Robert & Anna Cook Analysis with a little help from ChatGPT

I've been gathering source documents of Robert Lee Cook, son of Jefferson Gideon Cook.  A few of Gideon's sons moved to the bigger cities of Chicago and Detroit for work. I wanted to look into that. I don't get to do that much with my direct line.  My direct ancestors tend to put down permanent roots in rural locations.

• Typed up a data extraction from each source and crafted my citations
• Opened ChatGPT and discussed what I wanted--a table that would help in comparing and contrasting the information from the documents.
• Copied and pasted my extractions and source citations into ChatGPT
• Instructed it to use that info for the table.

It did a pretty good job.  I had to make several corrections but it did save me some time.

Below is the information from the documents and source citations. 

Robert & Anna's Marriage(1924)

Return of Marriages in the County of Wayne(Michigan) 1924

Record No:  268078

Date of License: April 29, 1924

Bridegroom: Robert L Cook

Bride: Anna C Bailey

Maiden name of Bride, if widow:  Eutsler

Age of each in yrs:  Groom 55 Bride 53

Race: Both White

Residence of Each:  Detroit, Mich.(both)

Birthplace of Each: Tenn(groom) Ohio(bride)

Occupation of Each: Bookkeeper(groom) House wk(bride)

Name of Father of Each:

    Groom's Father: Jefferson

    Bride's Father: Christopher

Maiden name of Mother of Each

    Groom:  Mary S Haymer

    Bride:  Elizabeth A Dunn

Time Previously Married

    Groom:  None

    Bride:  Two

Date of Marriage: April 30 1924

Place of Marriage:  Detroit, Mich.

Name & Official State of Person by Whom Married: C.E. Ferguson-Clergyman

Witness to Marriage:  Edward H Deutsch & Bessie C Deutsch (both reside in Detroit Mich.)

Robert & Anna's US Federal Census(1930)

Michigan, Wayne County, Detroit(City), Ward 10, Block 160, ED 82-298, p 173, Sheet 15A, Dwelling 1, Family 1, 

Robert L Cook age 61 First married at 55, self & Parents born in Tennessee

Robert's occupation is Sweeper at Auto Factory

Annie C Cook age 58 First married at 18, self & Parents born in Florida

Anna's Death Certificate(1935)

Michigan Department of Health

Division of Vital StatisticsCertificate of Death
State Office No. 200655
Register No. 10(3?)84
Place of Death:  Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Full Name:  Anna Charlotte Cook
Residence:  4280 15th St., Detroit, Michigan
Sex:  Female
Color or Race:  White
Marital Status:  Married
Spouse:  Robert Cook
Date of Birth:  April 12, 1867
Age:  68 years, 4 months, 24 days
Occupation:  At home
Birthplace:  Ohio
Father's Name:  Christopher Eusler
Father's Birthplace:  Unknown
Mother's Maiden Name:  Elizabeth Dunn
Mother's Birthplace:  Unknown
Informant:  Robert Cook (4280 15th St., Detroit, MI)
Date of Death:  September 6, 1935
Last Seen Alive:  September 6, 1935
Cause of Death:  Chronic myocarditis
Other Contributing Factors:  Gastritis 3 days
Burial Place:  Forest Lawn, Detroit, Michigan
Burial Date:  September 9, 1935
Undertaker:  Harvey A. Neely
Address of Undertaker:  Detroit, Michigan
Physician's Name:  Dr. James E. Clark
Physician's Address:  4292 14th Ave

Robert Lee Cook's Death Notice (1954)

Robert Lee Cook

Funeral services for Robert Lee

Cook. 86. of 301 Wimpole Drive, will 

be at Ellis and Kidd Funeral Home.

2627 Nolensville road. at 2:30 p.m. 

today. 

The Rev. Grady' Randolph and 

the Rev. E. W. Barnett will offi-

ciate, Burial will be in Triune cem

eterv, near Nolensville. 

Mr. Cook died Friday at David

son County hospital after A long 

illness. 

Born in Rutherford County, he 

was the son of Dr. J.G. and Mary 

Hamer Cook. For many years he 

lived in Detroit where he was em-

ployed by an automobile firm. Aft-

er his retirement five years ago. 

he returned to Nashville 

In 1923, he married the former

Miss Anna Bailey of Detroit. who 

died 20 years ago. 

Survivors include two brothers, 

J.R. Cook. Chicago. And C.B.

Cook. Robards, Ky: And a sister. 

Mrs. Dave Cook of Nashville,

Sources:

Michigan, Marriages Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept. of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics: imaged at Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9093/images/41326_342244-00502 : accessed 15 February 2025), Registers, 1887-1925 > 1921-1925 > 1924 Wayne, Image 384 of 1457, Record No 268078, Marriage of Robert L Cook and Anna C Bailey.

1930 US Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne County, Detroit City, Ward 10, Block 160, ED 82-298, p 173, Sheet 15A, Dwelling 1, Family 1, Robert L Cook household; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X79D-H8B : accessed 16 February 2025), IGN 4951281, image 350 of 1114, Entry for Robert L Cook and Annie C Cook.

"Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952", Michigan Dept of Health; imaged at Michiganology.org (https://michigan.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_8d994f14-e0f6-4983-85d1-8f43600cf6cc : accessed 15 February 2025), Entry for Anna Charlotte Cook, Date of Death 06 Sep 1935.

"Robert Lee Cook," The Tennessean(Nashville) 13 June 1954, p 78, col 3, death notice of Robert Lee Cook; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-obituary-for-robert-lee-c/42294702 : accessed 16 February 2025)

Additional Analysis

I built on the chat by typing in my analysis as I read and compared the info from the chart. ChatGPT can also help draft a report, but I found the introduction and conclusion to be of poor quality but no problem. In my opinion, those are the easiest parts to write. It did a good job with the contents of the report.  I will add the report to my Ancestry tree under Robert L. Cook's profile. This will be a great help to see what I have completed so far when I come back to this research.

Conclusion

I've heard that some folks have had success creating tables from image files.  I'm not sure that would save too much time for me.  I learn as I type so I'd miss out on the info "soaking in." I still have to double-check any output--my own or ChatGPT.  I find it helpful to "chat"  my analysis. It helps me to identify holes in logic and sometimes gives me a new perspective. When using AI the key is knowing what is time-saving, and what is a time suck.  Choose wisely.

Disclosure:

I used Free ChatGPT to make the table.  It helped organize the data and analysis I typed into a report.  I had to replace certain parts(intro and conclusion) as they were not what I would have used.  I didn't include the report in this article. 

Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary(1959)

John Lemuel & Malissa A Barnes Cook

Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook
Celebrate Wedding Anniversary

Mr and Mrs. John L Cook,
who were celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary Sunday,
enjoyed a buffet luncheon at
their home in Chapel Hill. The
dining table was covered with
a lace cloth and featured an
arrangement of yellow gladioli.
A crystal punch bowl was used
on the buffet.
A lovely display of gifts was
presented the honored couple.
Among those attending were
their two children, J.W. Cook
and Mrs. Charles F Rogers,
both of Chapel Hill; five of their
six grandchildren, Johnny Cook,
Max Cook, Mrs Dean Tipton
and Larry Hargrove of Chapel
Hill, and Mrs. Bobby Dean Mc-
Peak of Lewisburg, and Mr.
and Mrs. H. K. Rowland of
Rockvale, and Mrs Flemons
Haynes of Shelbyville, who were
present at their wedding 50
years ago.

Notes:  Mr & Mrs H. K Rowland is John's sister, Eliza A Cook Rowland, and her husband.

Mrs. Flemons Haynes is Mary Catherine Ghee, maternal half-sister of Malissa Barnes Cook.  

They were the daughters of Cordelia Alice Barnes. Malissa was sometimes listed as a Ghee under the surname of her stepfather.  See the blog post link below for a more detailed explanation.

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2022/07/malissa-wife-of-john-lemuel-cook.html

John Lemuel Cook is the only one of William Green Cook's children who knew his paternal grandfather, W. C. Cook.

Source:
"Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook Celebrate Wedding Anniversary," The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg, TN), Vol. LXXXVII, No. 31,  31st July 1959, p. 5 col. 1;  FamilySearch  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RS-3PBX : accessed 14 February 2025) IGN , Image 337 of 546.

Did Your Grandparents Know Their Grandparents?

When I realized that my Mom only knew one of her grandparents, it got me curious about the grandparent connections in my family.

My Dad(born 1930) didn't know either of his grandmothers.  Both died around 1920-one from tuberculosis and the other from pneumonia. He did know his grandfathers.  His maternal grandfather, James Jakes, stayed with them some before he died in 1941.  His paternal grandfather died when Dad was 14 years old.

My Mom only knew her paternal grandfather, David E. Luna who lived with them a few years before he died in 1948.  Mom was 8 yrs old 

If I take it back a generation further my question becomes "Did my grandparents know their own grandparents? Below is a breakdown of each grandparent and the grandparents they knew.  

My Paternal Grandfather: Thomas D. Cooke(1888-1971)
Paternal Grandparents: Wm C. & Elizabeth Putman Cook (Died before his birth)
Maternal Grandparents: Wm B. & Eliza Manire King (Moved to Texas, died there)

My Paternal Grandmother: Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke(1891-1993)
Paternal Grandparents: Did not know any (All died before her birth)
Maternal Grandparents: Did not know any (All died before her birth)

My Maternal Grandfather: Wm R. Luna(1892-1994)
Paternal Grandparents: Elisha Luna (Died before his birth) and Kizzy Rigsby Luna(paternal grandmother) died when Will was about 17 years old.
Maternal Grandparents: David Pittman (Lived until Wm R. Luna was about 30) Mary Adcock Pittman died when Will was about 10 years old.

My Maternal Grandmother: Minnie Acuff Luna(1899-1957)
Paternal Grandparents: Knew Sarah McElroy Acuff (Paternal Grandmother); Paternal Grandfather died before her birth.
Maternal Grandparents: Knew Wm P. Hale (Maternal Grandfather); Maternal Grandmother died before her birth.

Obituary: David E Luna Age 83(1948)

This is the obituary of my great-grandfather.  He was Mom's paternal grandfather.  David was living with his son Will & family at the time of his death.  My Mom(Will's youngest daughter) was 8 years old when her grandfather died.  He was the only grandparent she ever knew.  Her maternal grandparents both died the year before she was born and her paternal grandmother died in 1899.

David E Luna

Age: 83
Died: 28 Oct 1948 at his son, Will's home near Taft.
Funeral: 5th St. Baptist Church Saturday, 30th Oct 1948
Burial: Charity Cemetery near Hazel Green AL

Survivors:
2 Daughters:
Mrs. Eugene Jaco
Mrs. Jim Roberts
Both of McMinnville, TN

Sons:
Will and Lee of Taft.
Robert, Andrew & Dougie of Huntsville, AL
Several Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nephews.

Source:
"Rites Held In Huntsville For David E. Luna, 83," Lincoln County News(Fayetteville TN), Vol 44, 4 November 1948, p 1, col 5: FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3T3-KS4S : accessed 13 February 2025) IGN 8992150, Image 623 of 1052.

Jas Hitchcock Land--Warren Co TN(1840)

This survey was recorded in the Plat Book just before the Spring of 1840.  James and Lottie's daughter, Nancy A Hitchcock(my 2nd great-grandmother) would be born in Sept of that same year.

March 9, 1840

Jas. Hitchcock 25 acres
State of Tennessee
Warren County
by Scale of 55 poles per inch
surveyed the 18th of Feb 1840 for James
Hitchcock twenty-five acres of land. by virtue of an
entry bearing date the 1st of February 1838 No 4580 Situ
ate in said county on the waters of Collins River. Beg'G on a
white oak Wm Tucks Corner running east with his line twenty-six poles
to Walnut then north sixty (degrees) West with Mountain thirty-two poles to Poplar
on Higginbotham's lines, and with it south fifteen (degrees) west seventy-six pole to
hickory then south fifty-five (degrees) east sixteen poles to hornbeam then south
seventy-six (degrees) east forty-eight poles to red bud ___?___  a corner of a 100
acre survey in the name of George Hitchcock then north forty-four (degrees) east sixty
seven poles to white oak. Then, north sixty-eight (degrees) and west eighty-six poles are to beg. g
Lewis Thomas & Jas Hitchcock CC
A Higginbotham PS.

This entry called for 50 acres

Source:
Warren Co TN Plat Book November 1839–December 1894, Vol 4, p 13, Jas Hitchcock Plat;
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4Y-QRH8 : accessed 2 February 2025), IGN 7901843, image 733 of 868.

Error in Announcement of Lodge Name Change

On motion of W C Cook Black Vale(sic) Lodge No. 413 was changed to Versailles Lodge No. 413

Please note that the lodge was the Rockvale Lodge, not Black Vale.

Source:

"Masonic Jurisprudence," Nashville Union and American(Nashville, TN) 15 Nov 1871 p 4 col 3; Library of Congress (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85033699/1871-11-15/ed-1/seq-4/ : accessed 1 Feb 2025.)