Grace MacGowan Cooke
Grace MacGowan Cooke (September 11, 1863 – June 24, 1944) was a prolific American novelist, poet, and short-story writer. She embarked on her writing career by crafting engaging short stories and novels, often collaborating with her sister, Alice MacGowan, on many of their joint literary endeavors. Grace's literary repertoire boasted an impressive collection of over 23 novels, 75 short stories, and more than 30 poems. Early years Born in Grand Rapids, Ohio, Grace entered the world as the daughter of John Encil MacGowan (1830-1903) and Malvina Marie Johnson (1836-1896). Her sibling, Alice MacGowan (1858-1947), also pursued a career as a writer. In 1865, the family relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Grace and her sister received a combination of public school education and homeschooling. Their father, a Union Army Colonel during the American Civil War, played a dual role as an editor for the Chattanooga Times newspaper from 1872 to 1903. Grace married William Benjamin Cooke (1857-1928) on February 16, 1887 in Hamilton, Tennessee. They had two children, Helen M. (1895-1945) and Katharine "Kit" (1900-1971). Helen gained recognition as an actress, particularly for her marriage to the renowned writer Harry Leon Wilson. Similarly, Kit pursued an acting career and secured roles