James Cooley, born ca. 1843 --Anna J. Cooley, born ca. 1855 --William H. Cooley, born ca. 1858 8. Anna Cooley, born ? She married Mintre Munday July 16, 1810. 9. Rebecca Cooley, born ? She married Thomas Hardwick. 10. Mary "Polly" Cooley, born ? She married John Smart on Jan. 27, 1826. 11. Elizabeth Cooley, born ? She married George Salley (or Sallee). 12. Malinda Cooley, born Feb. 21, 1812. She married Samuel Turner on June 23, 1827, died March 26, 1884. One daughter? 13? Aaron, I know nothing about If you ever come up with another address for David Ballew, I sure would appreciate it. I would love to know more about his Ball family lines - Cooley too, of course! Well, as I said, I was certainly glad to hear from you again. I sure am sorry to hear of your eye troubles and truly hope it works out well. Give my regards to Sandy when you see her, and take good care of yourself. Very best wishes, Pat P.S. Did not know Father Heibel, but glad you sent clipping! P.P.S. I'm enclosing some copies of "Cooley" deeds from Stokes Co., N.C. I thought you would enjoy seeing!