Virgil Young Cook

Virgil Young Cook (November 14, 1848 – March 12, 1922) was an American Confederate veteran and planter from Arkansas. He was the richest resident of Independence County by the time of his death.

Virgil Young Cook
Born	(1848-11-14)November 14, 1848 Boydsville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	March 12, 1922(1922-03-12) (aged 73) Batesville, Arkansas, U.S.
Allegiance	Confederate States (1861–1865) United States (1898)
Branch	Confederate States Army United States Army
Years of service	1861–1865 1898
Rank	Colonel (United States)
Unit	12th Kentucky Cavalry 7th Kentucky Mounted Infantry[1] 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	American Civil War Spanish–American War
Spouses	Mildred Ophelia Lamb Sarah B. Lanier
Children	2 sons, 4 daughters
Other work	Planter
Signature

Early life

Cook was born on November 14, 1848, in Boydsville, Kentucky.^[2][3]

Career

During the American Civil War of 1861–1865, Cook joined the Confederate States Army and served under General Nathan Bedford Forrest.^[2] After the war, Cook served as the grand commander of the United Confederate Veterans.^[2][4][5] He was appointed to the board of directors of the Confederate Veteran by its founding editor, Sumner Archibald Cunningham, who was a close friend.^[6]

During the Spanish–American War of 1898, Cook served the colonel of the 2nd Arkansas Regiment.^[3][5] Although he was appointed by Governor Daniel Webster Jones, he "saw no active service."^[3]

Cook became a planter in Arkansas in 1867. He eventually owned "thousands of acres."^[2] He was also a real estate investor in Batesville.^[3]

Death

Cook was married twice. He first married Mildred Ophelia Lamb; they had two sons and four daughters.^[1] He later married Sarah B. Lanier.^[1] He resided at the Cook-Morrow House in Batesville, Arkansas,^[2] and he was a Methodist.^[5]

Cook died of "acute indigestion" on March 12, 1922, at 73.^[2][4][5] He was the richest resident of Independence County by the time of his death.^[3]