George Wythe McCook (November 21, 1821 – December 28, 1877) was a lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of Ohio in the United States. He was the Ohio Attorney General and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a member of the famed Fighting McCooks, a prominent military family that contributed more than a dozen officers to the war effort.
McCook was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of a local attorney, Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer McCook. He was one of an eventual twelve children (nine boys and three girls). In 1826 the family moved to New Lisbon, Ohio, and then to Carrollton. He graduated from Ohio University and subsequently studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and afterward became his partner. He served as an officer in the 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment throughout the Mexican War, and returned from the war as its commander.[1]
He was the Attorney General of Ohio from 1854 to 1856 and edited the first volume of the "Ohio State Reports." During his term in office, McCook specialized in railroad law. His skill in this area was noticed by the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Company, and after his term ended, the company sent him to Europe on legal business.[2]
At the war's outset, McCook was one of the first four brigadier generals selected by the Governor of Ohio to command the troops from that state, but, because of impaired health from his Mexican service, McCook was prevented from accepting that post. Later, he was appointed as the lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Ohio Infantry, and spent much of the war recruiting volunteers for several new regiments. He was named by Governor William Dennison as the Ohio Adjutant General.
After the war, McCook resumed his legal practice and political career. In 1871 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. However, he lost to another former Union Army officer, Col. Edward F. Noyes, by more than twenty thousand votes.
He, with the Rev. Dr. Charles Beatty, were the largest contributors to the erection of the Second Presbyterian Church at Steubenville, Ohio, of which he was a trustee.[4]
McCook died in Steubenville and is buried in Union Cemetery.[5]
george, wythe, mccook, november, 1821, december, 1877, lawyer, politician, soldier, from, state, ohio, united, states, ohio, attorney, general, officer, union, army, during, american, civil, member, famed, fighting, mccooks, prominent, military, family, that, . George Wythe McCook November 21 1821 December 28 1877 was a lawyer politician and soldier from the state of Ohio in the United States He was the Ohio Attorney General and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War He was a member of the famed Fighting McCooks a prominent military family that contributed more than a dozen officers to the war effort George Wythe McCookPainting at Daniel McCook House4th Ohio Attorney GeneralIn office January 9 1854 January 14 1856GovernorWilliam MedillPreceded byGeorge Ellis PughSucceeded byFrancis D KimballPersonal detailsBorn 1821 12 21 December 21 1821Canonsburg Pennsylvania USDiedDecember 28 1877 1877 12 28 aged 56 Steubenville Ohio USResting placeUnion Cemetery SteubenvillePolitical partyDemocraticRelationsFighting McCooksMilitary serviceAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionBranch service United States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1846 1866RankColonelOhio Adjutant GeneralCommands2nd Ohio Infantry 157th Ohio InfantryFort DelawareBattles warsMexican American WarAmerican Civil WarWikimedia Commons has media related to George Wythe McCook Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War service 3 Postbellum career 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life and career editMcCook was born in Canonsburg Pennsylvania the son of a local attorney Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer McCook He was one of an eventual twelve children nine boys and three girls In 1826 the family moved to New Lisbon Ohio and then to Carrollton He graduated from Ohio University and subsequently studied law with Edwin M Stanton and afterward became his partner He served as an officer in the 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment throughout the Mexican War and returned from the war as its commander 1 He was the Attorney General of Ohio from 1854 to 1856 and edited the first volume of the Ohio State Reports During his term in office McCook specialized in railroad law His skill in this area was noticed by the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Company and after his term ended the company sent him to Europe on legal business 2 McCook was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston South Carolina Civil War service editAt the war s outset McCook was one of the first four brigadier generals selected by the Governor of Ohio to command the troops from that state but because of impaired health from his Mexican service McCook was prevented from accepting that post Later he was appointed as the lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Ohio Infantry and spent much of the war recruiting volunteers for several new regiments He was named by Governor William Dennison as the Ohio Adjutant General Later he accepted an appointment as the colonel of the 157th Ohio Infantry Hundred Days Regiment He was second in command of the prisoner of war camp at Fort Delaware 3 At the end of the war he received the brevet rank of brigadier general dating from March 13 1865 1 Postbellum career editAfter the war McCook resumed his legal practice and political career In 1871 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio However he lost to another former Union Army officer Col Edward F Noyes by more than twenty thousand votes He with the Rev Dr Charles Beatty were the largest contributors to the erection of the Second Presbyterian Church at Steubenville Ohio of which he was a trustee 4 McCook died in Steubenville and is buried in Union Cemetery 5 See also edit nbsp American Civil War portalList of Ohio s American Civil War generalsNotes edit a b Appleton s Cyclopedia Retrieved 2008 10 20 Office of the Ohio Attorney General Retrieved 2008 10 20 Cincinnati Civil War Round Table Archived 2009 03 26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008 10 20 Carroll County Ohio history webpage Archived 2008 07 05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008 10 20 The Political Graveyard Archived 2010 02 05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008 10 20References editWilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 McCook George Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton Legal officesPreceded byGeorge Ellis Pugh Attorney General of Ohio1854 1856 Succeeded byFrancis D KimballParty political officesPreceded byGeorge H Pendleton Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Ohio1871 Succeeded byWilliam Allen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Wythe McCook amp oldid 1176626256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
