Texas History Notebook

William Gordon Cooke, Namesake of Cooke County

William Gordon Cooke is considered a hero of the Texas Revolution. He was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia on March 26, 1808 to Adam G. Cooke and Martha Riddell Cooke, both of whom were Irish natives. William was the youngest of their three children. A daughter, Jane Oliver Cooke, died at sea around 1792, as the couple was on their voyage to America. Their first son James was born in Virginia and William was the youngest. James became a doctor. After completing his formal education, William moved to New Orleans where he was engaged in the drug business. There he became associated with the New Orleans Greys.

Dr. James Patrick Evans

Dr. Evans was born August 5, 1930 in Dallas, Texas to James Cook Evans and Johnie Alma Henson Evans. His father was a teller at First National Bank. Dr. Evans was one of two sons of the couple. He grew up in Dallas. After high school, he headed for Whitworth College, a small Presbyterian school in Spokane, Washington on a football scholarship. Whitworth, now known as Whitworth University, has been a member of several athletic conferences over the years, usually competing in a small college division. Various biographical articles note that while at Whitworth, Evans suffered a knee injury which ended his playing career. However this led him to the path he pursued in sports medicine as he remained with the team as athletic trainer.

Upon completing his undergraduate work, Dr. Evans returned to Dallas where he enrolled in a physical therapy school at Grady Vaughn School of Physical Therapy, a part of what was then known as Baylor University Hospital. Upon completing his studies there, he began to work at the hospital as a physical therapist. His supervisors suggested that he should consider becoming a doctor and heeding this advice, he was accepted into University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he earned his medical degree.

Elizabeth Patton Crockett

Elizabeth Patton Crocket was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina on May 22, 1788 to Robert Patton and Rebecca Cathey Patton. Robert is believed to have been born in Northern Ireland or was the child of someone born there while Rebecca was a North Carolina native. Elizabeth was the fourth of seven children born to the couple. One of her brothers was named George Patton, but from all accounts, she is no relation to the later World War II general of that name.

James Gaines, Namesake of Gaines County

James Gaines was born in Culpepper County in Virginia in November of 1776. His parents were Thomas and Susana Strother Gaines. James was born Robert Thomas Gaines but later changed his name to James Gaines around 1810. He was a double cousin to Edmund Pendleton Gaines (two brothers married two sisters). Edmund’s parents were James and Elizabeth Strother Gaines. Edmund and James were born one year apart. They are both descended from James Henry Gaines and Mary Lillie Pendleton, whose ancestors had come from England to Colonial Virginia around 1650.

Future Texans in the War of 1812

The War of 1812 is not customarily considered to directly be part of Texas history although some historians view the various filibuster events involving expeditions into Texas and clashes with Spain during those years to be associated with the War of 1812. Regardless, these years predated both the rise of Mexico to control the area and the Texas Revolution. However, a number of individuals who served in the northern and southern theaters of the War of 1812 later came to Texas.