Seeking Susie

Hello Everyone, this Friday I will be doing my Find Me Friday a bit different. Instead of posting a picture of an unidentified photo, I will be posting an identified photo of Bob Hooker. My 3rd great grandmother was Mary George Hooker Herring Bickley and this photo was in her belongings and copied by me from Butch Harris, and Martha Harris Horn who are in possession of the original photo.

It is my hope that I can find out who Bob Hooker is, and how he relates to Mary George Hooker Herring Bickley.

Also, since I know I got a few snickers out of the surname “Hooker” I thought it would be wise to let you know at this time, how it is believed prostitutes came about being called Hookers. (Thanks to my cousin Debbie for pointing this out to me!) During the civil war there was a man by the name of Joseph Hooker, a major general of the Union Army, also known as “Fighting Joe”. Fighting Joe was defeated by General Robert E. Lee at the battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. His troops were poorly disciplined and famous for running off to socialize with “working girls”. Hooker having a reputation for a hard-drinking ladies man and being widely known for his parties and gambling at his headquarters, allowed the prostitutes to set up shop in his camps. Thus, keeping his men in place and very happy. Any woman questioned as to what she was doing there would reply, “I’m one of Hooker’s girls.” Eventually this was shortened to just “Hooker” and while it can be said that the word “Hooker” appears in print some twenty years prior to the civil war in regards to prostitutes, it is believed by many that the events of the civil war regarding “Fighting Joe” Hooker’s girl’s and activities it popularized the term, cementing it in place, even still today.

Now, I know your next question is if I am related to Major General Joseph Hooker, and I must reply that no southern lady would ever admit to such a thing as that!

~Susie~