Edwin Stanton McCook was born at Carrollton, Ohio, on March 26, 1837. He was the seventh son of Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer (McCook). McCook graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served as a midshipman in the United States Navy from 1854 to 1856.

When the American Civil War began, McCook recruited a company of soldiers and joined the 31st Regiment Illinois Infantry, commanded by his friend, John Logan. McCook participated in the Battle of Fort Henry (February 6, 1862) and the Battle of Fort Donelson (February 11-16, 1862), where he was wounded. Throughout the war, McCook succeeded Logan as brigade and divisional commander as Logan was promoted. McCook participated in the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863), the Chattanooga Campaign (October-November 1863), the Atlanta Campaign (May 7-September 2, 1864), and the Savannah Campaign, also known as Sherman’s March to the Sea, (November and December 1864). Throughout his service, McCook was wounded three times and rose to the full rank of colonel, Toward the end of the war, McCook was brevetted to brigadier general and major general on March 13, 1865.

After the Civil War, McCook was appointed as Secretary of the South Dakota Territory in 1872. In 1873, Peter P. Wintermute shot and killed McCook during a public meeting in a saloon at Yankton, South Dakota, because he was upset with McCook’s stance over a railroad dispute. McCook was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

McCook was a member of the “Fighting McCooks,” fifteen family members who served the Union during the Civil War. McCook’s father, Daniel McCook, and his eight sons who served in the war were known as the “Tribe of Dan.” McCook’s uncle, John McCook, and five of his sons who served in the war were known as the “Tribe of John.” Daniel McCook, along with four of his sons (Latimer, Robert, Daniel, Jr., and Charles), died from wounds received during the Civil War.

Edwin S McCook