George Wythe McCook

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 McCook
Painting at Daniel McCook House
4th Ohio Attorney General
In office January 9, 1854 – January 14, 1856
Governor	William Medill
Preceded by	George Ellis Pugh
Succeeded by	Francis D. Kimball
Personal details
Born	December 21, 1821 Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Died	December 28, 1877 (aged 56) Steubenville, Ohio
Resting place	Union Cemetery, Steubenville
Political party	Democratic
Relations	Fighting McCooks
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1846-1866
Rank	Colonel Ohio Adjutant General
Commands	2nd Ohio Infantry 157th Ohio Infantry Fort Delaware
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War American Civil War

Early life and career

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 1854–1856 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

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.

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

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]

See also

• List of Ohio's American Civil War generals

Notes

1. Appleton's Cyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-10-20
2. Office of the Ohio Attorney General Retrieved 2008-10-20
3. Cincinnati Civil War Round Table Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008-10-20.
4. Carroll County, Ohio, history webpage Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008-10-20
5. The Political Graveyard Retrieved 2008-10-20

References

• George Wythe McCook at Find a Grave
• Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). "McCook, George" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.