James M. Cook vs. Alice Cook, Libel for Divorce, Bartow County, Georgia, 1877

James M. Cook vs. Alice Cook, Libel for Divorce, 1877

Bartow County, Georgia

Research Note: Alice Cook's maiden name is Alice Franklin. She was the daughter of Augustus Montgomery Franklin, a long-time sheriff of Bartow County, Georgia. Alice married James M. Cook in 1874 in Bartow County, Georgia. 

Three items found in newspapers in Cartersville, Georgia, show that James M. and Alice Cook divorced. The first known item appeared in The Cartersville Express in 1877: James M. Cook vs. Alice Cook, Libel for Divorce. 

This item indicates that divorce proceedings were initiated by the husband--or at least, that this particular instance in the Superior court proceedings was initiated by him. Here, the finding is in favor of Alice. Perhaps this means that she objected to the divorce and it was not granted, for in 1879, at least two more items are found, in which Alice is the plaintiff. In those items, the divorce suit is granted, and then performed or finalized. 

Possibly, there are other related items in the papers. The search process is slow and difficult, so items may have been missed.

Here is the 1877 notice:

[Quote from The Cartersville Express, 02 August 1877, page 3]: 

"James M. Cook vs. Alice Cook. Libel for divorce. Verdict for Defendant."

[Source]: 

James M. Cook and Alice Cook (untitled, libel for divorce) in "Bartow Superior Court," The Cartersville Express (Cartersville, Bartow, Georgia) 1875-18??, Thurs. morn., 02 August 1877, page 3 (digital image 3), Georgia Historic Newspapers, Digital Library of Georgia (GALILEO). https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85027043/1877-08-02/ed-1/seq-3/print/image_627x817_from_1271,2839_to_2243,4105/ (accessed 10 November 2020 by D.K. Pritchett).