Cooksey - Thomas
THOMAS COOKSEY
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 7-Mar-1963 p. 1
Death Takes Dr. Cooksey- Resident Here Since ’13, Mayor 3 Terms- Dr. Thomas L. Cooksey, former three term-mayor of this city, died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at his home 205 Marshall St. A resident of Crawfordsville since 1913, he was born Nov. 9, 1870, at Brookville, Ind., the son of Isaac M. and Sarah Milbourne Cooksey. He had a sister and a half-brother who preceded him in death. When four years old he moved with his parents to a farm near Brookville where he grew to manhood. After his early schooling he attended Butler College and Transylvania he began preaching at North Madison, Ind. Later he took a pastorate in the Christian Church at Howard Lake, Minn. He was married to Florence Johnson while living in Minnesota. He also held pastorates at Paulding, Ohio and Fort Wayne. In addition to dividing preaching duties at Fort Wayne and Melrose, Ohio, he attended the Fort Wayne College of Medicine for a year. He later went to Cincinnati where he enrolled at Miami Medical College, now part of the University of Cincinnati. He completed his medical course and took the M. D. Degree on April 1, 1897. Dr. Cooksey began the practice of medicine at Fairfield, Ind., in 1897. He later moved to Wilmington, Ohio, where he practiced for seven years. While at Wilmington he became a surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He also was active in the Medical Society and the Commercial Club (C. of C.) while in the Ohio city, serving as secretary of both organizations. Shelving his career as a physician temporarily, in 1905 he embarked into the evangelical and lecture fields, holding meetings at Indianapolis, Shreveport, La., Coffyville, Kan., Joplin, Mo., and in various Texas communities. Leaving the lecturing and Chautauqua circuits in 1912, he returned to the practice of medicine at Crawfordsville in 1913. On Feb. 24, 1914, he was married to Miss Minnie Beatty at Hico, Tex. She survives. Dr. Cooksey was occupied with many community interests and responsibility in addition to taking care of a large medical practice during his residence here. He served as county health officer of Montgomery for eight years, served as secretary of the county medical societies, serviced as county chairman of the Republican Party for four years, served as mayor of Crawfordsville for three terms on and off from 1930 to 1947 and served as city councilman at large on the City Council from 1952 to 1955. Two of Dr. Cooksey’s terms as mayor were for five years, the first long term being when an election was skipped during the depression and the second during World War II. Dr. Cooksey was president of the Municipal League of Indiana during his tenure as mayor of Crawfordsville. He was instrumental in pushing the completion and construction of the City Hall and the municipal golf course as well as helping see that Crawfordsville had the finest streets available while maintaining a debt-free municipal light plant which made it possible for the city to have low electric bills and reduced taxes through its profits. Survivors, in addition to the widow, include two daughters, Mrs. Iris C. Milbourn and Mrs. Esther Costa, both of Washington, D. C., and one son, Thomas L. Cooksey Jr., Santa Barbara, Calif. The deceased was a member of the First Christian Church and was affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Loyal Order of Moose, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Patriotic Order, Sons of America. Funeral services are announced for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hunt & Son Funeral Home, with Rev. Eugene Ogrod officiating and interment in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call after 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
File Created: 4 July 2011 - kz - thanks muches, Kim H