Crook Brothers Seed Company
In 1916 the three living sons of WIlliam Barrett Crook, the grandson of Jerry Crook, who came here in 1819-20, formed the Crook Brothers Seed Company. Their names were William Carroll, THomas Jefferson and Barry Crook. They did very well in the business, they sold cotton seed all over the south. Along about 1920-24, when William Carroll Crook built his new house, he had it wired with electricity. He had their seed house wired also. He used a generator to make his own electricity and supplied the same over parts of the Middle Fork Community. About 1933, W.C. Crook and his son Robert Leo Crook bought out the other two brothers. Barry Crook and his son Eldridge moved up north and in 1946 T.J. Crook and his two sons Fred and Clyde formed the T.J. Crook and Sons business. The W.C. and R.L. Crook Seed company held a monopoly until that time. William Carroll Crook's venture was more profitable than ever. He advertized and had his picture in the paper quite a few times. The W.C. and R.L. Crook Seed company closed down because of the health of William Carroll. His son however, stayed in the business of delinting and processing. W.C. Crook died in 1960 and T.J. Crook and sons went out of business soon after. T.J.'s two sons went in business with W.C's son and the Crook's Delinting and Processing continued on until 1972 when both Robert and Fred were killed in an automobile accident. Clyde Crook and the widows sold out to Creetus Wadly and the plant is used only for his personal use.

This article was found in the Lexington Library, written by W.C. Crook