The Cook family appears in the Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois census in 1860, with Martin A. Cook, wife Mary Ann and children Clarinda, Agnes, Levi, Frank and Ed.

By the 1880 census, they were in Vernon County, Missouri, living near Moundville:

• Martin A. Cook, age 65, born Indiana
• Mary Ann Cook, age 53, born England
• Clarinda Cook, age 24, born Illinois
• Frank Cook, age 18, born Illinois
• Ed Cook, age 15, born Illinois
• James L. Jones, age 25, born Illinois (son-in-law)
• Agnes Jones, age 22, born Illinois
• Addie Jones, age 3, born Missouri
• Robert Ward, age 24, born New York, farm laborer

Left: Grave marker in Welborn Cemetery, Moundville.

• Martin A. Cook who died in December 31, 1884.
• Mary Ann Cook is also buried there: February 12, 1825 - March 16, 1898

The Cook's must have been rather well-to-do. The 1887 tax list for residents of Moundville Township was printed in the local newspaper. Mrs. M. A. Cook had to pay $6,875 which was the highest tax in the entire township.