Dr. Cook was born on April 23, 1848 in Abbeville County, the son of Fred and Sarah (Cox) Cook.

He received a B.A. degree from Furman in 1873, an A.M. degree in 1887 and Litt. D. in 1901. From 1881-1918 he was a professor of Greek at Furman and taught Latin and History. Cook was made Emeritus Professor of Greek in 1918, but continued to teach when needed. Beginning in 1937, Cook was the oldest Furman alum until his death on February 8, 1943.

Dr. Cook was the first custodian of the Baptist Historical Collection on the downtown campus that now is part of Special Collections and Archives in the James B. Duke Library.

Cook authored many books, most notably, A biography of Richard Furman, 1913; The life and legacy of David Rogerson Williams, 1916; The life work of James Clement Furman, 1926; A historical background of Greenville, 1926?; Luther Rice : the forgotten man, 1936, and Sherman's march through South Carolina in 1865, 1938.