Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
and representative citizens
Evansville, Ind. -
1913 - 947 pgs.
.....
Chapter VII
Pg. 150
ORGANIZATION OF SHELBY COUNTY
\
EARLY MARRIAGES

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

The State of Ohio, Shelby County, ss.
     I certify that I have this day solemnized the marriage of Mr. Alexander McCune with Miss Sarah Clark.
     Witness my hand this 24th day of November, A. D. 1850
                                     R. DINSMOOR, J. P.

Black is the cloud without one sunbeam;
Long is the day that hath no noon;
But blacker that heart which could refuse
To marry Miss Clark to Alex McCune
R. D.

JAMES COOKS WILL AND PROBATE, FILED OCTOBER 19, 1855

     The last will and testament of James Cook, of Shelby County, Ohio.  Having been left ten times by a wife whom I took in poverty from necessity, and who after having slandered me and charged me with every crime that disgraces humanity; who has destroyed my character by her infamous lies; robbed me six times, and cost me directly and indirectly more than three thousand dollars, and now having stolen my property six times, and broke my heart, and then left me without cause; now know that I, James Cook, do make this will.
     Item.  If I die before Susan W. Cook gets a bill of divorce then it is my will that Susan gets one-half of my personal property in the hosue by choice or sale; one-third of my other personal property, including notes after paying my debts, which are small, and one-third of the rents and profits of my real estate, and so to remain while she is single, and If Joshua Peck outlives her then to him during his lifetime.  If she gets a bill of divorce then the law to decide.
     Item.  If I die before she settles our case, then I wish the gold watch to be left, and Mary, mare, and the buggy taken as an offset to the watch, as I do not wish my name on anything she keeps.
     Item.  I wish after complying with the former provision that all my other estate be properly disposed of, and that the interest be equally divided between Allen Cook and Thomas Cook and when one dies all the interest to go to the children, leaving out the heirs entirely of any brothers I ever had, as they before have been provided for.
     Item.  My gold watch to be given to the best daughter of Allen Cook, to be left to Wm. E. Cook, now of Rock Island City, Illinois, to decide.
     Item.  I do not wish to be buried on my land nor here, but make a place in some burying ground, or by my codicil to be left to certain M. D.'s to make an examination, etc.
     Item. I leave my wife to the tender mercy of an everlasting God, and may he forgive as I have forgiven her, for I have forgiven her not only seventy times but one thousand times.
     Item. I will not place on record my curse.  God will do that.  I pity a poor half-deranged woman whom I have loved, deeply loved, and truly love now, if pure and free from vice.
     Item.  In making this will I am not intending to cast any reflections on humanity.  All have their faults.  May God assoilzie the guilty.  I am not.
     This will made on Sunday the 10th day of April, 1853.
     Given under my name on said day.

                                                                                James Cook [seal]
Witnesses present Monday, April 11, 1853: -
  Henry Rose
  Joseph Thompson,
  G. N. Furman
Sworn to and subscribed, October 10, 1855, by   THOMPSON & FURMAN

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- History of Shelby County - Publ. 1913 -