Major Richard Fielding Cooke was one of the most prominent pioneer citizens of Putnam County. As a member of the General Assembly in its 1853-54 session, he was untiring in his efforts to secure the re-establishment of Putnam County. On February 11, 1854, his colleagues in the General Assembly, in recognition of his valiant services to re-establish the county, amended his bill to provide that the county seat, when located by the commissioners, should be named Cookeviile in honor of Major Richard Cooke.