Susan Goode Farmer Cook was born August 8, 1838 in Kentucky and died in Missouri on May 10, 1890. She was the daughter of Katherine Spencer Hawkins (1814-1851) and John Goode Farmer (1808-1871).

Sue was named for her grandmother, Susan Goode (1783-1864), who was born in the Skinquarter section of Chesterfield County, Virginia, the daughter of a locally well known dissenting Baptist preacher, John Goode (1739-1792). [. . .] Katherine, Sue's mother, died when Susan was thirteen. As Susan's published obituary states, young Susie was left with the care of four brothers, one of whom, John, (later a professor at LaGrange College, Missouri) was but one year old. [. . .]

Susan Farmer attended Georgetown KY Seminary, a finishing school for young women. Completing the school curriculum in 1858, Susan, age 20, promptly married the ambitious and promising Joshua Flood Cook (1834-1912). On her marriage, Susan was thrust into the role of wife of a college President. In 1859, Joshua was named president of New Liberty College, New Liberty, KY. Notably, young Susan herself took on a public role, as she "presided over New Liberty Female Seminary" (as her obituary stated) until the Civil War began in 1861.

In 1860, in Shelby County KY, Susan gave birth to John Ernest, the first of her four children. John was followed by Lula (1862-1943) born in Corinth, Mississippi August 27, 1862. Lula was followed by two more baby boys, both born in LaGrange Missouri: William Flood, born Feb 2, 1868 and Cecil Virgil (1871-1948), Dec. 10, 1871. [. . .]

In a Bible which was inherited by Lula Cook Stone, Sue's daughter, and shown or given by her to family historian, Ellery Farmer, it is stated that Sue Farmer had a younger brother, Virgil (1843-46). Virgil was recorded in the Bible as follows: "August 26, 1843 Virgil son of J.G and K.S. Farmer May 7th 1846 of measles 10:30-noon a more beautiful form & sympathetic [ ] never graced this earth, erect carriage, black hair and eyes but he died."

Sorrow is not hidden in this succinct eulogy to two year old Virgil Farmer. A single sentence in a family Bible may be the only record to note the passage of this child's brief time on earth. But it permits us to know that Sue Farmer Cook memorialized Virgil, her lost little brother, in the naming of her youngest son. This Bible record also permits us to know that Virgil's death was the first major grief to assail young Susan. It was not the last. As a child, she buried Virgil. As an adolescent she would grieve at her mother's grave. Then, to her horror, in a Mississippi churchyard, she would bury her killed little brother, Willie, slain at Shiloh. [. . .]

Willie Farmer's gravestone in the Christiansburg Cemetery, like that of thousands of others markers across the nation, was memorialized in romantic sentiments then popular:

"William H. Farmer, of Breckinridge's brigade, C.S.A., born in Shelby County, September 26, 1840, died at Corinth, Mississippi, April 21, 1862, from the effect of a wound received at the Battle of Shilo, April 7, 1862. Dying among strangers, he said, ‘Let me be buried by Ma, tell them good-bye at home.' Erected by brothers & sisters."

From her letters, we know that Sue took these traumas and turned them into a stout nurturing that made her children want to excel at life, to please her. [. . .]

On June 8, 1862, Sue Cook, Willie's stricken sister, wrote to John Farmer, her long-widowed father, in Shelby County KY. Sue hoped that John had already learned of Will's death. Parts of her letter, in tiny script (no doubt to save scarce paper) are illegible:

[. . .]
Oh my dear Pa, I cannot cannot realize that my dear brother is dead, that he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking. Shall I not again see him or hear him tell his deep anxiety to get home to loved ones once more. And never no never in this life can I see him. Ah! If there is recognition in heaven! Is this thought filled my dear ma's head, when she sees her dear son free from his torments of earth and walking in God's glory [. . .] bearing a palm of victory.
[. . .]
He sleeps in our church yard so I can visit his resting place every evening with little Ernest, who seems conscious that it is a sacred spot to me, for he comes and places his arms around my neck and says, "Bless Uncle Will in the sky". Brother appeared and I think he was perfectly resigned to death. [. . . ] He said he wanted to be laid beside our dear dear Mother. And if I live I intend it shall be.
[. . .]
Oh dear Pa I have much to say if I could see you but my heart is so full I can't write. I want you to try and get through and see us this fall and spend a month or so here. The climate delightful and I think you would have splendid health and would have pleasure with the piney woods.

[Sometimes I lose hope] of ever seeing you again. We can meet at the throne of grace and there supplicate "Our Father" for each other's welfare and happiness. I could ask many questions of all of you but when would they be answered?

I wish to be remembered by all loved ones. I always think of you when the 4th Sabbath comes. And in imagination see so many faces seated in the old church where I so often have met with them.[. . .]

Remember us often Dear Pa in your prayers. [. . .] Your devoted daughter, Susie

After the Civil War, Joshua and Sue Cook moved their family to LaGrange, Missouri, where Joshua [in 1866] became president of a Baptist school, LaGrange College. J.F. Cook retained the presidency of LaGrange College for thirty years.

The relocation to Missouri caused Susan to influence her siblings to move to LaGrange from Shelby County Kentucky. She also took an active interest in the local Baptist Church in LaGrange, becoming a Sunday School teacher of the youngest class and raising funds for the completion of a new "church house."

Sue Cook was a candid writer of letters, several of which have been preserved. In 1885, during a visit to her Kentucky home, she wrote to "My Darling Baby Boy," Cecil Virgil Cook (1870-1948) that "Uncle Jim [possibly, Sue's cousin, James DeJarnett Farmer (1834-?)] got on the biggest drunk yet! Papa got after him."

In this letter, Sue Cook admonished young Cecil to study hard: "Papa says you are getting behind terribly in your Greek." This appeal is suggestive of the high goals Sue had for her children. Judging from Cecil's later accomplishments, the effect of her exhortation was positive.

On Oct 18, 1888, Sue wrote a letter to "My Dear Children," which seems to have been addressed to Cecil, but to which of the others is not clear as her other three children, Ernest, Lula and Will, are mentioned by name. Once again, her affection and close emotional ties to her children are on display. "I think you certainly are the most industrious people in the world as you can find no time to write. [. . .]

Sue Cook died in LaGrange at the relatively young age of fifty-two. She was remembered as confident, devout and devoted to her children and to her husband and his career.
Sue Cook's funeral was the first to take place in the completed building of the church she had attended and helped to lead. A lingering illness preceded Susan's death. She gave directions for her funeral, which included a request that her Sunday School class "attend the funeral in a body and the members of it throw into her open grave flowers of their own cutting and arranging." This was done.

The LaGrange Democrat reported on the funeral and observed: "The class, made up of the youngest children, had reserved seats, each little one bearing flowers of his or her own gathering. Huddled in their select corner the tear-stained, motherless brood presented one of the most touching features of the funeral procession."

This brief biography has been taken from a longer one, found in Volume II of a book of family history entitled ALL OF THE ABOVE II, by Richard Baldwin Cook. For additional information, visit the contributor profile, #47181028.

**************

SUE'S SOMBER FATHER POINTED HER TOWARD GOD
by
Richard Baldwin Cook
(copyright 2010)

Sue's somber father pointed her toward God.
Her husband too, but with humor preached.
Sue's children felt her love but not the rod
Of discipline as she preferred to teach.

Sue stood by Joshua through many trials.
He kept her high in status and in wealth.
She answered him with loyalty and smiles,
Until deaf heaven stole away her health.

Sue died before her youngest son had met
His Blanche Jeanette, a beauty from the West.
Though strangers, Blanche helped reach the goals Sue set
For Cecil Cook, who preached above the rest.

Two more wives J. F. would procure,
But Susan Farmer made his line secure.