Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization

10/30/2025

On Saturday November 1st at 10:00am MST over zoom will be a meeting of the Phineas Wolcott Cook Book Club! We will be discussing pages 253-282. The zoom link will be the same one from previous meetings, if you would like the link, please directly message the social media page.

You can find a free version of the book at this link which is a part of our cookfamiliy.org website:https://cookfamily.org/histories/documents/PhineasWolcottCook_1819-1900/files/PhineasWolcottCook-LegacyOfFaith2022.pdf

Or you can purchase a hardcover version of the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Phineas-Wolcott-Cook-Legacy-Faith/dp/B09YT2HFYX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MNXBL4PI11NY&keywords=phineas+wolcott+cook&qid=1683164240&sprefix=phineas+wolcott+coo%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1

10/28/2025

February 6th [1857]: I heard that Brother Grant had died, and I had not seen him. I then resolved to go to the city and meet with my quorum, as a meeting was to be held, and also to make things straight with Brother Brigham. I told him I had not stolen my neighbor’s property or committed adultery or anything of the kind. All I had done was what I had before stated. I had not seen Brother Grant, and I should not make it my business to contradict anything he might have said, but I had no recollection of telling anything of the kind. If [Brother Brigham] felt to forgive me as I had asked him before, I should be thankful. He said he would forgive me and gave me a note to that effect. Went to meeting with my quorum. Had a good time and returned home the 11th of February.

10/23/2025

February 3rd [1857]: our little twin girl [Ann Eliza Jr.] died of the bloody flux [dysentery caused by an amoeba or bacteria]. She has been sick about five days. We have done everything in our power to save her, but all our labor was in vain. We sincerely mourn for her. But she has gone from a cold, unfriendly world and we believe has escaped many troubles. This morning I had a talk with Brother [James] Pace and we had an understanding about the brush and each became satisfied. (February) 4th: We buried our dear little Ann Eliza in the Payson burying ground. May the good God help us to so live that we may receive our children at the Resurrection Morn. Five have been laid in the tomb.

10/16/2025

January 29th [1857]: This morning I saw Brothers Jacob Hutchinson and McBride. They told me they were sent out as missionaries to settle anything anyone might have against the First Presidency, and as I had something against [the president] I was required to make things right. I told them I had nothing against anyone, but as far as I could, where I had done wrong, I had taken measures to make it right and neither they nor I could do any more. Time would probably set all things right.

10/14/2025

[1857] Catherine has forgotten her promise to do better. I have given her good counsel and, in fact, (so has) everyone else she has been connected with. Ann Eliza has borne almost everything from her, but still Catherine seems bent to do evil continually. We are now in a reformation for which there seems to be much need. The people are called on through the missionaries to repent of all their sins and confess their faults, pay up their tithing and be baptized for the last time for the remission of their sins. Those who have not committed the unpardonable sin shall be forgiven, but it is said it is the last time baptism can atone for sin. If we sin again, a sacrifice will have to be made according to the magnitude of the sin.

10/09/2025

[1856] He said I had told Grant I had worked for him (Brigham) a long time for nothing and boarded myself. I said I had no recollection of such a thing, but it was very true that Brother Grant and I had been great friends and he had told me many things in confidence and I had done the same by him. I said I would see him as soon as I could have the privilege. Brother Brigham then asked me why I left the public work. I answered, “because you told me to!” He said, “Did I tell you to?” I said, “You did.” He said, “Then according to your story I have done wrong, but I am not going to confess.” I said, “I do not want you to confess, but I want your forgiveness for what I have said that was wrong.” He said, “Well, you see Brother Grant.” We then parted. I saw Bishop Hunter and he said I should be blessed more than I ever anticipated for I had been faithful in paying my debts and especially my tithing and said many comforting words to me. This was very thankfully received by me.

10/02/2025

[1856] I charged him twenty dollars. I found my own feed and provisions. He was angry at first and refused to pay me, but after some talk, he concluded to do it. So, I took my ponies and started for home, which was 24 miles. I arrived the 8th day of January 1857 and found all well and [my family] glad to see me. Catherine had behaved very shamefully to her mother and to Ann Eliza. Mosiah Hancock, the man that I had so much pity for in the summer before and took him in to keep from starving, had been secretly making love to Margaret [Catherine's mother] when he knew at the same time that she had promised herself to me. I asked him if he intended to marry her. He said yes, if I did not [take her for a wife]. I told him I did not want her since from appearances he had made her unsteady, but I thought that was one way to repay me for kindness shown to him. I related the circumstances to Bishop Hancock who was his cousin. He immediately sent for Mosiah and told him he was ready to marry [them] if he wished. He came back and invited Margaret outdoors. They went to the Bishop’s and were married, but came back [and] said nothing. But in a few minutes a man came along and told me of it. I then told [Mosiah] I had kept him and his wife as long as I could. Now he must leave, which he did by going in along with the bishop.

Editor's Note: In the 19th century, the phrase "making love" meant "wooing" "courting" or "flirting."

10/01/2025

If you missed our virtual Cook Family Gathering in August, check out our online service project: Connecting COOK names to the FamilyTree! Step-by-step instructions for computers or mobile devices. On the computer program, we started with 3155 names and we're down to 2280! Keep going and let's see if we can get to 0 before the NEW YEAR!
https://youtu.be/4n1y9lDtnFY

Two ways to help add Cook names to the FamilySearch Family Tree!

09/30/2025

[1856] While I was living in Salt Lake City. The circumstances I will here state: I went out one day to buy a cow, as we had none. I came along to his house and asked him if he knew who had one to sell. He said he had a first rate one that he would sell cheap for cash. I asked him how much milk she was giving. He said she was giving from 6 to 8 quarts at a time and gave her a good recommend. I then asked him his price. He said he would take forty dollars for her and not any less. This I thought was a big price, but as good cows were scarce, I did not think I could do any better. So I paid him the money and took her home. But she was totally dried up. The next time I saw him, I told him the cow had not filled the recommend he had given her. But he perfectly denied all I told him he said about her and said he could prove it by his wife and brother in law. I told him I supposed then that he could prove anything he chose and let the matter drop, not having any chance to get any redress. [Cuthbert] had been out to Las Vegas at work at his trade blacksmithing and was on his way home to Great Salt Lake City. He wanted someone to put a span of horses on his wagon and help him through. He found a man that would go as far as Salt Creek for 40 dollars. He came to me and told me of it. I told him I could put my ponies on and go with him and he would save something. So, he concluded to do it. I bought a harness for 15 dollars and we started. The snow was about a foot deep most of the way, and over two mountains it was from two to three feet deep [with] a crust on the top not quite sufficient to bear the horses or wagon. In many places we were obliged to break the crust with our feet and it was attended with much fatigue. But on the 6th day at about 9 o’clock in the evening, we arrived at Nephi or Salt Creek, horses nearly used up.

09/25/2025

Saturday Nov. 15th [1856]: Got home and found my testimony had been true, as she got over her madness Friday evening and had been out to the neighbors on a visit. She seemed however to be still disobedient to me and her feelings of opposition were the same as it had been some time before. She was very cross at times and ugly to Ann Eliza and her mother and made several attempts to injure them but was as often prevented, except once she clenched Ann Eliza by the wrist leaving the marks of her nails. She circulated the story that I had whipped her nearly to death and stated that there were welts or scars on her legs as big as her finger. She continued to harbor this lying spirit ever after but not always quite so bad.