Wilson Cooke (1819 –1887), was an American politician, minister, and businessman. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives during the Reconstruction era, serving from 1868 until 1870. A historical marker in Greenville commemorates his life.^[1]

Biography

Wilson Cooke was born in 1819. His father is thought to be Vardry McBee, and his mother was enslaved.^[2] Cooke was born as a slave, and bought his freedom.^[when?]

He was a Methodist, and he helped co-found the Greenville Methodist Church, a Black church in 1862.^[3] Cooke became a general store owner and had a tannery.^[when?] He was a delegate at the 1868 South Carolina Constitutional Convention in Charleston.^[3] He represented Greenville County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1868 to 1870.^[4]

Cooke was married to Magdalena Walker.^[5] His son William Wilson Cooke was an architect and educator,^[6] who worked for the U.S. government before establishing his own practice in Gary, Indiana.^[7]

References

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