36o
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
connected, fie is considerate in the treat-
ment of his many employees, at the same
time recjuiring each to measure up to his
standard of ef^ciency and to observe regu-
lations that cause the mechanism of his vast
interests to move with uninterrupted lubric-
ity. Finally, his immense personal energy
and enthusiasm have ever been potent fac-
tors in his business success, and his per-
sistence and determination have at times
changed the gray tones of defeat to the
rosy hues of victory.
In 1906 he was appointed quartermaster of Virginia militia, ranking as captain of the Seventy-first Regiment of Infantry, this regiment afterward becoming the Fourth. In 1910 he was appointed by Governor Mann the first paymaster-general of Virginia militia with the rank of colonel. Additional honors from the chief executive of a state came to him in his appointment to the staff of the governor of Minnesota, a splendid courtesy which was largely in recognition of the cordial and hearty reception tendered the governor and his staff when they visited Norfolk en route to Gettysburg. At this time Colonel Consolvo was the guest of honor at an elegant banquet in St. Paul, attended by the most prominent state offi- cials and the most exclusive social circles of the city.
Colonel Consolvo has been called to many important jjositions in the service of his city, and in each of these has displayed talent of worthy order. Although not con- secutively, he has been for about fifteen years a member of the board of aldermen, always appointed to a place on the finance committee, his well-rewarded labors dur- ing his first term on this committee assuring him of such a place as frequently as he would consent to accept it. In this relation to the city's administration he put into prac- tice the same principles and methods that have won him prosperity in his private busi- ness, with inevitably satisfactory results. Me is president of the Jefferson Loan Soci- ety, and a director in the X'irginia National Bank and the Virginia liank and Trust Company, lie fraternizes with the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Roman Catholic in religion. His acquaint- ance and friendshi]) is wide, and his genial and friendly n.-iture attracts men and readily wins their confidence and liking.
Colonel Consolvo married (first) in 1891,
Annie L. Cheshire, born in 1872, died in
1892. daughter of George W. and Letitia
Cheshire, of Norfolk, Virginia. He married
(second) Blanche H. Hecht, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hecht. Mr. and Mrs.
Consolvo have one son, Charles Swanson,
born December 26, 1905.
Cooke Family. John Cooke, believed to have been a member of the Cooke family of W'hitefield county, of Suffolk, England, came to Virginia prior to 1623 and founded a family, branches of which may be found in about every state of the Union, notably in the Southern and Middle Western States. Mordecai, son of John Cooke, the founder, settled in Gloucester, at '"Mordecai's Mount," and had sons who founded the branches known as the "Mordecai'" branch, the "Wareham" branch, the "Willow Brook" branch and the "Beechly" branch. His daughters married into the Booth, Throck- morton and Fitzhugh families and from them spring numerous descendants bearing those names. The Cookes have always been large landholders. "Mordecai's Alount," "Ware- ham," "Woodlawn," "Cedars," "Beechly" and "Chalk Level" are old homesteads of the various branches. "Mordecai's Mount" went by inheritance through marriage to the present owners, the Taliaferros, through the Throckmortons, who changed the name to "Churchhill" and built thereon Ware Church. "Woodlawn" and "Cedars" still remain in the family, while strangers, through purchase, control the others.
Always a brave, hospitable, peace-loving people, the Cookes have filled prominent places in parochial, state and national gov- ernments. They have intermarried with the best families of the country and wherever found are gentle, persistent. hos]:)itable and sport-loving.
(II) There is a world of tradition con- cerning Mordecai Cooke, son of John Cooke, "the founder." but the known facts are that he patented one thousand one hundred and seventy-four acres on Mock-Jack bay. Glou- cester county. Virginia, which was his fam- ily seat and called "M(^rdecai"s Mount." Later he patented at different times and near by, about three thousand five hundred additional acres. The name of his wife is unknown, but from the prevalence of the name Giles through every ijranch of the family, it is probable it was "Giles." He
