free." Contact with Confederates During the war, Cooke came across Confederate prisoners that had been captured by the U.S. Army. He would often ask them why they were waging a war against the United States, to which they consistently replied that they were fighting against the U.S. so that the Confederacy's women would be prevented from marrying slaves, which the Confederates constantly referred to as "niggers". Disapproving of the Confederates' use of racist language and their staunchly pro-slavery views, Cooke referred to them as "Poor ignorant devils". Discharge Cooke fell ill and was discharged from the army on May 15, 1865. He was proud of his service in the U.S. Army and what U.S. victory in the war had achieved in ending slavery. Later life and death After the war, Cooke returned to Buffalo County and in 1870 was living with his parents, three brothers, and a sister in his father's hotel in Alma, Wisconsin, the county seat of Buffalo County. Cooke attended Eau Claire Seminary, which became the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. He then taught briefly as a teacher in Wisconsin. Cooke's commitment to helping the slaves did not end with the end of slavery, he lived for several years in Texas, teaching and educating former slaves. Afterwards, he returned to Buffalo County, Wisconsin and lived as a farmer there. Cooke served as a member of the Buffalo County commission and was commander of his local Grand Army of the Republic. He worked, farming in Dover Township and farmed until a few years before his death. Cooke died in May 1919. On the day of his funeral, the businesses in his town agreed to close for two hours. His gravestone lists him as a friend to African Americans and Native Americans alike and notes that he fought in the army to preserve the U.S. and free the slaves. Personal life Cooke married Sarah Eliza Caves on September 27, 1882; she died in 1933. They had three sons, Samuel S. Cooke, Carl Hibbard Cooke and Rodney Cooke, who became an army lieutenant and died during World War I. References Further reading William De Loss Love, Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion (1866). E. B. Quiner, The Military History of Wisconsin (1866). Henry Casson, "Uncle Jerry": The Life of General Jeremiah M. Rusk: Stage Driver, Farmer, Soldier, Legislator, Governor, Cabinet Officer (1895). Warren W. Cooke, A Frontiersman in Northwestern Wisconsin