Henry Christopher McCook
Encyclopedia
Henry Christopher McCook (July 3, 1837 – 1911) was an American
Presbyterian clergyman, naturalist
, and prolific author on religion, history, and nature. He was a member of the celebrated Fighting McCooks
, a family of Ohio military officers and volunteers during the American Civil War
.
, to Dr. John McCook
. He learned the printing trade as a youth, then taught school for several years. attended Jefferson College. He was a member of the Franklin Literary Society at Jefferson College
. After graduation in 1859, he studied theology privately and in the Western Theological Seminary
in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a chaplain
in the 41st Illinois Infantry as a lieutenant
, and helped tend the wounded. As a minister in Clinton, Illinois
, St. Louis
, and Steubenville, Ohio
, McCook became known for his compassion and intellect, and for his leadership in the movement to create Sunday School
s. In 1869, he became pastor of the Seventh Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, where he lived for the rest of his life.
He spent his summers studying the behavior of ants and spiders. He published his observations and discoveries in a number of journals and books, as well as in a series of well-received illustrated children's books that explained the insects characteristics and traits in language and drawings for young minds. Many of McCook's books used illustrations drawn by Daniel Carter Beard
, the founder of the Boy Scouts of America
.
In the summer of 1877, he travelled to Texas
to study agricultural ants. Two years later, McCook wrote The Natural History of the Agricultural Ant of Texas. In 1889–93, he published his most ambitious work, American Spiders and Their Spinning Work, in three illustrated volumes. He also wrote a book on his ancestors in the Whiskey Rebellion
, and delivered a number of papers on Civil War history at meetings of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
veterans organization.
McCook was Vice President of both the American Entomological Society
and the Academy of Natural Sciences
. In 1880, Lafayette College
conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity
to McCook. In 1895, he designed the official flag of the city of Philadelphia. He again served as an Army Chaplain during the Spanish-American War
in 1898.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Presbyterian clergyman, naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, and prolific author on religion, history, and nature. He was a member of the celebrated Fighting McCooks
Fighting McCooks
The Fighting McCooks were members of a family of Ohioans who reached prominence as officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Two brothers, Daniel and John McCook, and thirteen of their sons were actively involved in the army, making the family one of the most prolific in American...
, a family of Ohio military officers and volunteers during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
McCook was born in New Lisbon, OhioLisbon, Ohio
Lisbon is a village in Center Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Columbiana County.-History:...
, to Dr. John McCook
John James McCook
John James McCook , was a patriarch of the Fighting McCooks, one of the most prolific families in United States Army history. Five of his sons became prominent soldiers, chaplains, or sailors, as well as eight of his nephews....
. He learned the printing trade as a youth, then taught school for several years. attended Jefferson College. He was a member of the Franklin Literary Society at Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
. After graduation in 1859, he studied theology privately and in the Western Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary located in Point Breeze, Pennsylvania, United States. RPTS is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and was founded in 1810, making it the fifth oldest seminary in the United States.-Mission and Emphasis:RPTS's...
in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny Center (Pittsburgh)
Allegheny Center is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh's North Side. Its zip code is 15212, and it has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both council members for District 6 and District 1 .-History:...
. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in the 41st Illinois Infantry as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, and helped tend the wounded. As a minister in Clinton, Illinois
Clinton, Illinois
Clinton is the largest city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,225 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County.The city and the county are named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, 1817-1823...
, St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, McCook became known for his compassion and intellect, and for his leadership in the movement to create Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
s. In 1869, he became pastor of the Seventh Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, where he lived for the rest of his life.
He spent his summers studying the behavior of ants and spiders. He published his observations and discoveries in a number of journals and books, as well as in a series of well-received illustrated children's books that explained the insects characteristics and traits in language and drawings for young minds. Many of McCook's books used illustrations drawn by Daniel Carter Beard
Daniel Carter Beard
Daniel Carter "Uncle Dan" Beard was an American illustrator, author, youth leader, and social reformer who founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905, which Beard later merged with the Boy Scouts of America .-Early life:...
, the founder of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
In the summer of 1877, he travelled to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to study agricultural ants. Two years later, McCook wrote The Natural History of the Agricultural Ant of Texas. In 1889–93, he published his most ambitious work, American Spiders and Their Spinning Work, in three illustrated volumes. He also wrote a book on his ancestors in the Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States in the 1790s, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented...
, and delivered a number of papers on Civil War history at meetings of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
veterans organization.
McCook was Vice President of both the American Entomological Society
American Entomological Society
The American Entomological Society was founded on March 1, 1859. It is the oldest continuously-operating entomological society in the Western Hemisphere, and one the oldest scientific societies in the United States. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
and the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
. In 1880, Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
to McCook. In 1895, he designed the official flag of the city of Philadelphia. He again served as an Army Chaplain during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898.
McCook's works
- Object and Outline Teaching (1871)
- The Last Year of Christ's Ministry (1871)
- The Last Days of Jesus (1872)
- The Tercentenary Book (1873)
- Mound-Making Ants of the Alleghenies, Their Architecture and Habits (1877)
- The Natural History of the Agricultural Ant of Texas (1879)
- Historic Ecclesiastical Emblems of Pan-Presbyterianism (1880)
- Honey and Occident Ants (1882)
- Tenants of an Old Farm: Leaves From the Note-book of a Naturalist (1884)
- The Women Friends of Jesus (1884)
- The Gospel in Nature (1887)
- American Spiders and Their Spinning Work (1893)
- Old Farm Fairies - A Summer Campaign Against King Cobweaver's Pixies (1895)
- The Latimers: A Tale of the Western Insurrection of 1794The LatimersThe Latimers : A Tale of the Western Insurrection of 1794 is an historical novel by the American writer and Presbyterian clergyman Henry Christopher McCook set in 1790s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
(1897) - The Senator: A Threnody (life of Marcus A. Hanna) (1905)
- Nature's Craftsmen: Popular Studies of Ants and Other Insects (1907)
- Ant Communities and How They Are Governed: A Study in Natural Civics (1909)
- Prisca of Patmos: A Tale of the Days of St. John I (1911)