William Cook

WILLIAM COOK BORN: 19 Oct 1847 COUNCIL BLUFFS, POTTAWATTAMIE, IOWA DIED: 2 7 Nov 1934 Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah, USA FATHER: HENRY FREEMAN COOK 12 Jan 1815 - 14 Apr 1882 MOTHER: SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE 14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 MARRIED: MARY ALMINA WEEKS - 12 Mar 1873 6 Mar 1871 Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN: WILLIAM LUCEINE COOK 4 Mar 1873 - 17 Apr 1966 MARRIED: REBECCA H RODEBACK 2 May 1846 - 12 Aug 1910 25 October 1875 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah CHILDREN: EDWARD COOK 9 Jan 1877 - 24 Jun 1924 HELEN COOK 6 Apr 1879 - 18 Jan 1948 CLIFFORD COOK 14 Mar 1881 - 4 Jun 1955 MARK HENRY COOK 26 Apr 1884 - 14 Feb 1892 PHEBE REBECCA COOK 12 Jul 1885 - 28 Jun 1917 BARNES ALMA COOK 11 Oct 1887 - 21 May 1973 WILLIAM COOK was the father of BARNES ALMA COOK who was the father of SHELDON BARNES COOK who was the father of RONALD SHELDON COOK Written by GERTRUDE COOK JACKSON -- Granddaughter and BARNES ALMA COOK -- Son William COOK "Uncle Bill" as he was affectionately known by most every one during his adult life, was born 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents had made the long trip from Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan where they had embraced the gospel, to Nauvoo just as the persecution of the Saints there had begun in ernest. They, along with the other Saints were forced to move. Since they had so recently made a long trip, they stopped at Council Bluffs, Iowa for a few years to replenish their supplies and equipment. It was here that William was born, the sixth child and fourth son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook. When William was still a small boy, nearly five, his parents took their family and went to St. Louis, Missouri where a Company was outfitting to make the trek to Utah. They traveled with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Salt Lake in October 1852. They spent the winter at Little Cottonwood. The next Spring they were sent to Cedar Fort to help colonize Cedar Valley. The town was called Cedar Fort because the first fort built there was built of cedar posts make from the cedar trees which grew plentiful on the surrounding hills. It was later replaced with a rock fort, part of which still stands. The Cook family experienced most of the trials that were experienced by all the Pioneers. They had a few more head of stock and more equipment than most families which they used to benefit all in the Valley. One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River. William, as a boy was not very well and at times his parents despaired of his life. At one of these times he told his parents he knew that if Patriarch Zebedee Coltrin, who was Patriarch of the Utah Stake and lived in Spanish Fork, would come and give him a blessing he would get well. Brother Coltrin was sent for but could not make the trip out to Cedar Fort right then. He however blessed his handkerchief and sent it with instructions to wipe William's face with it and he would be made well. These instructions were followed and William began improving in health. From then on until he was quite old, he never had any serious illnesses. Zebedee Coltrin had given his parents their patriarchal blessings and was known to the family as a faithful man. William learned to work hard, early in life. He along with his father and brothers was a partner in their farming, a stock raising and freighting. The Cook family had a considerable amount of stock, horses, cattle and some say, sheep also, as there were sheep in the Valley in the early days. The feed in Cedar Valley was not enough to take care of all of the stock owned by the settlers in the winter so the Cook brothers would take their herds south were there was more feed. One of the problems in Cedar Valley was not having enough water to grown feed enough for all of the stock. Williams's job was to stay at home to look after things. One of his responsibilities was to see that his father's two families and the families of his brothers had all the supplies they needed, while the husbands were out taking care of the cattle. Grandpa Cook told Alice, Barnes' wife, that his father had built a log house when they first came to Cedar Fort. It was not large enough for all of the family to sleep in so he and his brothers slept in the granary. When the grain was harvested they would make their beds on top of the grain. William served as a reserve in the Black Hawk Indian Wars. As a reservist he had to be trained, buy a uniform, a rifle and all other equipment necessary, and have them on hand in case he was called to active duty. He also had to have a good riding horse. When he reached pension age he received a small pension from his service which he used mostly to trace his genealogy and to help his children and grandchildren. As is often the case there were two young ladies in Cedar Fort who he liked very much and they liked him. He asked one of them, Mary Almina Weeks to be his wife and they were sealed in the Endowment House 6 March 1871. His happiness with her was short, as she died 12 March 1873 when her new born child was eight days old. He was named William Luciene born March 4th, 1873. William's youngest sister, Marett took over the care of the baby and had complete charge of him until William Remarried. On the 25th of October 1875 he (William) was married and sealed to the other young lady he like very much, Rebecca Rodeback. When asked why he had chosen Mary Almina first he said he guessed it was because she was more active in the young peoples activities and he saw more of her and she lived just across the street from him. The day after he was married to Rebecca or Becky, as he and so many other called her, he had to go with his brothers on a cattle drive and was gone for nearly three weeks. When he returned home he found that his new wife had cleaned and moved into a small adobe house on his father's lot and had taken over the care of baby William. All of their six children were born in this small house. About the only other time he made an extended trip from home was to take a load of flour to Boise, Idaho and bring back a load of apples. He bought the Craft home across the road to the east from the Cook lot. The house on this lot was torn down and a new 5 room adobe one built just north of where the old one was. Rebecca's brother Barnes Rodeback and a friend, Matt Gibbs built the new one and took for their pay farm produce, a cow, a horse and some money. He moved into this home when his youngest son Barnes was real young. Barnes said he remembers riding in the wagon that was loaded with household goods when they were moving. He was in the spring seat and said he looked down and it looked like a long way to the ground. Grandpa Cook lived in this house until his death. It has had a face lifting now and then but the original walls still stand. William's father's brother William lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan and when he heard the gospel he believed it and was baptized. He soon came to Utah but his family would not come with him so he came alone. He lived with his brother, Henry Freemen at first. He worked in the field and one day while clearing out some wild roses, something flew up and hit him in the eye and he lost the sight in that eye. When it got so it did not hurt him he went back to the same place he had been working and began to clear more rose bushes out and something flew into his other eye and he lost the sight in it too. From then on he was known as "Blind Uncle Billie." William and Rebecca had another room built on the north east corner of their house. It was a frame room with a cellar for fruit and a milk cupboard in it. They asked "Uncle Blind Billie" to come and live with them and he could use the new room for his bedroom. He lived with them until his death. William Cook was quiet, unassuming, honest, generous, and hospitable. He and his wife Becky helped many people. Their house was always open to travelers, peddlers and trades-people always made their house their headquarters. The room built on for Uncle Blind Billie was used for a Camp House where travelers slept while their horses had been given feed down at the stable. Some of the travelers ate in the kitchen where grandma Cook had prepared a good meal. Others cooked their own meal on a stove in the camp house. There was a stove with two lids but no oven. There was also a bed in the room. Many are the travelers that have put up for the night at their home. William was active in the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as assistant Superintendent in Y.M.M.I.A. for 7 January 1882 till 1 November 1884. He was a Sunday School teacher and was second assistant to the Sunday School Superintendent 28 October and was first assistant in 1893. He was sustained as a counselor to Bishop Eli Bennett 10 May 1896. On 30 December 1906 he was sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward where he served until 26 February 1911. He was treasure of the Cedar Valley School District for many years. He was kind to the Indians who came every fall to pasture their horses and cattle in the town field after it was open for pasturing after the farmers crops were gathered. They pitched their tents near the town at first and later when there were not so many coming, they pitched their tents in William's lot. The Chief of the tribe called himself "William" and his wife was "Becky" and the first night that they made their camp, William and Becky came to the Cook home to spend the evening and have supper. While camped here the squaws would visit the homes and beg for food which was given to them liberally. It was placed in a sack which they carried, and taken back to their wickiups and used later. William was very meticulous about his person and his work. No matter who was visiting he would excuse himself and go do whatever he had to do. His chores always had to be done at a certain time. He loved and was kind to his children and grandchildren. They knew however that if they were caught in his cornfield, hay stacks, wheat bins or any number of places the children love to play but shouldn't they would get their legs switched with a little willow switch. He never rally hurt any child but they knew he meant what he said. One of those boys now a man laughingly tells of a time that he and others were in his pigpen having fun chasing the pigs. He had placed himself in the opening where the pigs went in and out. His backside was through the hole and was having fun watching his companion chase the pigs while he kept them from getting away. Grandpa Cook came along and seeing the situation he grabbed a stick and before Fon knew he was there he had received two or three whacks on his bottom before he could escape. The other boys escaped without getting any punishment. (According to Sheldon Cook, a grandson of William Cook, the boys that were involved in this little experience were himself, Sheldon Cook, Fon Cook, Ernal Cook and Howard Hacking.) In spite of frequent switchings he was loved by all of the children who when they grew older always spoke of him as a man that they loved. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, both old and young. His hair was dark and thick. It was only partially gray at his death. His expressive blue eyes could speak volumes. He wore a beard most of his life to cover an ugly scar made by a kick of a mule. He had a small "Captain's Chair" which stood in from of a window by the kitchen range. It was here he sat to rest or read. On 14 February 1892 grief came to William and Rebecca when their fourth child Mark Henry was kicked by a horse and killed. He had gone with his father to watch his father feed his animals that were in the field. The horse kicked him in the stomach and he died within a day or two. Rebecca died 12 August 1910 as the result of a fall which broke her hip in such a way that nothing could be done for her. The daughter Rebecca, had stayed home and cared for her mother during her illness. She had been helped by Cliff's wife Arminta, her father and some times others but she was offered a job in Ogden, as a teacher in the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind so Barnes and his Wife Alice moved into his home and cared for him the rest of his life. Their twelve living children testify that Grandpa Cook was a motivating force for good in shaping their lives. He passed away quietly on 27 November 1934 and is buried beside his wives in the Cedar Fort Cemetery. His posterity are many and most are stalwart members of the Church. The "Captain's Chair" which he used is now in the old Stage Coach Inn at Fairfield - "Old Camp Floyd." It was one of the chairs used in the court house when Cedar Fort was the county seat of Cedar County. The following poem was written at his death by a friend William P. Elton. It expresses how most who knew him felt about him. GRANDPA WILLIAM **** - LATTER DAY SAINT By William P. Elton From above a true Thanksgiving Came to Welcome Grandpa home. He was waiting to receive it, For he knew it soon would come We shall miss our loving father, Yes it's hard to part with him, All his life has been a blessing To all that would listen in. He has been to all a leader Through his deeds and through his work And to God and man his duty He was never known to shirk. He has been to all a teacher Not by works alone, but deeds He had shown us how to live To take the grain and leave the weeds. He has been to all a father With his counsel and his love, He has always shown us clearly How to gain the Throne above. He has been to all the neighbors As his God ordained he should, Never failing with his worldly goods For to share, as we all could. Never have we heard him censure Any one that went astray. He has always tried to guide them And has shown them the right way. His example through a long life Has set many of us right He has given us enlightenment That has helped us make the fight. Oh that more like him through action And not by words alone, There would be a mighty people Worthy of a Heavenly Throne. LIVING WITH GRANDPA (WILLIAM) COOK By Mabel Cook Smith Four or five years before I was born my Mother and Father moved into the Cook Family home. After my Grandmother Cook died Grandpa Cook was so lonely the Cook Family asked them if they would move in with him. I am thankful I had the experience of living in the home with Grandpa Cook. He was a king and generous man, but very strict. He was loved by all who knew him and was “Uncle Bill” to all of the town people. When I was small my Father was away a lot during the summer out on the Ranch. When he was home he would be in the field or on the dry farm until dark. It would be late before all the chores were finished, but Grandpa was always there for us. He did the chores around home with the help of some of my brothers. He always raised one of the best vegetable gardens in town and an orchard with all kinds of fruit trees. He gave generously the things he raised to many people. I remember one year he raised large patch of cantaloupes. Just about the time they were starting to ripen someone got in the patch one night and picked all the green cantaloupes and piled them in a large pile at the bottom of the patch. I thought how can anyone be so mean when he was so good and gave to everyone. He always encouraged us to be to Church by word and also by example. He was always interested in what we were doing and would ask us about our friends. He brought my dress when I graduated from High School. He told Mother he wanted to get it for me. He got a small Pension for being a Veteran of the Balck Hawk Indian War and spent most of it on members of his family, mostly his Grandchildren. He helped many of them with money for school and other things. Grandpa had many friends from places that would come to see him and lots of time would spend the night. I remember Church leaders that had meals in our home. Mother always taught us to respect him and she saw toit that he was well taken care of as he grew older. He died at the age of 87 years in the home he had built for him. I was in the room with my parents and Aunts and uncles when he died. I am thankful I had the privilege of having him for my Grandfather and to have learned from his wisdom. SOME MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM COOK By Donald S Cook, Grandson As far back as I can remember, I felt that we were privileged to have our grandfather living with us. My playmates were often his grandchildren too, but he lived with us. And that was something special. One thing that impressed me was the number of friends who came to visit him; both young and old. Among the many who seemed to come most often were James E Garn, Bill Elton, Mone Calton and Lizzy Peterson. Grandpa was a stern disciplinarian, something I often resented but accepted because of who he was. Grandpa always received what seemed to me a lot of Christmas presents and it always seemed to be the same things; house slippers and boxes of chocolates. The house slippers he never wore because he never took his shoes off until just before going to bed and he was always fully dressed when he came out of his room in the morning. The chocolates he passed around fairly regularly. Once, however, I didn't think they were coming quite often enough and I sneaked into his room and filled my pockets with them. Unfortunately he spotted me coming out and asked me what I had in my pockets. I told him, "Nothing." When he started towards saying, "Let me see," I darted past him through the kitchen and went down to the horse stable. He followed, grabbing his razor strap as he passed through the kitchen. When I saw him approaching I climbed up the north wall to the pigeon loft that was just underneath the gables in the roof knowing he wouldn't be able to reach me there. When he came through the door and looked up and saw where I was he just turned around and left saying, "You'll be in for supper." I stayed in the loft until it started to get dark and I began to get hungry. By this time I had come to the conclusion that I was going to get the razor strap sooner or later so I may as well get it over with so I could get something to eat. When I opened the kitchen door I saw the family was all sitting around the table eating. Grandpa, who hadn't even told the family what had happened, was seated at the south end of the table with the razor strap hanging just begin his left shoulder. When I come through the door he turned around and grabbed it but when he saw that I wasn't going to run, he hung it back on its hook saying, "I guess you've already been punished enough." Dad had warned us children not to play on the straw stack saying that it would make holes in the stack where the rain would get in and rot the straw. One Sunday afternoon while dad was in the house visiting with friends, my friends and I thought that if we played on the side away from the house, dad would never even know about it. When I came in for supper that night I saw that my plate had been put back in the cupboard. Dad told me that I would have to go without my supper because I had spoiled some of the cattle feed. I went into the living room and cried myself to sleep. I was awakened by grandpa as he stood me on my feet. He led me to the kitchen and got my plate from the cupboard. He had filled it for me before the food had been cleared from the table. Even though grandpa died when I was only eleven years old, I always felt thankful that I had the opportunity to spend those few years under his influence. * * * * * * *

HENRY FREEMAN COOK BORN:12 Jan 1815Homer, Cortland, New York DIED:14 Apr 1882Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah FATHER:William Cook6 Sep 1780 - 4 Nov 1840 MOTHER:Lucy Chapman5 May 1787 - 16 Oct 1857 SPOUSE:Sophronia Strobridge14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 Married 9 Apr 1837, New York CHILDREN:NAME BIRTH DATE DEATH DATE John Cook 22 May 1838 - 17 Feb 1904 James Cook 14 Jan 1840 - 06 May 1906 Hannah Cook22 Jan 1842 - 16 Apr 1926 Mary Jane Cook 2 Jan 1843/44 - 22 May 1895 Charles Cook 21 Feb 1846 - 10 Sep 1846 William Cook 19 Oct 1847 - 27 Nov 1934 George Cook 20 Mar 1850 - 26 Nov 1916 Harriet Ann Cook20 May 1853 - 25 Mar 1854 Jennette Cook 17 Mar 1856 - 23 Oct 1947 Marrett Cook17 Mar 1856 - 10 May 1931 SPOUSE:Julia Ann Rocker19 May 1828 - 22 Jan 1891 Married 12 Mar 1857In “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN:David Franklin Cook 9 Jan 1858 - Jun 1887 George Henry Cook 18 Feb 1860 - 12 May 1912 Florence Malinda Cook 11 Sep 1862 - 29 Jan 1899 Ada Cook 9 Dec 1866 - 9 Nov 1941 HENRY FREEMAN COOK is the father of William Cook who is the father of Barnes Alma Cook who is the father of Sheldon Barnes Cook who is the father of Ronald Sheldon Cook This life sketch of HENRY FREEMAN COOK was prepared using the history written by Henry Freeman Cook’s great-grand-daughter Gertrude C. Jackson as a base. New research findings, census records, documentation by Paul Henke and others, historical comments by Alice Adeline Southam Cook and some commentary have been added by Ronald S. Cook. Also, please note that many of the events written about in this history of Henry Freeman Cook are also written about in the history of his wife, Sophronia Strobridge Cook. I have prepared this history for my family - my children and grandchildren, based upon information I have learned about Henry Freeman Cook and his family from my family research over the past few years. I have written it in context of our family in hopes that my family will recognize how their ancestors related with each other before they were family and how our family history relates to the history of our great state and nation. I share it with members of the Henry Freeman Cook family hoping that it can yet be corrected and add to as new information is found and made available. Please share information you may have or find. Thank you. Ronald S. Cook WILLIAM COOK AND LUCY CHAPMAN Henry Freeman Cook was born 12 January 1815 at Homer, Cortland, New York. He was the fifth child and fourth son of William Cook, who was born 6 September 1780 in Massachusetts, and Lucy Chapman, who was born 5 May 1787 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Henry's parents, William and Lucy, were married 19 December 1805 at the First Church of Pittsfield, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. On 23 December 1806, just one year after they were married, Henry's parents bought ½ acre of land in Warren, Herkimer, New York. Two months later on 18 February 1807 they brought 40 acres of land in Warren. Henry's oldest brother Amassa was born in Warren on 16 April 1807, which indicates that they must have been living in Warren at the time. The land was all sold on 20 January 1810. They must have moved to Homer, Courtland, New York, before the sale of their land because Henry's second oldest brother, Edwin A. Cook, was born there 10 February 1809. Henry and all of his other brothers and sisters were born in Homer: William - 25 January 1811, Henrietta - 31 March 1813, Anne E. - 17 April 1818, Benjamin Franklin - 25 February 1821 and Harriett - 7 August 1824. AMASSA AND ANN DARBY CHAPMAN Lucy Chapman's parents were Amassa Chapman and Ann Darby. They spent most of their married life in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts, where Lucy and all her brothers and sisters (Amassa, Ann [Harris], Lois [Cook], Cynthia, Lyman, Hiram, Henry, and Isaac) were born. Lucy's father, Amassa, died 1 November 1822 in Hancock. Researchers Larry Piatt and David Zolman have found that Ann Darby died May 29, 1852 per a death notice that appeared in the records of th Egremont, Massachusetts Congregational Church on page 148 of an extracted church record. She was 89 years old. MOST OF THE COOK FAMILY MOVES TO MICHIGAN The 1835 New York state census lists a William Cook with the correct number of persons in his household, so we believe that Henry Freeman's parents were still in Homer, New York, at that time. The1837 Michigan State Census of Kalamazoo County lists a Cook, William, 60, living, probably in the home of his brother Abiel, with a male under 21 and females under 15, 21 and 50. Also living in the home was his son Henry, under 30, his nephew, Hiram (Abiel's son), under 30, and Abiel's son-in-law Edward Willan (Willard), under 30. Footnotes to that census also indicate that in 1838 William was on the "assessment roll" in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Henry's sister, and William and Lucy's sixth child and second daughter, Anne E. Cook, died 7 January 1840 in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 21 years, 8 months and 21 days old at her death. Eleven months later, on 4 November 1840, Henry's father, William Cook, died in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 60 years, 1 month and 29 days old when he died. Lucy lived another 16 years, 11 months and 12 days. She spent most of the rest of her life living with Henry Freeman and his family. She died 16 October 1857 in Cedar Fort Utah. She was 70 years, 5 months and 11 days old at her death. One of William's great-granddaughters reported that she learned that William was the first person buried in the Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan Cemetery. Lucy was buried in the old cemetery in Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah.. MICHIGAN STATE CENSUS OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY - 1837 Michigan’s first state census was taken in October and November of 1837. “By an act of the state legislature approved 27th March 1837 the township collectors were designated census enumerators. The act required that they should visit each house in their respective townships and make an enumeration of all the inhabitant***cept Indians not taxed, residing therein, on the second Monday of October 1837, and the act further specified that the names of all males over 21 years of age should be entered on the list.” (Salt Lake Family History Library, film # 925967) Michigan State Census for 1837 Males to: Females to: HEAD OF FAMILY5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 Cook, Hiram 1 Cook, William (76) 1 1 1 1 1 William, Edwin (Edward Willard) 1 Cook, Henry 1 76On Comstock assessment roll in 1838 HENRY FREEMAN AND SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE COOK We know very little about Henry's childhood. History tells that the Cooks were farmers and stock raisers. Henry, no doubt, helped on his father's farm. On 9 April1837, at the age of twenty-two, Henry Freeman married Sophronia Strobridge, in Solon, Courtland, New York. Sophronia was the daughter of George Augusta Strobridge who was born 3 September 1785 in Clairmont, New Hampshire, and Abigail Lull who was born in 1780 in Massachusetts. Approximately six months after their marriage, (October/November 1837) Henry was living with his father and cousins in his Uncle Abiel's home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Based upon the state census information give above it is assume that his new wife Sophronia is not in Kalamazoo at this time. However, Henry's first son, John, was born in Comstock, Kalamazoo Michigan on 22 May 1838. So, sometime between October/November 1837 and May of 1838 Sophronia and Lucy arrived in Kalamazoo. Henry Freeman and his family had to work very hard in this new location to make their home. History books of Michigan states that mosquitoes and other insects were terrible and the soil was rampant with infectious diseases. 1840 Federal Census – Comstock, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Page: 262, Line 19 HENRY COOK *** Age Years Possible Identity Male20 - 301810 - 1820(Henry Freeman Cook) Female20 - 301810 - 1830(Sophronia Strobridge Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(John Henry Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(James Henry Cook) HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF COMSTOCK “‘Henry Cook” who I (Paul Henke) believe is Henry Freeman Cook, served as one of the three highway commissioners for the township of Comstock in 1842. Concerning the making of local roads which Henry would have been involved in at that time, Maude Ellwood wrote, “Local roads were often constructed over marshy land by hewing logs flat on one side, then placing them side by side with the smooth side up to form a corduroy road.” It was probably quite a feat to (build), manage and to take care of the roads in this wilderness back in those days” (Paul Henke, “Research Update,” Barnes Alma Cook Family Letter, June 5, 1996, p 6-7). Three more children were born to Henry Freeman and Sophronia in Comstock: James, 14 January 1840; Hannah, 22 January 1842; and Mary Jane, 2 January 1844. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Elder Milo Edward Webb, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found and taught Henry Freeman Cook and his wife Sophronia the gospel during this period. Henry Freeman Cook was baptized into the church in February 1843. Sophronia was baptized in March of 1843. The following letter, written by Milo Edward Webb and printed in Nauvoo and in the “Times and Seasons” in England, tells of Elder Webb’s missionary experiences in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, during the time Henry and Sophronia were converted and baptized. NAUVOO, April 17th 1843 Dear Sir: Believing that a knowledge of the spread of truth will be interesting to you, as well as the numerous readers of your valuable periodical, I thought I would give you a short history of my labors and success the last six months. I left Nauvoo Oct. 3, in company with Elder H. B. Owens. We traveled preaching by the way, shaping our course for the state of Michigan. We preached five times and baptized one in Kendall county Ill.; from thence we came to the village of Niles, state of Michigan. Here we separated taking different directions for Albion, Calhoun county, where there is a small branch of the church. I labored in Niles and the regions round about for two weeks to crowded congregations. Much prejudice gave way, and many appeared to receive the word with gladness. I then left for Albion where I labored three weeks. I then started back intending to go to Niles, but came as far as Comstock (a small town four miles east of Kalamazoo, the shire town of Kalamazoo co.,) where I learned that the notorious J. C. Bennett was lecturing in Kalamazoo. Some of the citizens of Comstock went to him and told him that a Mormon preacher was in Comstock. Oh, says he, he is one of Joe Smith’s “destroying angels” my life is not safe here, he has got five hundred out to kill me. And in his hurry to get away from the “destroying angel,” he forgot to pay his tavern bill, and the poor Presbyterians for lighting and warming their house, as might be expected. They called him a notorious rascal and knave, not only for this circumstance, but from his own statements which were of such a nature that none could believe them but such as had an uncommon degree of credulity. The next day (being Sabbath) I preached in Comstock. They requested me to preach again, I did so. By this time I had invitations to preach in several places. I continued laboring in that section of county till March 7th, and baptized 24, and organized them into a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which we called the Kalamazoo branch. The work is but just begun in that place. I left scores believing, and I never saw such calls for preaching as there is in all the western part of Michigan. I had more invitations than I could possibly fill, although the Priests used their utmost endeavors to stop the progress of the work yet it rolled forward with a steady pace being propelled by the mighty hand of the Great God, and the truth found its way home to the hearts of the honest, some of whom walked forward in obedience to its divine requirements. I regret that circumstances were such that I had to leave so soon. I hope that some faithful elder will call on them, and continue the work. They will find the brethren hospitable and kind. Should the twelve remember them while on their mission to the east, they can enquire for Ezekiel Lee, or Lemuel Willard, Esq, or Jesse Earl, Comstock, Kalamazoo Co. Mich. I will now close by subscribing myself your friend and brother in the new and everlasting covenants. E. M. Webb. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 4, p. 166-167) “This letter was published in Nauvoo on April 17, 1843. This would mean Henry Freeman and Sophronia were among the first 24 baptized in this area and that they were taught the gospel and baptized by Elder Edward Milo Webb. As I was researching about Elder Webb I found he died on July 31, 1852, while crossing the plains near the Platte River. I did find that among the prominent church members who came and visited the saints in Comstock were two of the Quorum of the Twelve, viz: Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith. It is wonderful to think that Henry and Sophronia became acquainted with these great brethren at this time and were probably influenced by them to once again make preparations to move their family, this time to Nauvoo to be with the main body of the saints. (Paul Henke, Cook Family Letter, “Research Update,” June 5, 1996) THE COOK FAMILY MOVE TO NAUVOO Sometime after the birth of their fourth child, Mary Jane, in January 1844, Henry, Sophronia and their family moved to Nauvoo. Their fifth child, Charles, was born in Nauvoo on 21 February 1846. According to the “Historic Nauvoo Land and Records Research Center” Henry Freeman Cook and his family owned and lived in a home on the NW corner of Taylor (running east and west) and Durphy (running north and south) streets. The home was in the southeast 1/4 of lot #8, just nine blocks north and one block west of the Nauvoo temple and 2 ½ blocks east of the Mississippi River. The Cook family suffered the same persecution as the other saints. They had to leave this beautiful city almost before they were settled. Along with other Saints they went to Council Bluffs, Iowa for awhile. Their sixth child, William, born 19 October 1847, and their seventh child, George, born 20 March 1850, made their appearance here. 1850 FEDERAL CENSUS – District #21, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Page: 86B, Lines 38-42 and 37A lines: 1-6, Enumeration Date: 18 Sep 1850 NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONESTATEBIRTHPLACE Henry Cook 35MaleLaborer NY Sophronia Cook 37Female NY John Cook 12Male Mich Ja’s Cook 10 Male Mich Hannah Cook 8Female Mich Mary Cook 7Female Mich Wm. Cook 4Male Iowa Geo. Cook 6/12Male Iowa Lucy Cook 62Female Mass Harriet Dolphaimar 26Female VA Wm. Dolphamar 1Male VA COUNCIL BLUFFS AND KANESVILLE, IOWA From Nauvoo, Henry and his family traveled to Council Bluffs (Kanesville). Pottawattami County, Iowa where they stayed until the summer of 1852 Council Bluff's is where the Lewis and Clark expedition counseled with the Otoe Indians in 1804 on their way to explore the west and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. In 1846 the Mormon Pioneers changed the name of the area to Kanesville in honor of Colonel Thomas L. Kane who on at least one occasion refused to execute the Prophet Joseph Smith and said he would personally hold accountable anyone who participated in the execution of him. It was at Kanesville, where Brigham Young encouraged the Saints to respond to the call for a battalion of men to fight for the United States government in the Mexican War. The Mormon Battalion was the result. It was in Kanesville whre on December 4, 1847 the Quorum of the Twelve sustained Brigham Young as President of the Church, where a special new tabernacle was built in three weeks, where on December 2, 1847 the Saints meet together to sustain the new president, first presidency and Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kanesville was one of the three main areas, Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah being the other two, that for almost six years supplied thousands of Saints and others who were heading west. We have no records to verify it, however, we can assume that Henry Freeman Cook and his family were involved in all of the activities that took place in Kanesville between 1846 and 1852. Shortly after the Saint left Kanesville in 1852, the remaining local residence changed the name of the area back from Kanesville to Council Bluffs. THE COOK FAMILY MOVE WEST – THEY SETTLE IN CEDAR FORT Shortly after the birth of George the family moved to St. Louis where they prepared to make the trip to Salt Lake. The family consisting of Henry Freeman, Sophronia, John (14), James Henry (12), Mary Jane (9), Hannah (7), William (5), George (2) and Henry’s mother Lucy, traveled west with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Utah on October 9, 1852. For awhile they made their home in Big Cottonwood, in SE Salt Lake County. Their eighth child, Harriet Ann, was born in Big Cottonwood 20 May 1853. Their last two children, twin girls, Jannett and Marrett, were born in Cedar Fort, Utah County, 17 March 1856. A survey for a “Genealogical Survey of LDS Members between 1924 and 1929 stated the William moved to Cedar Fort from Big Cottonwood in October of 1953. Also, little Harriett Ann died 25 May 1854 and was buried in one of the first graves in the old Cedar Fort cemetery, so we know the family came to Cedar Fort before that. The Life History of Henry Freeman Cook in the files of the Daughters of the Pioneers in Salt Lake City, Utah, states: “Sometime after their seventh child, George was born March 20, 1850, they moved to St. Louis Missouri, then continued on to Utah. They traveled in the Warren Snow company, and arrived in Salt Lake in October 9, 1852. They stayed in Big Cottonwood the first winter, then in the summer of 1853, they moved south to Cedar Fort, Utah.” Cedar Valley ward membership records held in the LDS Church Historian’s office in the Church’s special collections in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicate that Henry Freeman Cook and Sophronia Strobridge Cook were “received” from the Big Cottonwood ward in December 1853. CEDAR VALLEY WARD MEMBERSHIP RECORD NAME: Cook, Henry Freeman PARENTS:William & Lucy Chapman BIRTH: Jan 12, 1815WHERE:Homer NY BLESSING: BAPTISM:Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb CONFIRMATION: Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb RE-BAPTISM: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:John Brown RE-CONFIRMATION: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:Birch Johnson ORDINATION Aug 30, 1857TO WHAT OFFICE:High Priest RECEIVED:Dec 1853WHERE FROM:Big Cottonwood DIED:April 14, 1882 JANE HACKING FISHER TERRY WAS THE MIDWIFE FOR SOPHRONIA- MARCH 17, 1856 Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the midwife who took care of Sophronia when the twins, Janett and Marett were born. Sometimes she would take her small son, Moroni, with her when she went to care for mother and babies. Moroni told Alice Cook that he remembered those visits with a warm feeling as he always got a big slice of bread and butter, which he didn't get very often at home. Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the mother of John Sampson Hacking, and was Alice Adeline Southam Cook’s great grandmother on her mother’s, Jane Hacking Southam’s, side. HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT TWO HOMES FOR HIS FAMILY IN CEDAR FORT Henry Freeman Cook built two homes for his family in Cedar Fort. The first was an adobe home. It was built in the middle of the south side of the “Cook” lot. The “Cook” lot was the south half of the block the school and Church gym were in. The adobes for this home were made in what was later referred to as “the adobe hole,” which was located approximately two blocks east of where the home was built. According to Donald S Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook, the remains of this hole can still be seen. It is approximately ½ block east of the store located along the highway in Cedar Fort (2005 AD). As a historical note: After the community ceased using the area around the adobe hole for making adobes, the hole was used as a baptismal font. Once every year or two, water from the south spring was used to fill “the font.” Then all the children in town who had turned eight since the last baptism were baptized in “the old adobe hole.” Barnes Alma Cook and Alice Adeline Southam, my grandparents, were both baptized in this “baptismal font” (Adobe hole) on July 30, 1897. This adobe home Henry Freeman Cook built, as can be remembered by Donald S. Cook, was a four room home. It had two basic rooms in front with a lean-to off the back with two additional rooms in. After Henry Freeman Cook lived in the home, his son William, my great grandfather, lived in it. All of William’s children, including my grandfather Barnes Alma Cook, were born in this home. When Donald, grandson of William and son of Barnes Alma, was a boy, the home was used as a chicken coop. It has since been torn down. The second home Henry Freeman Cook built for his family was on the west side of the “Cook” lot, facing west. It was a two story frame house. James Rodeback, Barnes Alma Cook,s grandfather - his mother’s father, help Henry build it. The home was built from logs men in the community cut in the Oquirrh Mountains and sawed at the saw mill build in Cedar Fort to serve Johnston’s army. With some modifications this second home is still standing and is still being lived in. It is now referred to in Cedar Fort as the Berry home. It is the only home in the block facing west, and is south of the church and school in Cedar Fort. On July 8, 2006 I learned from the present owner of the home, Jason Westagard, that he plans on tearing the home down in August of this year and replace it with another home. He wanted to preserve the home, to fix it up and keep living in it. However, he said he found it too expensive to do what banks required him to do for them to work with him. Therefore, he decided to tear the home down and replace it with another home. On July 9, 2009 I learned that within the past few months the Henry Freeman Cook home burned down. Orson McKinney reported that after the home caught fire the Cedar Fort Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The home was reparable. However, a few ambers must have been left burning because several hours later the home burned a second time. This time it burned beyond repair. Since then the remains of the house have been removed from the lot and a hole has been dug for the footing and basement of another home to be built on the lot. DUGOUTS ALONG THE JORDAN RIVER From the history of William Cook, son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook, written by Gertrude Cook Jackson, a granddaughter, and Barnes Alma Cook, a son, we read, "One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they (meaning Henry Freeman Cook and his family) lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River." Alice Southam Cook in her history of Cedar Fort wrote the following about evacuating Cedar Fort because of Indian trouble. “When the Walker War broke out in the spring of 1853, all the settlers of Cedar Valley moved to Lehi, in order to be safe against Indian depredations. This move took place April 27, 1853, and the settlers remained in Lehi until June 25, 1853 when they returned to their homes in Cedar Valley. The settlers evacuated Cedar Valley a second time July 28, 1853, as the Indian hostilities continued. Part of the people set up temporary homes along the Jordan River. They moved back to their homes September 7, 1853.” If the incidents Alice Cook wrote about were the same as referred to in the history of William Cook by Gertrude Jackson above, and Henry Freeman Cook and his family didn’t move to Cedar Fort until December of 1853, Henry and his family were not even in Cedar Fort yet when the incidents occurred. In the book, LEHI, PORTRAITS OF A UTAH TOWN, by Richard S. Van Wagoner, (US/CAN 979.224/La, H2v), on page 8 we read, "... When Johnston led his forces through Salt Lake City on 26 June 1858 the town was essentially vacant. By the end of August, however, virtually all Salt Lakers had returned home. "As news reached Lehi and Cedar Valley that the army was moving southward, most Fairfield and Cedar Fort citizens left their homes and camped near Cold Springs west of the Jordan River (Sherwin Allred's ranch in 1989)." Also, in “Our Pioneers” written by Annie M. Glines Hacking for the Vernal Express, August 6 & 13, 1931, Annie wrote: “When Johnston’s army came to Cedar Valley in the spring of 1858, President Brigham Young sent word for the people to move at once to the east side of the River Jordan” If Johnson’s army coming to Cedar Valley is the event that is referred to in William Cook’s history aforementioned then the move was not because of the Indians. Henry Freeman Cook and his family were living in Cedar Fort at the time Johnston’s army came and probably took part in the more to the Lehi area at then. It is also interesting to note from Richard Van Wagoner's book that the citizens of Cedar Fort, for different reasons, moved to the Lehi area on two or three different occasions those first few years they lived in Cedar Fort. However, most of the time they "camped in the Meeting House. Some were boarded in private homes, while others burrowed in dugouts or slept in makeshift shelters against the fort's wall." Cold Springs is on the Sherwin Allred Ranch on the west bank of the Jordan River, west of Lehi. It is located by turning north just about 150' west of the bridge over the Jordan River on the road heading west from Lehi to Cedar Fort. About .03 to .04 tenths of a mile north along that road is a large pond of water located on the east side of the road. Water from Cold Springs feeds that pond. We do not know for sure if that is really where Henry Freeman Cook and his family "lived in dugouts." However, I believe there is a good chance that it is. William Cook lived with my father, Sheldon Barnes Cook, and his family for several years while my father was growing up. One time I asked my father if he knew where those dugouts were. He said he thought so. One day as we were crossing the Jordan River bridge headed for Cedar Fort, he pointed south and said "I think they were down there." As I inquired further, my father said that he always was going to have his grandfather show him were the dugout were but he never did. My father’s understanding as to where Henry Freeman Cook and his family might have spent a winter living in dugouts is definitely different than reported by Richard Van Wagoner. 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY NAME*** Henry F. Cook M Sophronia F John M James M Hannah F Mary J. F William M George M Lucy Cook F Alonzo M Martha F DAVID SANDER LAUGHLIN (Lauchlin) David Sanders Laughlin (Lauchlin, Lanklin, Lockland) was born April 26 1815(16) in Dunbarton, Merrimack, New Hampshire. He was the son of David and Sarah Caroline Watkins Laughlin. David’s first wife, Mary Clark (born April 1821) died July 14, 1845 at Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 24 years, 2 months, 3 days, of the fever. He married Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker, Ap;ril 11, 1849 in Ohio, City, Cuyahago, Ohio. David Sander Laughlin was a member of (private in) Company D of the Mormon Battalion. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at an early day in Kirtland, Ohio, and afterwards moved to Far West, Missouri, where he suffered persecutions together with the rest of the saints. He afterwards located in Nauvoo, and was with the Saints when they were driven from that place in 1846. On the journey westward he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and after he returned to Winter Quarters in the fall of 1847, he filled a mission to Ohio and settled in the Salt Lake and later Cedar Valley with his family in 1852. He died after a long illness. David was a member of the 35th Quorum of Seventies. (Peterson, Margery J., OUR ROOTS GROW DEEP - A History of Cedar Valley, 2nd ed [American Fork, Utah, 2003] “David S. Laughlin, p 15:21). As a missionary David met and converted Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker to the Gospel. Julia had been married to Martin Knapp and had one child, Mary Louisa. She and Mary Louise left and was divorced from Martin before she joined the Church. After David Laughlin converted Julia to the Church they were married probably in 1849 or 1850. This was also David’s second marriage. He had previously been married to Mary Clark who had died July 14, 1845 in Nauvoo, Illinois of the fever. It was after Mary’s death that David had joined the Mormon Battalion. David and Julia have five (six) children. Johnnie, their first born died at age 13, from infection he got from wading in impure water. Twins, Joseph and Jacob were born January 2, 1851 and only lived long enough to be named. John Alvin was born in March 1852, Julia Ann September 19, 1853 and Harriet was born July 3, 1855. (Taken from the history of Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker). REPORT OF DEATH: DIED: In Fort Cedar, Cedar Valley, December 5, 1856, DAVID S. LANKLIN, aged 40 years, 7 months and 29 days. Elder Lankin embraced the gospel in Kirkland, Ohio; moved to Far West, Missouri, and suffered with the saints in their expulsion from there; cheerfully enlisted in the ‘Mormon Battalion,’ in obedience to the call; returned to Winter Quarters in 1847; proceeded from there on a mission to Ohio, and moved with his family to these valleys in 1852. He lived respected and esteemed by those who knew him, and died in full hope of the reward awaiting the faithful (Desert News, December 31, 1856). 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY David Lockland M Julia F Louisa F John M Julia A. F Susan F JULIA ANN (BERCIER) ROCKER KNAPP LAUGHLIN COOK Henry Freeman Cook and David Saunders Laughlin were friends. In 1856 David was sick and knew that he was about to die. Tradition tells us that before he died on December 5, 1856 in Cedar County, Utah, David told his wife Julia Ann not to worry because his friend Henry Freeman Cook would take care of her. On March 12, 1857, just three months and seven days after David Laughlin passed away, Henry Freeman married David’s wife, Julia Ann (Bercier) Rocker Knapp Laughlin in “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time Julia had four small children: Mary Louisa Knapp (from her first marriage to Martin Knapp), John Alvin, Julia Anne and Harriet Laughlin (from her second husband David Sanders Laughlin). From this marriage Henry Freeman Cook became the father of four additional children: David Franklin, George Henry, Florence Malinda and Ada. MARCH 12, 1857 WAS AN IMPORTANT DATE FOR HENRY FREEMAN COOK On March 12, 1857, Henry Freeman Cook acted as proxy as Julia Rocker was sealed to David Laughlin by President D. H. Wells, at 6 1/4 pm in the “Presidents Office.” At the same time Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Julia Rocker by D. H. Wells for time only. Then Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Sophrornia Strobridge in “The President Office” by President D. H. Wells. The time was 6 ½ pm. All three of these sealings were witnessed by G. D. Wood and D. O. Colder. (Ordinance #660 as reported on film # 1149514 in the “Special Collections” section of the Salt Lake Family History Library.) Henry Freeman Cook was sealed again to Sophronia Strobridge on September 27, 1861 by President D. H. Wells in the Endowment House. This sealing was witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus. That same day in the Endowment House Henry Freeman Cook was again sealed to Julia Rocker for “time only” by D. H. Wells, and stood as proxy for David Saunders Lauchlin was sealed to Julia Ann Rocker and Mary Bell, deceased. All of these sealings were also witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus (Ordinance # 3913 and 3914 as recorded in film # 1149514 of “Special Collections” in the Salt Lake Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah). HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT A HOME FOR JULIA AND HER CHILDREN “I (Sheldon Barnes Cook) was born and spent the first 18 months of my life in a small three room house constructed by my great-grandfather Henry Freeman Cook, for his second wife, Julia Ann Rocker. It was located east and a little north of the Cedar Fort School house, about the center of the area occupied by the Orson McKinney home at the present time. “Two rooms were constructed of native clay sun dried brick or “adobe” as they were called. The inside walls were plastered and the ceiling were lath and plaster. The third room was on the south side of the house, a lean-to-type wood frame with lumber sheathing on the outside and up about three feet on the inside and cheese cloth on the upper inside walls and ceiling. The cheese cloth was white washed. I remember well how the cloth ceiling sagged. This room had a bare wooden floor and was used as a kitchen by my mother. Rag carpet covered the wooden floors in the other two rooms. The windows were wood frame with clear glass, and the roof was wood lumber sheathing with wood shingles. I was informed by my grandfather William Cook, that all building materials used in constructing and finishing the house except nails, cheese cloth and glass, were native materials produced in Cedar Fort (From the personal history of Sheldon Barnes Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook). FIRST PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – August 11, 1857 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young, August 11, 1857, and the second from Zabedee Coltrin, June 18, 1875. The first is as follows: Patriarchal Blessing given Cedar Valley, Aug. 11. 1857, by John Young upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Eliza, (Lucy), born Jan 12, 1815, Omar (Homer), Kirtland (Cortland), County, New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct text). - J. W. Long, Reporter. (Henry F. Cook's blessing Recorded in Book C. Page 317, No 168) LUCY CHAPMAN DIED AND IS BURIED IN CEDAR FORT OCTOBER 16, 1857 Henry's mother, Lucy Chapman Cook, came with Henry Freeman and his family to Utah and made her home with them until her death on 16 October 1857. We have no record that Lucy ever officially joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by being baptized. The fact that on May 13, 1874, a granddaughter, Hannah Cook Dayton was baptized by proxy for her in Salt Lake City may indicate that she didn’t ever officially join the Church. However, she received a patriarchal blessing, usually only given to official members of the Church; and in that patriarchal she was told that the blessings of the heavens would rest upon her because she embraced the gospel, left her native home and gathered with the saints in the valleys of the mountains. This leads us to believe that she might have been a baptized member of the Church. Whether a baptized member of the Church or not, Lucy came west to Cedar Fort because of the Church and was among the first buried in the community that was settled by Church members. She was buried in the old Cedar Fort Cemetery. 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1060, Lines: 1-11, Dwelling: 3842, Family 2998, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Hy F Cook 46 M F (Farmer) NY ESTATE550 PROPERTY1700 Ceprona 47 F NY Jn 22 M L (Laborer) Mich Js. 20 M L (Laborer) Mich Hannah 18 F Mich Mary J. 16 F Mich Wm. 11 M IowaAttended School Geo. 10 M IowaAttended School Jeanette 5 F UTAttended School Mary E. 5 F UT Wm. Nay 22 ML (Laborer) 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1061 line 40 & 1062 lines 1-6, Dwelling: 3872, Family 3012, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860 BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATION ESTATEPLACE COMMENTS Julia A. 33 F Conn Louisa L. 14 F 150Ohio Attended School Jo. S. L. 8 MIowa Attended School Julia A. L. 7 F UT Attended School Harriet A. 5 F UT Attended School David F. 3 M UT Geo. H. 8/12 M UT COOK FAMILY HORSES Henry and Sophronia Cook seemed to have had a little more property than most of the families coming West. They had horses and cattle which were brought with them across the plains. They may have also had sheep as there were sheep in the valley in the early days. Their daughter Hannah used to tell of a light gray or white team she remembered well. Alice Adeline Southam Cook wrote that “When Henry Freeman Cook and his family settled in Cedar Fort he had a span of Mares. Later he and his boys bought some horses from among a band that were being taken to California from the east. One mare in particular was heavy with foal and the owner was afraid that she would not survive the trip west, so he was glad to sell her. Her colt grew to be a fine stallion named Jeff. His stock proved to be very good dual purpose animals. They were good riding horses and also good to drive and to work with the equipment used in the early days. His colts were in great demand by settlers in the surrounding counties for breeding purposes” (Mrs Barnes A. Cook, “Cedar Fort” p 290). Sporting men from the East saw the quality in them and paid a big price for one of Jeff's colts, which he took East. He found him being used to run a threshing machine. The Cook Brand was and still is JHC with the J and H combined on one side and the H and C combined on the other. It looks like a J and a C connected with a bar in the middle. (This horse was branded with the JHC Cook brand, which was mistaken for JIC which was the name given to the colt by his new owner.) As the colt grew he was found to be a tough mouthed animal who required a special bit to hold him under control. A special bit was designed for the horse. Because it worked so well for this horse it was marketed to other horse owner, who had horses that were hard to control. It was called the JIC bit and was marketed for many years. The colt JIC was trained for cart racing. He was very successful and became one of the top cart-racing horses of his time. He was next to Maud S., who at one time held the world's record in cart racing. 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 198, Lines: 1-8, Dwelling: 1, Family: 1, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Cook, Henry 55 M FarmerNew York ESTATE2200PROPERTY2000 Sophronia 55 FKeeping HouseNew York John 30 MLaborerMichigan PROPERTY3000 William 23 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 500 George 21 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 200 Jeanette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Maynette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Antonia Parigo 35 MLaborerPROPERTY 30 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 199, Lines: 24-28, Dwelling: 18, Family: 17, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACE COMMENTS Julia Cook 42 FKeeping HouseCanada Parents foreign born/ cannot read & write Franklin Cook 12 MAt HomeUtah Attended School Henry Cook 10 FAt HomeUtah Attended School Malinda Cook 8 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born Ada Cook 3 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born SOPHRONIA, BECOMES CEDAR VALLEY’S FIRST RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT The “Church” organized a Relief Society in the Cedar Valley Ward on January 28, 1871. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia was called and set apart the first president of that organization in Cedar Valley. Those serving with her included Sarah Jane Weeks, as Sophronia’s first counselor, Phoebe Rodeback as second counselor, Malinda Cook as secretary and Almina Weeks as treasurer (Alice Cook). PROXY BAPTISMS FOR ANCESTORS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS From Family History Temple records we learn that on May 13, 1875 Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia and two of their children, John and Hannah, did proxy baptisms in Salt Lake City for many of their ancestors and other family members as follows: NAMENUMBERPROXYRELATIONSHIP George Augustus Strobridge1284John CookGrandson George A. Strobridge1285 “Great Grandson James Strobridge1286 “Grand Nephew Oliver Stgrobridge1287 “ ” Sanford Strobridge1288 “ ” Archibold Strobridge1289 “ ” George Washington Strobridge 1290 “Nephew Abner Lull1291 “Great Grandson David Lull1292 “Grand Nephew Billings Lull1293 “ “ Samuel Lull1294 “ ” James Lull1295 “ ” Abigail Lull Strobridge1296Sophronia Storbridge CookDaughter Julia Strobridge1297 “Step Daughter Hannah Lull1298 “Niece Sally Wilman1299 “ ” Lydia Lull1300 “ ” Rebecca Strobridge1301 “ ” Nancy Strobridge1302 “ ” Annabender Page1303 “Cousin William Cook1304Henry Freeman CookSon Job Cook1305 “Nephew Abial Cook1306 “ ” Amasa Chapman1307 “Grandson Lyman Chapman1308 “Nephew Amasa Chapman1309 “ ” Isaac Chapman1310 “ ” Henry Chapman1311 “ ” Hyrum Chapman1312 “ ” Joseph Darby1313 “Grand Nephew Rufus Darby1314 “ ” Amasa Chapman1315 “Great Grandson Anna Lull1316Sophronia Strobridge CookGranddaughter Ann Darby1317Hanna Cook DaytonGrand Daughter Lucy Chapman1318 “ ” Cynthia Chapman1319 “Grand Niece Lois Chapman1320 “ ” Ann Chapman1321 “ ” Ann Darby1322 “3rd Cousin Asenath Darby1323 “ Almyra Cook (Doud)1324 “Niece in Law Ann E. Cook1324 “Niece Mrs. Darby1326 “Great Grand Niece Mrs. Darby1327 “ ” Harriet Cook1328 “Niece Baptized By S.H.B. Smith . Confirmed By John Cottam Witnessed by Peter Peterson and James Bennett Recorded J.D.S. McAllister PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ORDER OF CEDAR FORT AND FAIRFIELD On May 3, 1874, the Saints in Cedar Fort and Fairfield together organized into what was called the United Order. Henry Freeman Cook was president of the Order. When the new Order notified Brigham Young as to what they had done and ask for directions, Brigham Young wrote back: “Wait ‘till the head moves before the tail starts to wiggle.” The United Order experiment was discontinued. (Mrs Barnes A. Cook - “Cedar Fort” p 288-289). Henry also took part in other community projects. He owned shares in the co-op owned by the people of the Valley. His son, John, helped manage the store. SECOND PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – June 18, 1875 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young on August 11, 1857 and the second from Zabedee Coltrin June 18, 1875. The date is not discernable on the copy of this blessing. However I believe it was given on June 18, 1875, and was the second Patriarchal Blessing given to Henry Freeman Cook. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia Strobridge, received a Patriarchal Blessing from Zabedee Coltrin on June 18, 1875. The blessing was recorded in book “B” and Sarah P. Austin was the secretary. Henry Freeman Cook and his Wife Sophronia Strobridge also received their first Patriarchal Blessings the same day (August 11, 1857), from the same Patriarch (John Young). Henry Freeman Cook’s blessing is recorded in Book “C,” page 317, No 168; Sophronia’s is in book “C,” page 318, No. 169. Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia did things like this together. The blessing is as follows: Blessing given by Zabedee Coltrin, Patriarch, upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Lucy Chatman (Chapman) Cook born January 12, 1815, in the town of Homer, Cortland Co, state of New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct the text.) Recorded in book B - Sarah P. Austin, Secretary - BISHOP OF THE CEDAR VALLEY WARD – June 11, 1876 (October 13, 1877) to April 14, 1882 The Cedar Valley members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were organized into a ward on April 3, 1853. Allen Weeks was sustained and served as the first bishop of the ward. On December 19, 1858, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained as 1st Counselor to Bishop Weeks. Henry served with Bishop Weeks as 1st counselor of the ward until Bishop Weeks resigned because of ill health. Alice Cook in her history of Cedar Fort, Gertrude C. Jackson’s history of Henry Freeman Cook and Henry Freeman Cook’s obituary printed in the Deseret News (See below), indicated that Henry Freeman Cook then became the bishop of the Cedar Valley ward on June 11, 1876. Margery J. Peterson in her book Our Roots Grow Deep - A History of Cedar Valley page 4-18 indicates that the date Henry Freeman Cook became bishop was October 13, 1877. What ever the date, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained and ordained to be the 2nd bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as bishop until his death on April 14,1882. Henry Freeman Cook was a kind, generous, quiet, industrious man, not given much to frivolity. A story is told of him by Annie Glines Hacking in her biographical sketch in which she tells of attending a dance in Cedar Fort. The band began playing a waltz, which the Bishop and other Church authorities frowned upon. Youth-like, the young ladies of the ward decided the Bishop and counselors were going to dance, and so converged on Bishop Cook and his counselors and pulled them out on the floor. Other young ladies kept them dancing for a considerable length of time. One of his sons, George (Dod for short), came into the dance hall and saw his father dancing the waltz. He exclaimed loudly, "Father, you are actually waltzing. I don't believe my eyes!" The Bishop was quite embarrassed, but we wonder if he didn't enjoy it a little. 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, ED: 86, Page: 27B, Lines: 1-9, Dwelling: 245, Families: 254 & 255, Enumeration Date: 18 & 99 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Cook, Henry F M 65 Head Farmer NY MassMass Sophronia F 67 Wife Keeping House NY MassMass George M 30 Son StockmanIowa NY NY Cook, Wm M 69 Farmer NY MassMass Dayton, Chas M 25Coal BurnerUtah NY Sallie F 20 WifeKeeping House Utah England England 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho, ED: 9, Page: 114A, Lines: 1-4, Dwelling: 227, Family: 235, Enumeration Date: 28 & 29 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Julia Cook F 53 HeadKeeps House Canada CanadaCanada George H. Cook M20 SonHerdsman Utah NY Canada Malinda Cook F18 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada Ada Cook F15 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S 2ND WIFE LIVING IN IDAHO IN 1880 It is interesting to note that Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together that are still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. No reason for them being in Idaho has ever been given in any of the histories I have read about Henry Freeman Cook or his family. However, historically there could be several reasons. Federal authorities trying to prosecute men who were practicing polygamy could be one. Those practicing polygamy usually ended up having their different families live in different town in different areas. Another could be water. Cedar Fort was very limited on water. Dry years could have placed a strain on the area’s ability to support the growing population almost 100% dependent upon agricultural to live. As the Cook family grew and water supplied were limited, they could have had to seek other areas in which to grow and expand their flocks and herds. Many from the Cedar Fort area seemed to end up in the Cottonwood and Dingle area of Bear Lake County in Idaho. I think most of them went their because of water and increased farming and cattle, sheep and horse raising opportunities. We really don’t know yet why Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together who were still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. HENRY FREEMAN COOK DIED - OBITUARY Henry Freeman Cook passed away 14 April 1882 and is buried in Cedar Fort. A pioneer of merit, his obituary printed in the Deseret News read as follows: “At his residence in Cedar Fort, April 14, 1882, Bishop HENRY FREEMAN COOK Deceased was born Jan. 12, 1815, in Homer N.Y., and was baptized February 1843. Ordained a High Priest August 30, 1875, re-baptized August 14, 1875, and ordained Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward June 11, 1876. He was beloved and respected by all, filled the office of Bishop as a true servant of God and died in full faith of the Gospel” (Deseret News, 31:244). HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S TWO WIVES LIVED IN CEDAR FORT MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF THEIR DAYS Henry Freeman Cook was 22 years old when he married Sophoronia Strobridge and moved from Cortland, New York to Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 28 when he and his wife Sophronia were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 when he moved with his family to Nauvoo and 37 when they crossed to plains to Utah. He was 38 when he settled in Cedar Fort, 42 when he married his 2nd wife, Julia Rocker and was sealed to his 1st wife Sophronia, and 61 or 62 when he was called and sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley ward. He was 67 years 3 months and 2 days old when he died and was buried in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery in lot 07-05-01 as per the Orson McKinney plating system for the cemetery. Julia Ann (Bercier)Rocker Knapp Laughlin Cook, we think, lived most of the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died in Cedar Fort, January 22, 1891, 8 years 9 months and 8 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. Sophronia Strobridge Cook lived the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died July 24, 1909, 22 years 3 months and 12 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. * * * * * * * HISTORICAL RESEARCH NOTES COOK ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK Henry Freeman Cook is the son of William and Lucy Chapman Cook. William Cook is the son of Abial and Susannah Cole Cook.* Abial Cook is the son of Job and Ann Bennett Cook. Job Cook is the son of Thomas and Lydia Taylor Cook. Thomas Cook is the son of John and Ruth Shaw Cook. John Cook is the son of John, alias Butcher and Mary Borden Cooke. John Cooke, alias Butcher, was the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, and his wife ? Mary ? . Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, who stands at the head of our Cook Family in American, is the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or Butcher. Thomas, his wife Mary and their three oldest children: Thomas, John and child, came to Taunton, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts in 1637 on the ship Speedewell. Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or butcher, the last generation of our Cook family in England, was born about 1570. He died in Netherbury, Dorset, England 20 May 1614 as Thomas Butcher. COLE ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK *Susannah Cole is the daughter of William Cole and Elizabeth Luther. William Cole is the son of John Cole and Abigail Butts. John Cole is the son of John Cole and Susannah ? John Cole is the son of Hugh Cole and Mary Foxwell. Hugh Cole is the son of James Cole and Mary Lobel, James Cole, who stands at the head of the Cole family in America, is the son ? . He came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1633 with his wife Mary and two oldest sons, James and Hugh. THE NAME OF THE TOWN OF CEDAR FORT During the time Henry Freeman Cook lived in Cedar Fort the name of the town changed several times. In the Territorial Census of 1856 the town was named Stone City, Cedar County. On August 11, 1857 in a patriarchal blessing given by John Young to Jane Clark Hacking the town was named North Fort, Cedar Valley. In “The Tintic War and the death of George and Washington Carson” by Lynn R. Carson, Fairfield at this time (1855-57) was often referred to as South Fort, supporting the fact that Cedar Fort at that time was also often referred to as North Fort. In the 1860 Territorial Census the town was called Fort Cedar, Cedar County. And finally, in the Federal Census of 1870 the town is called Cedar Fort, Utah County, the name it continues to be known as to this day. A CORRECTION TO PUBLISHED INFORMATION All published information is not correct. The following, published by and in the LDS Collectors Library: Early LDS Membership Data, 1995 Infobases, Inc., and taken from Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830 - 1848 Volume XI compiled by Susan Easton Black and published in 1989 by Brigham Young University, demonstrates why it is important to audit our records. Henry Freeman Cook’s record in this book has two errors. First, his name is only listed under Henry Freeman. It is not listed under Henry Freeman Cook. His father is listed as William Cook and his children are all listed as Cooks. But, he is only listed as Henry Freeman. Second, under "Places of Residence" it states that in 1850 “Henry” lived in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. The information was taken from the 1850 Utah Federal Census. When I first read this it excited me. I wondered if I had found something that would help us learn more about our family. I immediately reviewed the 1850 Census of Utah for Great Salt Lake County. On page 169 (55 of the typed census) I found a Henry Cook, 25 from NY, a blacksmith, living with Oscar 5 Ill and Harriet Cook, 26 from NY, a schoolmistress. When I found this information I immediately knew something was wrong. I knew that our Henry Cook had a sister named Harriet and that they both were from New York. However, I knew that our Henry Freeman Cook was older than his sister Harriet and that on 18 Sep 1850 Harriet Cook Dolphaimar, 26, and her son Wm, age 1, were listed as living with Henry Freeman Cook and his family in Pottawattami, Iowa. From personal research I found a Harriett Elizabeth Cook born 7 Nov 1824 in Utica or Whitesborough, Ontario, NY. She had a brother named Henry (or Harvey?) Cook born 22 Jan 1827 in Utica, Oneida, New York. Their parents were Archibald Cook born 2 Apr 1792 in Duchess, New York, the Son of Archibald Campbell and Martha Cook, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mosher, daughter of Josiah Mosher and Rebecca Doolittle. I also learned from the record that Harriet Elizabeth Cook was the wife of Brigham Young. They were married in Nauvoo, Hncck IL, 2 Nov 1843. Reason tells me that this is the Harriet and Henry Cook found in the 1850 Federal Census of Great Salt Lake County in Utah. It was not our Henry Freeman Cook living with his sister Harriet Cook. And it doesn't surprise me that this Harriet is still going by the name of Cook. That was not uncommon at all during those times. It would have helped to protect her and Brigham Young from the Federal authorities and others who were trying to use polygamy to destroy the Church and its leaders. Had our Henry Freeman Cook been in Salt Lake with his sister Harriet he would also have had the rest of his family with him. There was no reason for him to come to Utah in 1850 with his sister and then hurry back so they could be with his family on 18 Sep 1850 to be counted in the Pottawattami County, Iowa Federal Census. Thi***tra crossing of the plains would have been something that would have been reported by somebody over the years. Based upon just what I have found, I do not believe the extra trip across the plains took place. I do not believe our Henry Freeman Cook was residing in Salt Lake in 1850. I do believe that along with Henry’s name being wrong in the above identified publication, identifying his “place of residence” in 1850 as Salt Lake City, Utah is also an error. THE WARREN SNOW COMPANY - THE 8TH COMPANY or THE GHOST COMPANY While researching for information concerning ancestors that crossed the plains before the railroad came to Utah, I found that very little is known about the Warren Snow company. In fact, in 1997 I was told that until just a few years ago there were questions about whether or not there was such a company. Once researchers in the LDS Church’s historical department determined there actually was such a company they began calling it the “8th Company,” because they figured that it must have been the 8th company to arrive in Salt Lake in 1852. However, because so little information has been found about his company many to this day refer to it as the “ghost company” (Ronald S. Cook).

WILLIAM COOK BORN: 19 Oct 1847 COUNCIL BLUFFS, POTTAWATTAMIE, IOWA DIED: 2 7 Nov 1934 Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah, USA FATHER: HENRY FREEMAN COOK 12 Jan 1815 - 14 Apr 1882 MOTHER: SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE 14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 MARRIED: MARY ALMINA WEEKS - 12 Mar 1873 6 Mar 1871 Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN: WILLIAM LUCEINE COOK 4 Mar 1873 - 17 Apr 1966 MARRIED: REBECCA H RODEBACK 2 May 1846 - 12 Aug 1910 25 October 1875 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah CHILDREN: EDWARD COOK 9 Jan 1877 - 24 Jun 1924 HELEN COOK 6 Apr 1879 - 18 Jan 1948 CLIFFORD COOK 14 Mar 1881 - 4 Jun 1955 MARK HENRY COOK 26 Apr 1884 - 14 Feb 1892 PHEBE REBECCA COOK 12 Jul 1885 - 28 Jun 1917 BARNES ALMA COOK 11 Oct 1887 - 21 May 1973 WILLIAM COOK was the father of BARNES ALMA COOK who was the father of SHELDON BARNES COOK who was the father of RONALD SHELDON COOK Written by GERTRUDE COOK JACKSON -- Granddaughter and BARNES ALMA COOK -- Son William COOK "Uncle Bill" as he was affectionately known by most every one during his adult life, was born 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents had made the long trip from Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan where they had embraced the gospel, to Nauvoo just as the persecution of the Saints there had begun in ernest. They, along with the other Saints were forced to move. Since they had so recently made a long trip, they stopped at Council Bluffs, Iowa for a few years to replenish their supplies and equipment. It was here that William was born, the sixth child and fourth son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook. When William was still a small boy, nearly five, his parents took their family and went to St. Louis, Missouri where a Company was outfitting to make the trek to Utah. They traveled with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Salt Lake in October 1852. They spent the winter at Little Cottonwood. The next Spring they were sent to Cedar Fort to help colonize Cedar Valley. The town was called Cedar Fort because the first fort built there was built of cedar posts make from the cedar trees which grew plentiful on the surrounding hills. It was later replaced with a rock fort, part of which still stands. The Cook family experienced most of the trials that were experienced by all the Pioneers. They had a few more head of stock and more equipment than most families which they used to benefit all in the Valley. One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River. William, as a boy was not very well and at times his parents despaired of his life. At one of these times he told his parents he knew that if Patriarch Zebedee Coltrin, who was Patriarch of the Utah Stake and lived in Spanish Fork, would come and give him a blessing he would get well. Brother Coltrin was sent for but could not make the trip out to Cedar Fort right then. He however blessed his handkerchief and sent it with instructions to wipe William's face with it and he would be made well. These instructions were followed and William began improving in health. From then on until he was quite old, he never had any serious illnesses. Zebedee Coltrin had given his parents their patriarchal blessings and was known to the family as a faithful man. William learned to work hard, early in life. He along with his father and brothers was a partner in their farming, a stock raising and freighting. The Cook family had a considerable amount of stock, horses, cattle and some say, sheep also, as there were sheep in the Valley in the early days. The feed in Cedar Valley was not enough to take care of all of the stock owned by the settlers in the winter so the Cook brothers would take their herds south were there was more feed. One of the problems in Cedar Valley was not having enough water to grown feed enough for all of the stock. Williams's job was to stay at home to look after things. One of his responsibilities was to see that his father's two families and the families of his brothers had all the supplies they needed, while the husbands were out taking care of the cattle. Grandpa Cook told Alice, Barnes' wife, that his father had built a log house when they first came to Cedar Fort. It was not large enough for all of the family to sleep in so he and his brothers slept in the granary. When the grain was harvested they would make their beds on top of the grain. William served as a reserve in the Black Hawk Indian Wars. As a reservist he had to be trained, buy a uniform, a rifle and all other equipment necessary, and have them on hand in case he was called to active duty. He also had to have a good riding horse. When he reached pension age he received a small pension from his service which he used mostly to trace his genealogy and to help his children and grandchildren. As is often the case there were two young ladies in Cedar Fort who he liked very much and they liked him. He asked one of them, Mary Almina Weeks to be his wife and they were sealed in the Endowment House 6 March 1871. His happiness with her was short, as she died 12 March 1873 when her new born child was eight days old. He was named William Luciene born March 4th, 1873. William's youngest sister, Marett took over the care of the baby and had complete charge of him until William Remarried. On the 25th of October 1875 he (William) was married and sealed to the other young lady he like very much, Rebecca Rodeback. When asked why he had chosen Mary Almina first he said he guessed it was because she was more active in the young peoples activities and he saw more of her and she lived just across the street from him. The day after he was married to Rebecca or Becky, as he and so many other called her, he had to go with his brothers on a cattle drive and was gone for nearly three weeks. When he returned home he found that his new wife had cleaned and moved into a small adobe house on his father's lot and had taken over the care of baby William. All of their six children were born in this small house. About the only other time he made an extended trip from home was to take a load of flour to Boise, Idaho and bring back a load of apples. He bought the Craft home across the road to the east from the Cook lot. The house on this lot was torn down and a new 5 room adobe one built just north of where the old one was. Rebecca's brother Barnes Rodeback and a friend, Matt Gibbs built the new one and took for their pay farm produce, a cow, a horse and some money. He moved into this home when his youngest son Barnes was real young. Barnes said he remembers riding in the wagon that was loaded with household goods when they were moving. He was in the spring seat and said he looked down and it looked like a long way to the ground. Grandpa Cook lived in this house until his death. It has had a face lifting now and then but the original walls still stand. William's father's brother William lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan and when he heard the gospel he believed it and was baptized. He soon came to Utah but his family would not come with him so he came alone. He lived with his brother, Henry Freemen at first. He worked in the field and one day while clearing out some wild roses, something flew up and hit him in the eye and he lost the sight in that eye. When it got so it did not hurt him he went back to the same place he had been working and began to clear more rose bushes out and something flew into his other eye and he lost the sight in it too. From then on he was known as "Blind Uncle Billie." William and Rebecca had another room built on the north east corner of their house. It was a frame room with a cellar for fruit and a milk cupboard in it. They asked "Uncle Blind Billie" to come and live with them and he could use the new room for his bedroom. He lived with them until his death. William Cook was quiet, unassuming, honest, generous, and hospitable. He and his wife Becky helped many people. Their house was always open to travelers, peddlers and trades-people always made their house their headquarters. The room built on for Uncle Blind Billie was used for a Camp House where travelers slept while their horses had been given feed down at the stable. Some of the travelers ate in the kitchen where grandma Cook had prepared a good meal. Others cooked their own meal on a stove in the camp house. There was a stove with two lids but no oven. There was also a bed in the room. Many are the travelers that have put up for the night at their home. William was active in the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as assistant Superintendent in Y.M.M.I.A. for 7 January 1882 till 1 November 1884. He was a Sunday School teacher and was second assistant to the Sunday School Superintendent 28 October and was first assistant in 1893. He was sustained as a counselor to Bishop Eli Bennett 10 May 1896. On 30 December 1906 he was sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward where he served until 26 February 1911. He was treasure of the Cedar Valley School District for many years. He was kind to the Indians who came every fall to pasture their horses and cattle in the town field after it was open for pasturing after the farmers crops were gathered. They pitched their tents near the town at first and later when there were not so many coming, they pitched their tents in William's lot. The Chief of the tribe called himself "William" and his wife was "Becky" and the first night that they made their camp, William and Becky came to the Cook home to spend the evening and have supper. While camped here the squaws would visit the homes and beg for food which was given to them liberally. It was placed in a sack which they carried, and taken back to their wickiups and used later. William was very meticulous about his person and his work. No matter who was visiting he would excuse himself and go do whatever he had to do. His chores always had to be done at a certain time. He loved and was kind to his children and grandchildren. They knew however that if they were caught in his cornfield, hay stacks, wheat bins or any number of places the children love to play but shouldn't they would get their legs switched with a little willow switch. He never rally hurt any child but they knew he meant what he said. One of those boys now a man laughingly tells of a time that he and others were in his pigpen having fun chasing the pigs. He had placed himself in the opening where the pigs went in and out. His backside was through the hole and was having fun watching his companion chase the pigs while he kept them from getting away. Grandpa Cook came along and seeing the situation he grabbed a stick and before Fon knew he was there he had received two or three whacks on his bottom before he could escape. The other boys escaped without getting any punishment. (According to Sheldon Cook, a grandson of William Cook, the boys that were involved in this little experience were himself, Sheldon Cook, Fon Cook, Ernal Cook and Howard Hacking.) In spite of frequent switchings he was loved by all of the children who when they grew older always spoke of him as a man that they loved. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, both old and young. His hair was dark and thick. It was only partially gray at his death. His expressive blue eyes could speak volumes. He wore a beard most of his life to cover an ugly scar made by a kick of a mule. He had a small "Captain's Chair" which stood in from of a window by the kitchen range. It was here he sat to rest or read. On 14 February 1892 grief came to William and Rebecca when their fourth child Mark Henry was kicked by a horse and killed. He had gone with his father to watch his father feed his animals that were in the field. The horse kicked him in the stomach and he died within a day or two. Rebecca died 12 August 1910 as the result of a fall which broke her hip in such a way that nothing could be done for her. The daughter Rebecca, had stayed home and cared for her mother during her illness. She had been helped by Cliff's wife Arminta, her father and some times others but she was offered a job in Ogden, as a teacher in the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind so Barnes and his Wife Alice moved into his home and cared for him the rest of his life. Their twelve living children testify that Grandpa Cook was a motivating force for good in shaping their lives. He passed away quietly on 27 November 1934 and is buried beside his wives in the Cedar Fort Cemetery. His posterity are many and most are stalwart members of the Church. The "Captain's Chair" which he used is now in the old Stage Coach Inn at Fairfield - "Old Camp Floyd." It was one of the chairs used in the court house when Cedar Fort was the county seat of Cedar County. The following poem was written at his death by a friend William P. Elton. It expresses how most who knew him felt about him. GRANDPA WILLIAM **** - LATTER DAY SAINT By William P. Elton From above a true Thanksgiving Came to Welcome Grandpa home. He was waiting to receive it, For he knew it soon would come We shall miss our loving father, Yes it's hard to part with him, All his life has been a blessing To all that would listen in. He has been to all a leader Through his deeds and through his work And to God and man his duty He was never known to shirk. He has been to all a teacher Not by works alone, but deeds He had shown us how to live To take the grain and leave the weeds. He has been to all a father With his counsel and his love, He has always shown us clearly How to gain the Throne above. He has been to all the neighbors As his God ordained he should, Never failing with his worldly goods For to share, as we all could. Never have we heard him censure Any one that went astray. He has always tried to guide them And has shown them the right way. His example through a long life Has set many of us right He has given us enlightenment That has helped us make the fight. Oh that more like him through action And not by words alone, There would be a mighty people Worthy of a Heavenly Throne. LIVING WITH GRANDPA (WILLIAM) COOK By Mabel Cook Smith Four or five years before I was born my Mother and Father moved into the Cook Family home. After my Grandmother Cook died Grandpa Cook was so lonely the Cook Family asked them if they would move in with him. I am thankful I had the experience of living in the home with Grandpa Cook. He was a king and generous man, but very strict. He was loved by all who knew him and was “Uncle Bill” to all of the town people. When I was small my Father was away a lot during the summer out on the Ranch. When he was home he would be in the field or on the dry farm until dark. It would be late before all the chores were finished, but Grandpa was always there for us. He did the chores around home with the help of some of my brothers. He always raised one of the best vegetable gardens in town and an orchard with all kinds of fruit trees. He gave generously the things he raised to many people. I remember one year he raised large patch of cantaloupes. Just about the time they were starting to ripen someone got in the patch one night and picked all the green cantaloupes and piled them in a large pile at the bottom of the patch. I thought how can anyone be so mean when he was so good and gave to everyone. He always encouraged us to be to Church by word and also by example. He was always interested in what we were doing and would ask us about our friends. He brought my dress when I graduated from High School. He told Mother he wanted to get it for me. He got a small Pension for being a Veteran of the Balck Hawk Indian War and spent most of it on members of his family, mostly his Grandchildren. He helped many of them with money for school and other things. Grandpa had many friends from places that would come to see him and lots of time would spend the night. I remember Church leaders that had meals in our home. Mother always taught us to respect him and she saw toit that he was well taken care of as he grew older. He died at the age of 87 years in the home he had built for him. I was in the room with my parents and Aunts and uncles when he died. I am thankful I had the privilege of having him for my Grandfather and to have learned from his wisdom. SOME MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM COOK By Donald S Cook, Grandson As far back as I can remember, I felt that we were privileged to have our grandfather living with us. My playmates were often his grandchildren too, but he lived with us. And that was something special. One thing that impressed me was the number of friends who came to visit him; both young and old. Among the many who seemed to come most often were James E Garn, Bill Elton, Mone Calton and Lizzy Peterson. Grandpa was a stern disciplinarian, something I often resented but accepted because of who he was. Grandpa always received what seemed to me a lot of Christmas presents and it always seemed to be the same things; house slippers and boxes of chocolates. The house slippers he never wore because he never took his shoes off until just before going to bed and he was always fully dressed when he came out of his room in the morning. The chocolates he passed around fairly regularly. Once, however, I didn't think they were coming quite often enough and I sneaked into his room and filled my pockets with them. Unfortunately he spotted me coming out and asked me what I had in my pockets. I told him, "Nothing." When he started towards saying, "Let me see," I darted past him through the kitchen and went down to the horse stable. He followed, grabbing his razor strap as he passed through the kitchen. When I saw him approaching I climbed up the north wall to the pigeon loft that was just underneath the gables in the roof knowing he wouldn't be able to reach me there. When he came through the door and looked up and saw where I was he just turned around and left saying, "You'll be in for supper." I stayed in the loft until it started to get dark and I began to get hungry. By this time I had come to the conclusion that I was going to get the razor strap sooner or later so I may as well get it over with so I could get something to eat. When I opened the kitchen door I saw the family was all sitting around the table eating. Grandpa, who hadn't even told the family what had happened, was seated at the south end of the table with the razor strap hanging just begin his left shoulder. When I come through the door he turned around and grabbed it but when he saw that I wasn't going to run, he hung it back on its hook saying, "I guess you've already been punished enough." Dad had warned us children not to play on the straw stack saying that it would make holes in the stack where the rain would get in and rot the straw. One Sunday afternoon while dad was in the house visiting with friends, my friends and I thought that if we played on the side away from the house, dad would never even know about it. When I came in for supper that night I saw that my plate had been put back in the cupboard. Dad told me that I would have to go without my supper because I had spoiled some of the cattle feed. I went into the living room and cried myself to sleep. I was awakened by grandpa as he stood me on my feet. He led me to the kitchen and got my plate from the cupboard. He had filled it for me before the food had been cleared from the table. Even though grandpa died when I was only eleven years old, I always felt thankful that I had the opportunity to spend those few years under his influence. * * * * * * *

HENRY FREEMAN COOK BORN:12 Jan 1815Homer, Cortland, New York DIED:14 Apr 1882Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah FATHER:William Cook6 Sep 1780 - 4 Nov 1840 MOTHER:Lucy Chapman5 May 1787 - 16 Oct 1857 SPOUSE:Sophronia Strobridge14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 Married 9 Apr 1837, New York CHILDREN:NAME BIRTH DATE DEATH DATE John Cook 22 May 1838 - 17 Feb 1904 James Cook 14 Jan 1840 - 06 May 1906 Hannah Cook22 Jan 1842 - 16 Apr 1926 Mary Jane Cook 2 Jan 1843/44 - 22 May 1895 Charles Cook 21 Feb 1846 - 10 Sep 1846 William Cook 19 Oct 1847 - 27 Nov 1934 George Cook 20 Mar 1850 - 26 Nov 1916 Harriet Ann Cook20 May 1853 - 25 Mar 1854 Jennette Cook 17 Mar 1856 - 23 Oct 1947 Marrett Cook17 Mar 1856 - 10 May 1931 SPOUSE:Julia Ann Rocker19 May 1828 - 22 Jan 1891 Married 12 Mar 1857In “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN:David Franklin Cook 9 Jan 1858 - Jun 1887 George Henry Cook 18 Feb 1860 - 12 May 1912 Florence Malinda Cook 11 Sep 1862 - 29 Jan 1899 Ada Cook 9 Dec 1866 - 9 Nov 1941 HENRY FREEMAN COOK is the father of William Cook who is the father of Barnes Alma Cook who is the father of Sheldon Barnes Cook who is the father of Ronald Sheldon Cook This life sketch of HENRY FREEMAN COOK was prepared using the history written by Henry Freeman Cook’s great-grand-daughter Gertrude C. Jackson as a base. New research findings, census records, documentation by Paul Henke and others, historical comments by Alice Adeline Southam Cook and some commentary have been added by Ronald S. Cook. Also, please note that many of the events written about in this history of Henry Freeman Cook are also written about in the history of his wife, Sophronia Strobridge Cook. I have prepared this history for my family - my children and grandchildren, based upon information I have learned about Henry Freeman Cook and his family from my family research over the past few years. I have written it in context of our family in hopes that my family will recognize how their ancestors related with each other before they were family and how our family history relates to the history of our great state and nation. I share it with members of the Henry Freeman Cook family hoping that it can yet be corrected and add to as new information is found and made available. Please share information you may have or find. Thank you. Ronald S. Cook WILLIAM COOK AND LUCY CHAPMAN Henry Freeman Cook was born 12 January 1815 at Homer, Cortland, New York. He was the fifth child and fourth son of William Cook, who was born 6 September 1780 in Massachusetts, and Lucy Chapman, who was born 5 May 1787 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Henry's parents, William and Lucy, were married 19 December 1805 at the First Church of Pittsfield, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. On 23 December 1806, just one year after they were married, Henry's parents bought ½ acre of land in Warren, Herkimer, New York. Two months later on 18 February 1807 they brought 40 acres of land in Warren. Henry's oldest brother Amassa was born in Warren on 16 April 1807, which indicates that they must have been living in Warren at the time. The land was all sold on 20 January 1810. They must have moved to Homer, Courtland, New York, before the sale of their land because Henry's second oldest brother, Edwin A. Cook, was born there 10 February 1809. Henry and all of his other brothers and sisters were born in Homer: William - 25 January 1811, Henrietta - 31 March 1813, Anne E. - 17 April 1818, Benjamin Franklin - 25 February 1821 and Harriett - 7 August 1824. AMASSA AND ANN DARBY CHAPMAN Lucy Chapman's parents were Amassa Chapman and Ann Darby. They spent most of their married life in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts, where Lucy and all her brothers and sisters (Amassa, Ann [Harris], Lois [Cook], Cynthia, Lyman, Hiram, Henry, and Isaac) were born. Lucy's father, Amassa, died 1 November 1822 in Hancock. Researchers Larry Piatt and David Zolman have found that Ann Darby died May 29, 1852 per a death notice that appeared in the records of th Egremont, Massachusetts Congregational Church on page 148 of an extracted church record. She was 89 years old. MOST OF THE COOK FAMILY MOVES TO MICHIGAN The 1835 New York state census lists a William Cook with the correct number of persons in his household, so we believe that Henry Freeman's parents were still in Homer, New York, at that time. The1837 Michigan State Census of Kalamazoo County lists a Cook, William, 60, living, probably in the home of his brother Abiel, with a male under 21 and females under 15, 21 and 50. Also living in the home was his son Henry, under 30, his nephew, Hiram (Abiel's son), under 30, and Abiel's son-in-law Edward Willan (Willard), under 30. Footnotes to that census also indicate that in 1838 William was on the "assessment roll" in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Henry's sister, and William and Lucy's sixth child and second daughter, Anne E. Cook, died 7 January 1840 in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 21 years, 8 months and 21 days old at her death. Eleven months later, on 4 November 1840, Henry's father, William Cook, died in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 60 years, 1 month and 29 days old when he died. Lucy lived another 16 years, 11 months and 12 days. She spent most of the rest of her life living with Henry Freeman and his family. She died 16 October 1857 in Cedar Fort Utah. She was 70 years, 5 months and 11 days old at her death. One of William's great-granddaughters reported that she learned that William was the first person buried in the Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan Cemetery. Lucy was buried in the old cemetery in Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah.. MICHIGAN STATE CENSUS OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY - 1837 Michigan’s first state census was taken in October and November of 1837. “By an act of the state legislature approved 27th March 1837 the township collectors were designated census enumerators. The act required that they should visit each house in their respective townships and make an enumeration of all the inhabitant***cept Indians not taxed, residing therein, on the second Monday of October 1837, and the act further specified that the names of all males over 21 years of age should be entered on the list.” (Salt Lake Family History Library, film # 925967) Michigan State Census for 1837 Males to: Females to: HEAD OF FAMILY5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 Cook, Hiram 1 Cook, William (76) 1 1 1 1 1 William, Edwin (Edward Willard) 1 Cook, Henry 1 76On Comstock assessment roll in 1838 HENRY FREEMAN AND SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE COOK We know very little about Henry's childhood. History tells that the Cooks were farmers and stock raisers. Henry, no doubt, helped on his father's farm. On 9 April1837, at the age of twenty-two, Henry Freeman married Sophronia Strobridge, in Solon, Courtland, New York. Sophronia was the daughter of George Augusta Strobridge who was born 3 September 1785 in Clairmont, New Hampshire, and Abigail Lull who was born in 1780 in Massachusetts. Approximately six months after their marriage, (October/November 1837) Henry was living with his father and cousins in his Uncle Abiel's home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Based upon the state census information give above it is assume that his new wife Sophronia is not in Kalamazoo at this time. However, Henry's first son, John, was born in Comstock, Kalamazoo Michigan on 22 May 1838. So, sometime between October/November 1837 and May of 1838 Sophronia and Lucy arrived in Kalamazoo. Henry Freeman and his family had to work very hard in this new location to make their home. History books of Michigan states that mosquitoes and other insects were terrible and the soil was rampant with infectious diseases. 1840 Federal Census – Comstock, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Page: 262, Line 19 HENRY COOK *** Age Years Possible Identity Male20 - 301810 - 1820(Henry Freeman Cook) Female20 - 301810 - 1830(Sophronia Strobridge Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(John Henry Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(James Henry Cook) HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF COMSTOCK “‘Henry Cook” who I (Paul Henke) believe is Henry Freeman Cook, served as one of the three highway commissioners for the township of Comstock in 1842. Concerning the making of local roads which Henry would have been involved in at that time, Maude Ellwood wrote, “Local roads were often constructed over marshy land by hewing logs flat on one side, then placing them side by side with the smooth side up to form a corduroy road.” It was probably quite a feat to (build), manage and to take care of the roads in this wilderness back in those days” (Paul Henke, “Research Update,” Barnes Alma Cook Family Letter, June 5, 1996, p 6-7). Three more children were born to Henry Freeman and Sophronia in Comstock: James, 14 January 1840; Hannah, 22 January 1842; and Mary Jane, 2 January 1844. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Elder Milo Edward Webb, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found and taught Henry Freeman Cook and his wife Sophronia the gospel during this period. Henry Freeman Cook was baptized into the church in February 1843. Sophronia was baptized in March of 1843. The following letter, written by Milo Edward Webb and printed in Nauvoo and in the “Times and Seasons” in England, tells of Elder Webb’s missionary experiences in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, during the time Henry and Sophronia were converted and baptized. NAUVOO, April 17th 1843 Dear Sir: Believing that a knowledge of the spread of truth will be interesting to you, as well as the numerous readers of your valuable periodical, I thought I would give you a short history of my labors and success the last six months. I left Nauvoo Oct. 3, in company with Elder H. B. Owens. We traveled preaching by the way, shaping our course for the state of Michigan. We preached five times and baptized one in Kendall county Ill.; from thence we came to the village of Niles, state of Michigan. Here we separated taking different directions for Albion, Calhoun county, where there is a small branch of the church. I labored in Niles and the regions round about for two weeks to crowded congregations. Much prejudice gave way, and many appeared to receive the word with gladness. I then left for Albion where I labored three weeks. I then started back intending to go to Niles, but came as far as Comstock (a small town four miles east of Kalamazoo, the shire town of Kalamazoo co.,) where I learned that the notorious J. C. Bennett was lecturing in Kalamazoo. Some of the citizens of Comstock went to him and told him that a Mormon preacher was in Comstock. Oh, says he, he is one of Joe Smith’s “destroying angels” my life is not safe here, he has got five hundred out to kill me. And in his hurry to get away from the “destroying angel,” he forgot to pay his tavern bill, and the poor Presbyterians for lighting and warming their house, as might be expected. They called him a notorious rascal and knave, not only for this circumstance, but from his own statements which were of such a nature that none could believe them but such as had an uncommon degree of credulity. The next day (being Sabbath) I preached in Comstock. They requested me to preach again, I did so. By this time I had invitations to preach in several places. I continued laboring in that section of county till March 7th, and baptized 24, and organized them into a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which we called the Kalamazoo branch. The work is but just begun in that place. I left scores believing, and I never saw such calls for preaching as there is in all the western part of Michigan. I had more invitations than I could possibly fill, although the Priests used their utmost endeavors to stop the progress of the work yet it rolled forward with a steady pace being propelled by the mighty hand of the Great God, and the truth found its way home to the hearts of the honest, some of whom walked forward in obedience to its divine requirements. I regret that circumstances were such that I had to leave so soon. I hope that some faithful elder will call on them, and continue the work. They will find the brethren hospitable and kind. Should the twelve remember them while on their mission to the east, they can enquire for Ezekiel Lee, or Lemuel Willard, Esq, or Jesse Earl, Comstock, Kalamazoo Co. Mich. I will now close by subscribing myself your friend and brother in the new and everlasting covenants. E. M. Webb. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 4, p. 166-167) “This letter was published in Nauvoo on April 17, 1843. This would mean Henry Freeman and Sophronia were among the first 24 baptized in this area and that they were taught the gospel and baptized by Elder Edward Milo Webb. As I was researching about Elder Webb I found he died on July 31, 1852, while crossing the plains near the Platte River. I did find that among the prominent church members who came and visited the saints in Comstock were two of the Quorum of the Twelve, viz: Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith. It is wonderful to think that Henry and Sophronia became acquainted with these great brethren at this time and were probably influenced by them to once again make preparations to move their family, this time to Nauvoo to be with the main body of the saints. (Paul Henke, Cook Family Letter, “Research Update,” June 5, 1996) THE COOK FAMILY MOVE TO NAUVOO Sometime after the birth of their fourth child, Mary Jane, in January 1844, Henry, Sophronia and their family moved to Nauvoo. Their fifth child, Charles, was born in Nauvoo on 21 February 1846. According to the “Historic Nauvoo Land and Records Research Center” Henry Freeman Cook and his family owned and lived in a home on the NW corner of Taylor (running east and west) and Durphy (running north and south) streets. The home was in the southeast 1/4 of lot #8, just nine blocks north and one block west of the Nauvoo temple and 2 ½ blocks east of the Mississippi River. The Cook family suffered the same persecution as the other saints. They had to leave this beautiful city almost before they were settled. Along with other Saints they went to Council Bluffs, Iowa for awhile. Their sixth child, William, born 19 October 1847, and their seventh child, George, born 20 March 1850, made their appearance here. 1850 FEDERAL CENSUS – District #21, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Page: 86B, Lines 38-42 and 37A lines: 1-6, Enumeration Date: 18 Sep 1850 NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONESTATEBIRTHPLACE Henry Cook 35MaleLaborer NY Sophronia Cook 37Female NY John Cook 12Male Mich Ja’s Cook 10 Male Mich Hannah Cook 8Female Mich Mary Cook 7Female Mich Wm. Cook 4Male Iowa Geo. Cook 6/12Male Iowa Lucy Cook 62Female Mass Harriet Dolphaimar 26Female VA Wm. Dolphamar 1Male VA COUNCIL BLUFFS AND KANESVILLE, IOWA From Nauvoo, Henry and his family traveled to Council Bluffs (Kanesville). Pottawattami County, Iowa where they stayed until the summer of 1852 Council Bluff's is where the Lewis and Clark expedition counseled with the Otoe Indians in 1804 on their way to explore the west and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. In 1846 the Mormon Pioneers changed the name of the area to Kanesville in honor of Colonel Thomas L. Kane who on at least one occasion refused to execute the Prophet Joseph Smith and said he would personally hold accountable anyone who participated in the execution of him. It was at Kanesville, where Brigham Young encouraged the Saints to respond to the call for a battalion of men to fight for the United States government in the Mexican War. The Mormon Battalion was the result. It was in Kanesville whre on December 4, 1847 the Quorum of the Twelve sustained Brigham Young as President of the Church, where a special new tabernacle was built in three weeks, where on December 2, 1847 the Saints meet together to sustain the new president, first presidency and Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kanesville was one of the three main areas, Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah being the other two, that for almost six years supplied thousands of Saints and others who were heading west. We have no records to verify it, however, we can assume that Henry Freeman Cook and his family were involved in all of the activities that took place in Kanesville between 1846 and 1852. Shortly after the Saint left Kanesville in 1852, the remaining local residence changed the name of the area back from Kanesville to Council Bluffs. THE COOK FAMILY MOVE WEST – THEY SETTLE IN CEDAR FORT Shortly after the birth of George the family moved to St. Louis where they prepared to make the trip to Salt Lake. The family consisting of Henry Freeman, Sophronia, John (14), James Henry (12), Mary Jane (9), Hannah (7), William (5), George (2) and Henry’s mother Lucy, traveled west with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Utah on October 9, 1852. For awhile they made their home in Big Cottonwood, in SE Salt Lake County. Their eighth child, Harriet Ann, was born in Big Cottonwood 20 May 1853. Their last two children, twin girls, Jannett and Marrett, were born in Cedar Fort, Utah County, 17 March 1856. A survey for a “Genealogical Survey of LDS Members between 1924 and 1929 stated the William moved to Cedar Fort from Big Cottonwood in October of 1953. Also, little Harriett Ann died 25 May 1854 and was buried in one of the first graves in the old Cedar Fort cemetery, so we know the family came to Cedar Fort before that. The Life History of Henry Freeman Cook in the files of the Daughters of the Pioneers in Salt Lake City, Utah, states: “Sometime after their seventh child, George was born March 20, 1850, they moved to St. Louis Missouri, then continued on to Utah. They traveled in the Warren Snow company, and arrived in Salt Lake in October 9, 1852. They stayed in Big Cottonwood the first winter, then in the summer of 1853, they moved south to Cedar Fort, Utah.” Cedar Valley ward membership records held in the LDS Church Historian’s office in the Church’s special collections in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicate that Henry Freeman Cook and Sophronia Strobridge Cook were “received” from the Big Cottonwood ward in December 1853. CEDAR VALLEY WARD MEMBERSHIP RECORD NAME: Cook, Henry Freeman PARENTS:William & Lucy Chapman BIRTH: Jan 12, 1815WHERE:Homer NY BLESSING: BAPTISM:Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb CONFIRMATION: Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb RE-BAPTISM: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:John Brown RE-CONFIRMATION: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:Birch Johnson ORDINATION Aug 30, 1857TO WHAT OFFICE:High Priest RECEIVED:Dec 1853WHERE FROM:Big Cottonwood DIED:April 14, 1882 JANE HACKING FISHER TERRY WAS THE MIDWIFE FOR SOPHRONIA- MARCH 17, 1856 Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the midwife who took care of Sophronia when the twins, Janett and Marett were born. Sometimes she would take her small son, Moroni, with her when she went to care for mother and babies. Moroni told Alice Cook that he remembered those visits with a warm feeling as he always got a big slice of bread and butter, which he didn't get very often at home. Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the mother of John Sampson Hacking, and was Alice Adeline Southam Cook’s great grandmother on her mother’s, Jane Hacking Southam’s, side. HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT TWO HOMES FOR HIS FAMILY IN CEDAR FORT Henry Freeman Cook built two homes for his family in Cedar Fort. The first was an adobe home. It was built in the middle of the south side of the “Cook” lot. The “Cook” lot was the south half of the block the school and Church gym were in. The adobes for this home were made in what was later referred to as “the adobe hole,” which was located approximately two blocks east of where the home was built. According to Donald S Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook, the remains of this hole can still be seen. It is approximately ½ block east of the store located along the highway in Cedar Fort (2005 AD). As a historical note: After the community ceased using the area around the adobe hole for making adobes, the hole was used as a baptismal font. Once every year or two, water from the south spring was used to fill “the font.” Then all the children in town who had turned eight since the last baptism were baptized in “the old adobe hole.” Barnes Alma Cook and Alice Adeline Southam, my grandparents, were both baptized in this “baptismal font” (Adobe hole) on July 30, 1897. This adobe home Henry Freeman Cook built, as can be remembered by Donald S. Cook, was a four room home. It had two basic rooms in front with a lean-to off the back with two additional rooms in. After Henry Freeman Cook lived in the home, his son William, my great grandfather, lived in it. All of William’s children, including my grandfather Barnes Alma Cook, were born in this home. When Donald, grandson of William and son of Barnes Alma, was a boy, the home was used as a chicken coop. It has since been torn down. The second home Henry Freeman Cook built for his family was on the west side of the “Cook” lot, facing west. It was a two story frame house. James Rodeback, Barnes Alma Cook,s grandfather - his mother’s father, help Henry build it. The home was built from logs men in the community cut in the Oquirrh Mountains and sawed at the saw mill build in Cedar Fort to serve Johnston’s army. With some modifications this second home is still standing and is still being lived in. It is now referred to in Cedar Fort as the Berry home. It is the only home in the block facing west, and is south of the church and school in Cedar Fort. On July 8, 2006 I learned from the present owner of the home, Jason Westagard, that he plans on tearing the home down in August of this year and replace it with another home. He wanted to preserve the home, to fix it up and keep living in it. However, he said he found it too expensive to do what banks required him to do for them to work with him. Therefore, he decided to tear the home down and replace it with another home. On July 9, 2009 I learned that within the past few months the Henry Freeman Cook home burned down. Orson McKinney reported that after the home caught fire the Cedar Fort Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The home was reparable. However, a few ambers must have been left burning because several hours later the home burned a second time. This time it burned beyond repair. Since then the remains of the house have been removed from the lot and a hole has been dug for the footing and basement of another home to be built on the lot. DUGOUTS ALONG THE JORDAN RIVER From the history of William Cook, son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook, written by Gertrude Cook Jackson, a granddaughter, and Barnes Alma Cook, a son, we read, "One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they (meaning Henry Freeman Cook and his family) lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River." Alice Southam Cook in her history of Cedar Fort wrote the following about evacuating Cedar Fort because of Indian trouble. “When the Walker War broke out in the spring of 1853, all the settlers of Cedar Valley moved to Lehi, in order to be safe against Indian depredations. This move took place April 27, 1853, and the settlers remained in Lehi until June 25, 1853 when they returned to their homes in Cedar Valley. The settlers evacuated Cedar Valley a second time July 28, 1853, as the Indian hostilities continued. Part of the people set up temporary homes along the Jordan River. They moved back to their homes September 7, 1853.” If the incidents Alice Cook wrote about were the same as referred to in the history of William Cook by Gertrude Jackson above, and Henry Freeman Cook and his family didn’t move to Cedar Fort until December of 1853, Henry and his family were not even in Cedar Fort yet when the incidents occurred. In the book, LEHI, PORTRAITS OF A UTAH TOWN, by Richard S. Van Wagoner, (US/CAN 979.224/La, H2v), on page 8 we read, "... When Johnston led his forces through Salt Lake City on 26 June 1858 the town was essentially vacant. By the end of August, however, virtually all Salt Lakers had returned home. "As news reached Lehi and Cedar Valley that the army was moving southward, most Fairfield and Cedar Fort citizens left their homes and camped near Cold Springs west of the Jordan River (Sherwin Allred's ranch in 1989)." Also, in “Our Pioneers” written by Annie M. Glines Hacking for the Vernal Express, August 6 & 13, 1931, Annie wrote: “When Johnston’s army came to Cedar Valley in the spring of 1858, President Brigham Young sent word for the people to move at once to the east side of the River Jordan” If Johnson’s army coming to Cedar Valley is the event that is referred to in William Cook’s history aforementioned then the move was not because of the Indians. Henry Freeman Cook and his family were living in Cedar Fort at the time Johnston’s army came and probably took part in the more to the Lehi area at then. It is also interesting to note from Richard Van Wagoner's book that the citizens of Cedar Fort, for different reasons, moved to the Lehi area on two or three different occasions those first few years they lived in Cedar Fort. However, most of the time they "camped in the Meeting House. Some were boarded in private homes, while others burrowed in dugouts or slept in makeshift shelters against the fort's wall." Cold Springs is on the Sherwin Allred Ranch on the west bank of the Jordan River, west of Lehi. It is located by turning north just about 150' west of the bridge over the Jordan River on the road heading west from Lehi to Cedar Fort. About .03 to .04 tenths of a mile north along that road is a large pond of water located on the east side of the road. Water from Cold Springs feeds that pond. We do not know for sure if that is really where Henry Freeman Cook and his family "lived in dugouts." However, I believe there is a good chance that it is. William Cook lived with my father, Sheldon Barnes Cook, and his family for several years while my father was growing up. One time I asked my father if he knew where those dugouts were. He said he thought so. One day as we were crossing the Jordan River bridge headed for Cedar Fort, he pointed south and said "I think they were down there." As I inquired further, my father said that he always was going to have his grandfather show him were the dugout were but he never did. My father’s understanding as to where Henry Freeman Cook and his family might have spent a winter living in dugouts is definitely different than reported by Richard Van Wagoner. 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY NAME*** Henry F. Cook M Sophronia F John M James M Hannah F Mary J. F William M George M Lucy Cook F Alonzo M Martha F DAVID SANDER LAUGHLIN (Lauchlin) David Sanders Laughlin (Lauchlin, Lanklin, Lockland) was born April 26 1815(16) in Dunbarton, Merrimack, New Hampshire. He was the son of David and Sarah Caroline Watkins Laughlin. David’s first wife, Mary Clark (born April 1821) died July 14, 1845 at Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 24 years, 2 months, 3 days, of the fever. He married Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker, Ap;ril 11, 1849 in Ohio, City, Cuyahago, Ohio. David Sander Laughlin was a member of (private in) Company D of the Mormon Battalion. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at an early day in Kirtland, Ohio, and afterwards moved to Far West, Missouri, where he suffered persecutions together with the rest of the saints. He afterwards located in Nauvoo, and was with the Saints when they were driven from that place in 1846. On the journey westward he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and after he returned to Winter Quarters in the fall of 1847, he filled a mission to Ohio and settled in the Salt Lake and later Cedar Valley with his family in 1852. He died after a long illness. David was a member of the 35th Quorum of Seventies. (Peterson, Margery J., OUR ROOTS GROW DEEP - A History of Cedar Valley, 2nd ed [American Fork, Utah, 2003] “David S. Laughlin, p 15:21). As a missionary David met and converted Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker to the Gospel. Julia had been married to Martin Knapp and had one child, Mary Louisa. She and Mary Louise left and was divorced from Martin before she joined the Church. After David Laughlin converted Julia to the Church they were married probably in 1849 or 1850. This was also David’s second marriage. He had previously been married to Mary Clark who had died July 14, 1845 in Nauvoo, Illinois of the fever. It was after Mary’s death that David had joined the Mormon Battalion. David and Julia have five (six) children. Johnnie, their first born died at age 13, from infection he got from wading in impure water. Twins, Joseph and Jacob were born January 2, 1851 and only lived long enough to be named. John Alvin was born in March 1852, Julia Ann September 19, 1853 and Harriet was born July 3, 1855. (Taken from the history of Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker). REPORT OF DEATH: DIED: In Fort Cedar, Cedar Valley, December 5, 1856, DAVID S. LANKLIN, aged 40 years, 7 months and 29 days. Elder Lankin embraced the gospel in Kirkland, Ohio; moved to Far West, Missouri, and suffered with the saints in their expulsion from there; cheerfully enlisted in the ‘Mormon Battalion,’ in obedience to the call; returned to Winter Quarters in 1847; proceeded from there on a mission to Ohio, and moved with his family to these valleys in 1852. He lived respected and esteemed by those who knew him, and died in full hope of the reward awaiting the faithful (Desert News, December 31, 1856). 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY David Lockland M Julia F Louisa F John M Julia A. F Susan F JULIA ANN (BERCIER) ROCKER KNAPP LAUGHLIN COOK Henry Freeman Cook and David Saunders Laughlin were friends. In 1856 David was sick and knew that he was about to die. Tradition tells us that before he died on December 5, 1856 in Cedar County, Utah, David told his wife Julia Ann not to worry because his friend Henry Freeman Cook would take care of her. On March 12, 1857, just three months and seven days after David Laughlin passed away, Henry Freeman married David’s wife, Julia Ann (Bercier) Rocker Knapp Laughlin in “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time Julia had four small children: Mary Louisa Knapp (from her first marriage to Martin Knapp), John Alvin, Julia Anne and Harriet Laughlin (from her second husband David Sanders Laughlin). From this marriage Henry Freeman Cook became the father of four additional children: David Franklin, George Henry, Florence Malinda and Ada. MARCH 12, 1857 WAS AN IMPORTANT DATE FOR HENRY FREEMAN COOK On March 12, 1857, Henry Freeman Cook acted as proxy as Julia Rocker was sealed to David Laughlin by President D. H. Wells, at 6 1/4 pm in the “Presidents Office.” At the same time Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Julia Rocker by D. H. Wells for time only. Then Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Sophrornia Strobridge in “The President Office” by President D. H. Wells. The time was 6 ½ pm. All three of these sealings were witnessed by G. D. Wood and D. O. Colder. (Ordinance #660 as reported on film # 1149514 in the “Special Collections” section of the Salt Lake Family History Library.) Henry Freeman Cook was sealed again to Sophronia Strobridge on September 27, 1861 by President D. H. Wells in the Endowment House. This sealing was witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus. That same day in the Endowment House Henry Freeman Cook was again sealed to Julia Rocker for “time only” by D. H. Wells, and stood as proxy for David Saunders Lauchlin was sealed to Julia Ann Rocker and Mary Bell, deceased. All of these sealings were also witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus (Ordinance # 3913 and 3914 as recorded in film # 1149514 of “Special Collections” in the Salt Lake Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah). HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT A HOME FOR JULIA AND HER CHILDREN “I (Sheldon Barnes Cook) was born and spent the first 18 months of my life in a small three room house constructed by my great-grandfather Henry Freeman Cook, for his second wife, Julia Ann Rocker. It was located east and a little north of the Cedar Fort School house, about the center of the area occupied by the Orson McKinney home at the present time. “Two rooms were constructed of native clay sun dried brick or “adobe” as they were called. The inside walls were plastered and the ceiling were lath and plaster. The third room was on the south side of the house, a lean-to-type wood frame with lumber sheathing on the outside and up about three feet on the inside and cheese cloth on the upper inside walls and ceiling. The cheese cloth was white washed. I remember well how the cloth ceiling sagged. This room had a bare wooden floor and was used as a kitchen by my mother. Rag carpet covered the wooden floors in the other two rooms. The windows were wood frame with clear glass, and the roof was wood lumber sheathing with wood shingles. I was informed by my grandfather William Cook, that all building materials used in constructing and finishing the house except nails, cheese cloth and glass, were native materials produced in Cedar Fort (From the personal history of Sheldon Barnes Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook). FIRST PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – August 11, 1857 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young, August 11, 1857, and the second from Zabedee Coltrin, June 18, 1875. The first is as follows: Patriarchal Blessing given Cedar Valley, Aug. 11. 1857, by John Young upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Eliza, (Lucy), born Jan 12, 1815, Omar (Homer), Kirtland (Cortland), County, New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct text). - J. W. Long, Reporter. (Henry F. Cook's blessing Recorded in Book C. Page 317, No 168) LUCY CHAPMAN DIED AND IS BURIED IN CEDAR FORT OCTOBER 16, 1857 Henry's mother, Lucy Chapman Cook, came with Henry Freeman and his family to Utah and made her home with them until her death on 16 October 1857. We have no record that Lucy ever officially joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by being baptized. The fact that on May 13, 1874, a granddaughter, Hannah Cook Dayton was baptized by proxy for her in Salt Lake City may indicate that she didn’t ever officially join the Church. However, she received a patriarchal blessing, usually only given to official members of the Church; and in that patriarchal she was told that the blessings of the heavens would rest upon her because she embraced the gospel, left her native home and gathered with the saints in the valleys of the mountains. This leads us to believe that she might have been a baptized member of the Church. Whether a baptized member of the Church or not, Lucy came west to Cedar Fort because of the Church and was among the first buried in the community that was settled by Church members. She was buried in the old Cedar Fort Cemetery. 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1060, Lines: 1-11, Dwelling: 3842, Family 2998, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Hy F Cook 46 M F (Farmer) NY ESTATE550 PROPERTY1700 Ceprona 47 F NY Jn 22 M L (Laborer) Mich Js. 20 M L (Laborer) Mich Hannah 18 F Mich Mary J. 16 F Mich Wm. 11 M IowaAttended School Geo. 10 M IowaAttended School Jeanette 5 F UTAttended School Mary E. 5 F UT Wm. Nay 22 ML (Laborer) 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1061 line 40 & 1062 lines 1-6, Dwelling: 3872, Family 3012, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860 BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATION ESTATEPLACE COMMENTS Julia A. 33 F Conn Louisa L. 14 F 150Ohio Attended School Jo. S. L. 8 MIowa Attended School Julia A. L. 7 F UT Attended School Harriet A. 5 F UT Attended School David F. 3 M UT Geo. H. 8/12 M UT COOK FAMILY HORSES Henry and Sophronia Cook seemed to have had a little more property than most of the families coming West. They had horses and cattle which were brought with them across the plains. They may have also had sheep as there were sheep in the valley in the early days. Their daughter Hannah used to tell of a light gray or white team she remembered well. Alice Adeline Southam Cook wrote that “When Henry Freeman Cook and his family settled in Cedar Fort he had a span of Mares. Later he and his boys bought some horses from among a band that were being taken to California from the east. One mare in particular was heavy with foal and the owner was afraid that she would not survive the trip west, so he was glad to sell her. Her colt grew to be a fine stallion named Jeff. His stock proved to be very good dual purpose animals. They were good riding horses and also good to drive and to work with the equipment used in the early days. His colts were in great demand by settlers in the surrounding counties for breeding purposes” (Mrs Barnes A. Cook, “Cedar Fort” p 290). Sporting men from the East saw the quality in them and paid a big price for one of Jeff's colts, which he took East. He found him being used to run a threshing machine. The Cook Brand was and still is JHC with the J and H combined on one side and the H and C combined on the other. It looks like a J and a C connected with a bar in the middle. (This horse was branded with the JHC Cook brand, which was mistaken for JIC which was the name given to the colt by his new owner.) As the colt grew he was found to be a tough mouthed animal who required a special bit to hold him under control. A special bit was designed for the horse. Because it worked so well for this horse it was marketed to other horse owner, who had horses that were hard to control. It was called the JIC bit and was marketed for many years. The colt JIC was trained for cart racing. He was very successful and became one of the top cart-racing horses of his time. He was next to Maud S., who at one time held the world's record in cart racing. 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 198, Lines: 1-8, Dwelling: 1, Family: 1, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Cook, Henry 55 M FarmerNew York ESTATE2200PROPERTY2000 Sophronia 55 FKeeping HouseNew York John 30 MLaborerMichigan PROPERTY3000 William 23 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 500 George 21 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 200 Jeanette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Maynette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Antonia Parigo 35 MLaborerPROPERTY 30 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 199, Lines: 24-28, Dwelling: 18, Family: 17, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACE COMMENTS Julia Cook 42 FKeeping HouseCanada Parents foreign born/ cannot read & write Franklin Cook 12 MAt HomeUtah Attended School Henry Cook 10 FAt HomeUtah Attended School Malinda Cook 8 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born Ada Cook 3 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born SOPHRONIA, BECOMES CEDAR VALLEY’S FIRST RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT The “Church” organized a Relief Society in the Cedar Valley Ward on January 28, 1871. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia was called and set apart the first president of that organization in Cedar Valley. Those serving with her included Sarah Jane Weeks, as Sophronia’s first counselor, Phoebe Rodeback as second counselor, Malinda Cook as secretary and Almina Weeks as treasurer (Alice Cook). PROXY BAPTISMS FOR ANCESTORS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS From Family History Temple records we learn that on May 13, 1875 Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia and two of their children, John and Hannah, did proxy baptisms in Salt Lake City for many of their ancestors and other family members as follows: NAMENUMBERPROXYRELATIONSHIP George Augustus Strobridge1284John CookGrandson George A. Strobridge1285 “Great Grandson James Strobridge1286 “Grand Nephew Oliver Stgrobridge1287 “ ” Sanford Strobridge1288 “ ” Archibold Strobridge1289 “ ” George Washington Strobridge 1290 “Nephew Abner Lull1291 “Great Grandson David Lull1292 “Grand Nephew Billings Lull1293 “ “ Samuel Lull1294 “ ” James Lull1295 “ ” Abigail Lull Strobridge1296Sophronia Storbridge CookDaughter Julia Strobridge1297 “Step Daughter Hannah Lull1298 “Niece Sally Wilman1299 “ ” Lydia Lull1300 “ ” Rebecca Strobridge1301 “ ” Nancy Strobridge1302 “ ” Annabender Page1303 “Cousin William Cook1304Henry Freeman CookSon Job Cook1305 “Nephew Abial Cook1306 “ ” Amasa Chapman1307 “Grandson Lyman Chapman1308 “Nephew Amasa Chapman1309 “ ” Isaac Chapman1310 “ ” Henry Chapman1311 “ ” Hyrum Chapman1312 “ ” Joseph Darby1313 “Grand Nephew Rufus Darby1314 “ ” Amasa Chapman1315 “Great Grandson Anna Lull1316Sophronia Strobridge CookGranddaughter Ann Darby1317Hanna Cook DaytonGrand Daughter Lucy Chapman1318 “ ” Cynthia Chapman1319 “Grand Niece Lois Chapman1320 “ ” Ann Chapman1321 “ ” Ann Darby1322 “3rd Cousin Asenath Darby1323 “ Almyra Cook (Doud)1324 “Niece in Law Ann E. Cook1324 “Niece Mrs. Darby1326 “Great Grand Niece Mrs. Darby1327 “ ” Harriet Cook1328 “Niece Baptized By S.H.B. Smith . Confirmed By John Cottam Witnessed by Peter Peterson and James Bennett Recorded J.D.S. McAllister PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ORDER OF CEDAR FORT AND FAIRFIELD On May 3, 1874, the Saints in Cedar Fort and Fairfield together organized into what was called the United Order. Henry Freeman Cook was president of the Order. When the new Order notified Brigham Young as to what they had done and ask for directions, Brigham Young wrote back: “Wait ‘till the head moves before the tail starts to wiggle.” The United Order experiment was discontinued. (Mrs Barnes A. Cook - “Cedar Fort” p 288-289). Henry also took part in other community projects. He owned shares in the co-op owned by the people of the Valley. His son, John, helped manage the store. SECOND PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – June 18, 1875 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young on August 11, 1857 and the second from Zabedee Coltrin June 18, 1875. The date is not discernable on the copy of this blessing. However I believe it was given on June 18, 1875, and was the second Patriarchal Blessing given to Henry Freeman Cook. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia Strobridge, received a Patriarchal Blessing from Zabedee Coltrin on June 18, 1875. The blessing was recorded in book “B” and Sarah P. Austin was the secretary. Henry Freeman Cook and his Wife Sophronia Strobridge also received their first Patriarchal Blessings the same day (August 11, 1857), from the same Patriarch (John Young). Henry Freeman Cook’s blessing is recorded in Book “C,” page 317, No 168; Sophronia’s is in book “C,” page 318, No. 169. Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia did things like this together. The blessing is as follows: Blessing given by Zabedee Coltrin, Patriarch, upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Lucy Chatman (Chapman) Cook born January 12, 1815, in the town of Homer, Cortland Co, state of New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct the text.) Recorded in book B - Sarah P. Austin, Secretary - BISHOP OF THE CEDAR VALLEY WARD – June 11, 1876 (October 13, 1877) to April 14, 1882 The Cedar Valley members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were organized into a ward on April 3, 1853. Allen Weeks was sustained and served as the first bishop of the ward. On December 19, 1858, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained as 1st Counselor to Bishop Weeks. Henry served with Bishop Weeks as 1st counselor of the ward until Bishop Weeks resigned because of ill health. Alice Cook in her history of Cedar Fort, Gertrude C. Jackson’s history of Henry Freeman Cook and Henry Freeman Cook’s obituary printed in the Deseret News (See below), indicated that Henry Freeman Cook then became the bishop of the Cedar Valley ward on June 11, 1876. Margery J. Peterson in her book Our Roots Grow Deep - A History of Cedar Valley page 4-18 indicates that the date Henry Freeman Cook became bishop was October 13, 1877. What ever the date, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained and ordained to be the 2nd bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as bishop until his death on April 14,1882. Henry Freeman Cook was a kind, generous, quiet, industrious man, not given much to frivolity. A story is told of him by Annie Glines Hacking in her biographical sketch in which she tells of attending a dance in Cedar Fort. The band began playing a waltz, which the Bishop and other Church authorities frowned upon. Youth-like, the young ladies of the ward decided the Bishop and counselors were going to dance, and so converged on Bishop Cook and his counselors and pulled them out on the floor. Other young ladies kept them dancing for a considerable length of time. One of his sons, George (Dod for short), came into the dance hall and saw his father dancing the waltz. He exclaimed loudly, "Father, you are actually waltzing. I don't believe my eyes!" The Bishop was quite embarrassed, but we wonder if he didn't enjoy it a little. 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, ED: 86, Page: 27B, Lines: 1-9, Dwelling: 245, Families: 254 & 255, Enumeration Date: 18 & 99 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Cook, Henry F M 65 Head Farmer NY MassMass Sophronia F 67 Wife Keeping House NY MassMass George M 30 Son StockmanIowa NY NY Cook, Wm M 69 Farmer NY MassMass Dayton, Chas M 25Coal BurnerUtah NY Sallie F 20 WifeKeeping House Utah England England 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho, ED: 9, Page: 114A, Lines: 1-4, Dwelling: 227, Family: 235, Enumeration Date: 28 & 29 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Julia Cook F 53 HeadKeeps House Canada CanadaCanada George H. Cook M20 SonHerdsman Utah NY Canada Malinda Cook F18 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada Ada Cook F15 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S 2ND WIFE LIVING IN IDAHO IN 1880 It is interesting to note that Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together that are still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. No reason for them being in Idaho has ever been given in any of the histories I have read about Henry Freeman Cook or his family. However, historically there could be several reasons. Federal authorities trying to prosecute men who were practicing polygamy could be one. Those practicing polygamy usually ended up having their different families live in different town in different areas. Another could be water. Cedar Fort was very limited on water. Dry years could have placed a strain on the area’s ability to support the growing population almost 100% dependent upon agricultural to live. As the Cook family grew and water supplied were limited, they could have had to seek other areas in which to grow and expand their flocks and herds. Many from the Cedar Fort area seemed to end up in the Cottonwood and Dingle area of Bear Lake County in Idaho. I think most of them went their because of water and increased farming and cattle, sheep and horse raising opportunities. We really don’t know yet why Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together who were still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. HENRY FREEMAN COOK DIED - OBITUARY Henry Freeman Cook passed away 14 April 1882 and is buried in Cedar Fort. A pioneer of merit, his obituary printed in the Deseret News read as follows: “At his residence in Cedar Fort, April 14, 1882, Bishop HENRY FREEMAN COOK Deceased was born Jan. 12, 1815, in Homer N.Y., and was baptized February 1843. Ordained a High Priest August 30, 1875, re-baptized August 14, 1875, and ordained Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward June 11, 1876. He was beloved and respected by all, filled the office of Bishop as a true servant of God and died in full faith of the Gospel” (Deseret News, 31:244). HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S TWO WIVES LIVED IN CEDAR FORT MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF THEIR DAYS Henry Freeman Cook was 22 years old when he married Sophoronia Strobridge and moved from Cortland, New York to Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 28 when he and his wife Sophronia were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 when he moved with his family to Nauvoo and 37 when they crossed to plains to Utah. He was 38 when he settled in Cedar Fort, 42 when he married his 2nd wife, Julia Rocker and was sealed to his 1st wife Sophronia, and 61 or 62 when he was called and sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley ward. He was 67 years 3 months and 2 days old when he died and was buried in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery in lot 07-05-01 as per the Orson McKinney plating system for the cemetery. Julia Ann (Bercier)Rocker Knapp Laughlin Cook, we think, lived most of the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died in Cedar Fort, January 22, 1891, 8 years 9 months and 8 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. Sophronia Strobridge Cook lived the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died July 24, 1909, 22 years 3 months and 12 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. * * * * * * * HISTORICAL RESEARCH NOTES COOK ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK Henry Freeman Cook is the son of William and Lucy Chapman Cook. William Cook is the son of Abial and Susannah Cole Cook.* Abial Cook is the son of Job and Ann Bennett Cook. Job Cook is the son of Thomas and Lydia Taylor Cook. Thomas Cook is the son of John and Ruth Shaw Cook. John Cook is the son of John, alias Butcher and Mary Borden Cooke. John Cooke, alias Butcher, was the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, and his wife ? Mary ? . Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, who stands at the head of our Cook Family in American, is the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or Butcher. Thomas, his wife Mary and their three oldest children: Thomas, John and child, came to Taunton, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts in 1637 on the ship Speedewell. Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or butcher, the last generation of our Cook family in England, was born about 1570. He died in Netherbury, Dorset, England 20 May 1614 as Thomas Butcher. COLE ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK *Susannah Cole is the daughter of William Cole and Elizabeth Luther. William Cole is the son of John Cole and Abigail Butts. John Cole is the son of John Cole and Susannah ? John Cole is the son of Hugh Cole and Mary Foxwell. Hugh Cole is the son of James Cole and Mary Lobel, James Cole, who stands at the head of the Cole family in America, is the son ? . He came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1633 with his wife Mary and two oldest sons, James and Hugh. THE NAME OF THE TOWN OF CEDAR FORT During the time Henry Freeman Cook lived in Cedar Fort the name of the town changed several times. In the Territorial Census of 1856 the town was named Stone City, Cedar County. On August 11, 1857 in a patriarchal blessing given by John Young to Jane Clark Hacking the town was named North Fort, Cedar Valley. In “The Tintic War and the death of George and Washington Carson” by Lynn R. Carson, Fairfield at this time (1855-57) was often referred to as South Fort, supporting the fact that Cedar Fort at that time was also often referred to as North Fort. In the 1860 Territorial Census the town was called Fort Cedar, Cedar County. And finally, in the Federal Census of 1870 the town is called Cedar Fort, Utah County, the name it continues to be known as to this day. A CORRECTION TO PUBLISHED INFORMATION All published information is not correct. The following, published by and in the LDS Collectors Library: Early LDS Membership Data, 1995 Infobases, Inc., and taken from Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830 - 1848 Volume XI compiled by Susan Easton Black and published in 1989 by Brigham Young University, demonstrates why it is important to audit our records. Henry Freeman Cook’s record in this book has two errors. First, his name is only listed under Henry Freeman. It is not listed under Henry Freeman Cook. His father is listed as William Cook and his children are all listed as Cooks. But, he is only listed as Henry Freeman. Second, under "Places of Residence" it states that in 1850 “Henry” lived in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. The information was taken from the 1850 Utah Federal Census. When I first read this it excited me. I wondered if I had found something that would help us learn more about our family. I immediately reviewed the 1850 Census of Utah for Great Salt Lake County. On page 169 (55 of the typed census) I found a Henry Cook, 25 from NY, a blacksmith, living with Oscar 5 Ill and Harriet Cook, 26 from NY, a schoolmistress. When I found this information I immediately knew something was wrong. I knew that our Henry Cook had a sister named Harriet and that they both were from New York. However, I knew that our Henry Freeman Cook was older than his sister Harriet and that on 18 Sep 1850 Harriet Cook Dolphaimar, 26, and her son Wm, age 1, were listed as living with Henry Freeman Cook and his family in Pottawattami, Iowa. From personal research I found a Harriett Elizabeth Cook born 7 Nov 1824 in Utica or Whitesborough, Ontario, NY. She had a brother named Henry (or Harvey?) Cook born 22 Jan 1827 in Utica, Oneida, New York. Their parents were Archibald Cook born 2 Apr 1792 in Duchess, New York, the Son of Archibald Campbell and Martha Cook, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mosher, daughter of Josiah Mosher and Rebecca Doolittle. I also learned from the record that Harriet Elizabeth Cook was the wife of Brigham Young. They were married in Nauvoo, Hncck IL, 2 Nov 1843. Reason tells me that this is the Harriet and Henry Cook found in the 1850 Federal Census of Great Salt Lake County in Utah. It was not our Henry Freeman Cook living with his sister Harriet Cook. And it doesn't surprise me that this Harriet is still going by the name of Cook. That was not uncommon at all during those times. It would have helped to protect her and Brigham Young from the Federal authorities and others who were trying to use polygamy to destroy the Church and its leaders. Had our Henry Freeman Cook been in Salt Lake with his sister Harriet he would also have had the rest of his family with him. There was no reason for him to come to Utah in 1850 with his sister and then hurry back so they could be with his family on 18 Sep 1850 to be counted in the Pottawattami County, Iowa Federal Census. Thi***tra crossing of the plains would have been something that would have been reported by somebody over the years. Based upon just what I have found, I do not believe the extra trip across the plains took place. I do not believe our Henry Freeman Cook was residing in Salt Lake in 1850. I do believe that along with Henry’s name being wrong in the above identified publication, identifying his “place of residence” in 1850 as Salt Lake City, Utah is also an error. THE WARREN SNOW COMPANY - THE 8TH COMPANY or THE GHOST COMPANY While researching for information concerning ancestors that crossed the plains before the railroad came to Utah, I found that very little is known about the Warren Snow company. In fact, in 1997 I was told that until just a few years ago there were questions about whether or not there was such a company. Once researchers in the LDS Church’s historical department determined there actually was such a company they began calling it the “8th Company,” because they figured that it must have been the 8th company to arrive in Salt Lake in 1852. However, because so little information has been found about his company many to this day refer to it as the “ghost company” (Ronald S. Cook).

WILLIAM COOK BORN: 19 Oct 1847 COUNCIL BLUFFS, POTTAWATTAMIE, IOWA DIED: 2 7 Nov 1934 Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah, USA FATHER: HENRY FREEMAN COOK 12 Jan 1815 - 14 Apr 1882 MOTHER: SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE 14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 MARRIED: MARY ALMINA WEEKS - 12 Mar 1873 6 Mar 1871 Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN: WILLIAM LUCEINE COOK 4 Mar 1873 - 17 Apr 1966 MARRIED: REBECCA H RODEBACK 2 May 1846 - 12 Aug 1910 25 October 1875 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah CHILDREN: EDWARD COOK 9 Jan 1877 - 24 Jun 1924 HELEN COOK 6 Apr 1879 - 18 Jan 1948 CLIFFORD COOK 14 Mar 1881 - 4 Jun 1955 MARK HENRY COOK 26 Apr 1884 - 14 Feb 1892 PHEBE REBECCA COOK 12 Jul 1885 - 28 Jun 1917 BARNES ALMA COOK 11 Oct 1887 - 21 May 1973 WILLIAM COOK was the father of BARNES ALMA COOK who was the father of SHELDON BARNES COOK who was the father of RONALD SHELDON COOK Written by GERTRUDE COOK JACKSON -- Granddaughter and BARNES ALMA COOK -- Son William COOK "Uncle Bill" as he was affectionately known by most every one during his adult life, was born 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents had made the long trip from Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan where they had embraced the gospel, to Nauvoo just as the persecution of the Saints there had begun in ernest. They, along with the other Saints were forced to move. Since they had so recently made a long trip, they stopped at Council Bluffs, Iowa for a few years to replenish their supplies and equipment. It was here that William was born, the sixth child and fourth son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook. When William was still a small boy, nearly five, his parents took their family and went to St. Louis, Missouri where a Company was outfitting to make the trek to Utah. They traveled with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Salt Lake in October 1852. They spent the winter at Little Cottonwood. The next Spring they were sent to Cedar Fort to help colonize Cedar Valley. The town was called Cedar Fort because the first fort built there was built of cedar posts make from the cedar trees which grew plentiful on the surrounding hills. It was later replaced with a rock fort, part of which still stands. The Cook family experienced most of the trials that were experienced by all the Pioneers. They had a few more head of stock and more equipment than most families which they used to benefit all in the Valley. One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River. William, as a boy was not very well and at times his parents despaired of his life. At one of these times he told his parents he knew that if Patriarch Zebedee Coltrin, who was Patriarch of the Utah Stake and lived in Spanish Fork, would come and give him a blessing he would get well. Brother Coltrin was sent for but could not make the trip out to Cedar Fort right then. He however blessed his handkerchief and sent it with instructions to wipe William's face with it and he would be made well. These instructions were followed and William began improving in health. From then on until he was quite old, he never had any serious illnesses. Zebedee Coltrin had given his parents their patriarchal blessings and was known to the family as a faithful man. William learned to work hard, early in life. He along with his father and brothers was a partner in their farming, a stock raising and freighting. The Cook family had a considerable amount of stock, horses, cattle and some say, sheep also, as there were sheep in the Valley in the early days. The feed in Cedar Valley was not enough to take care of all of the stock owned by the settlers in the winter so the Cook brothers would take their herds south were there was more feed. One of the problems in Cedar Valley was not having enough water to grown feed enough for all of the stock. Williams's job was to stay at home to look after things. One of his responsibilities was to see that his father's two families and the families of his brothers had all the supplies they needed, while the husbands were out taking care of the cattle. Grandpa Cook told Alice, Barnes' wife, that his father had built a log house when they first came to Cedar Fort. It was not large enough for all of the family to sleep in so he and his brothers slept in the granary. When the grain was harvested they would make their beds on top of the grain. William served as a reserve in the Black Hawk Indian Wars. As a reservist he had to be trained, buy a uniform, a rifle and all other equipment necessary, and have them on hand in case he was called to active duty. He also had to have a good riding horse. When he reached pension age he received a small pension from his service which he used mostly to trace his genealogy and to help his children and grandchildren. As is often the case there were two young ladies in Cedar Fort who he liked very much and they liked him. He asked one of them, Mary Almina Weeks to be his wife and they were sealed in the Endowment House 6 March 1871. His happiness with her was short, as she died 12 March 1873 when her new born child was eight days old. He was named William Luciene born March 4th, 1873. William's youngest sister, Marett took over the care of the baby and had complete charge of him until William Remarried. On the 25th of October 1875 he (William) was married and sealed to the other young lady he like very much, Rebecca Rodeback. When asked why he had chosen Mary Almina first he said he guessed it was because she was more active in the young peoples activities and he saw more of her and she lived just across the street from him. The day after he was married to Rebecca or Becky, as he and so many other called her, he had to go with his brothers on a cattle drive and was gone for nearly three weeks. When he returned home he found that his new wife had cleaned and moved into a small adobe house on his father's lot and had taken over the care of baby William. All of their six children were born in this small house. About the only other time he made an extended trip from home was to take a load of flour to Boise, Idaho and bring back a load of apples. He bought the Craft home across the road to the east from the Cook lot. The house on this lot was torn down and a new 5 room adobe one built just north of where the old one was. Rebecca's brother Barnes Rodeback and a friend, Matt Gibbs built the new one and took for their pay farm produce, a cow, a horse and some money. He moved into this home when his youngest son Barnes was real young. Barnes said he remembers riding in the wagon that was loaded with household goods when they were moving. He was in the spring seat and said he looked down and it looked like a long way to the ground. Grandpa Cook lived in this house until his death. It has had a face lifting now and then but the original walls still stand. William's father's brother William lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan and when he heard the gospel he believed it and was baptized. He soon came to Utah but his family would not come with him so he came alone. He lived with his brother, Henry Freemen at first. He worked in the field and one day while clearing out some wild roses, something flew up and hit him in the eye and he lost the sight in that eye. When it got so it did not hurt him he went back to the same place he had been working and began to clear more rose bushes out and something flew into his other eye and he lost the sight in it too. From then on he was known as "Blind Uncle Billie." William and Rebecca had another room built on the north east corner of their house. It was a frame room with a cellar for fruit and a milk cupboard in it. They asked "Uncle Blind Billie" to come and live with them and he could use the new room for his bedroom. He lived with them until his death. William Cook was quiet, unassuming, honest, generous, and hospitable. He and his wife Becky helped many people. Their house was always open to travelers, peddlers and trades-people always made their house their headquarters. The room built on for Uncle Blind Billie was used for a Camp House where travelers slept while their horses had been given feed down at the stable. Some of the travelers ate in the kitchen where grandma Cook had prepared a good meal. Others cooked their own meal on a stove in the camp house. There was a stove with two lids but no oven. There was also a bed in the room. Many are the travelers that have put up for the night at their home. William was active in the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as assistant Superintendent in Y.M.M.I.A. for 7 January 1882 till 1 November 1884. He was a Sunday School teacher and was second assistant to the Sunday School Superintendent 28 October and was first assistant in 1893. He was sustained as a counselor to Bishop Eli Bennett 10 May 1896. On 30 December 1906 he was sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward where he served until 26 February 1911. He was treasure of the Cedar Valley School District for many years. He was kind to the Indians who came every fall to pasture their horses and cattle in the town field after it was open for pasturing after the farmers crops were gathered. They pitched their tents near the town at first and later when there were not so many coming, they pitched their tents in William's lot. The Chief of the tribe called himself "William" and his wife was "Becky" and the first night that they made their camp, William and Becky came to the Cook home to spend the evening and have supper. While camped here the squaws would visit the homes and beg for food which was given to them liberally. It was placed in a sack which they carried, and taken back to their wickiups and used later. William was very meticulous about his person and his work. No matter who was visiting he would excuse himself and go do whatever he had to do. His chores always had to be done at a certain time. He loved and was kind to his children and grandchildren. They knew however that if they were caught in his cornfield, hay stacks, wheat bins or any number of places the children love to play but shouldn't they would get their legs switched with a little willow switch. He never rally hurt any child but they knew he meant what he said. One of those boys now a man laughingly tells of a time that he and others were in his pigpen having fun chasing the pigs. He had placed himself in the opening where the pigs went in and out. His backside was through the hole and was having fun watching his companion chase the pigs while he kept them from getting away. Grandpa Cook came along and seeing the situation he grabbed a stick and before Fon knew he was there he had received two or three whacks on his bottom before he could escape. The other boys escaped without getting any punishment. (According to Sheldon Cook, a grandson of William Cook, the boys that were involved in this little experience were himself, Sheldon Cook, Fon Cook, Ernal Cook and Howard Hacking.) In spite of frequent switchings he was loved by all of the children who when they grew older always spoke of him as a man that they loved. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, both old and young. His hair was dark and thick. It was only partially gray at his death. His expressive blue eyes could speak volumes. He wore a beard most of his life to cover an ugly scar made by a kick of a mule. He had a small "Captain's Chair" which stood in from of a window by the kitchen range. It was here he sat to rest or read. On 14 February 1892 grief came to William and Rebecca when their fourth child Mark Henry was kicked by a horse and killed. He had gone with his father to watch his father feed his animals that were in the field. The horse kicked him in the stomach and he died within a day or two. Rebecca died 12 August 1910 as the result of a fall which broke her hip in such a way that nothing could be done for her. The daughter Rebecca, had stayed home and cared for her mother during her illness. She had been helped by Cliff's wife Arminta, her father and some times others but she was offered a job in Ogden, as a teacher in the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind so Barnes and his Wife Alice moved into his home and cared for him the rest of his life. Their twelve living children testify that Grandpa Cook was a motivating force for good in shaping their lives. He passed away quietly on 27 November 1934 and is buried beside his wives in the Cedar Fort Cemetery. His posterity are many and most are stalwart members of the Church. The "Captain's Chair" which he used is now in the old Stage Coach Inn at Fairfield - "Old Camp Floyd." It was one of the chairs used in the court house when Cedar Fort was the county seat of Cedar County. The following poem was written at his death by a friend William P. Elton. It expresses how most who knew him felt about him. GRANDPA WILLIAM **** - LATTER DAY SAINT By William P. Elton From above a true Thanksgiving Came to Welcome Grandpa home. He was waiting to receive it, For he knew it soon would come We shall miss our loving father, Yes it's hard to part with him, All his life has been a blessing To all that would listen in. He has been to all a leader Through his deeds and through his work And to God and man his duty He was never known to shirk. He has been to all a teacher Not by works alone, but deeds He had shown us how to live To take the grain and leave the weeds. He has been to all a father With his counsel and his love, He has always shown us clearly How to gain the Throne above. He has been to all the neighbors As his God ordained he should, Never failing with his worldly goods For to share, as we all could. Never have we heard him censure Any one that went astray. He has always tried to guide them And has shown them the right way. His example through a long life Has set many of us right He has given us enlightenment That has helped us make the fight. Oh that more like him through action And not by words alone, There would be a mighty people Worthy of a Heavenly Throne. LIVING WITH GRANDPA (WILLIAM) COOK By Mabel Cook Smith Four or five years before I was born my Mother and Father moved into the Cook Family home. After my Grandmother Cook died Grandpa Cook was so lonely the Cook Family asked them if they would move in with him. I am thankful I had the experience of living in the home with Grandpa Cook. He was a king and generous man, but very strict. He was loved by all who knew him and was “Uncle Bill” to all of the town people. When I was small my Father was away a lot during the summer out on the Ranch. When he was home he would be in the field or on the dry farm until dark. It would be late before all the chores were finished, but Grandpa was always there for us. He did the chores around home with the help of some of my brothers. He always raised one of the best vegetable gardens in town and an orchard with all kinds of fruit trees. He gave generously the things he raised to many people. I remember one year he raised large patch of cantaloupes. Just about the time they were starting to ripen someone got in the patch one night and picked all the green cantaloupes and piled them in a large pile at the bottom of the patch. I thought how can anyone be so mean when he was so good and gave to everyone. He always encouraged us to be to Church by word and also by example. He was always interested in what we were doing and would ask us about our friends. He brought my dress when I graduated from High School. He told Mother he wanted to get it for me. He got a small Pension for being a Veteran of the Balck Hawk Indian War and spent most of it on members of his family, mostly his Grandchildren. He helped many of them with money for school and other things. Grandpa had many friends from places that would come to see him and lots of time would spend the night. I remember Church leaders that had meals in our home. Mother always taught us to respect him and she saw toit that he was well taken care of as he grew older. He died at the age of 87 years in the home he had built for him. I was in the room with my parents and Aunts and uncles when he died. I am thankful I had the privilege of having him for my Grandfather and to have learned from his wisdom. SOME MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM COOK By Donald S Cook, Grandson As far back as I can remember, I felt that we were privileged to have our grandfather living with us. My playmates were often his grandchildren too, but he lived with us. And that was something special. One thing that impressed me was the number of friends who came to visit him; both young and old. Among the many who seemed to come most often were James E Garn, Bill Elton, Mone Calton and Lizzy Peterson. Grandpa was a stern disciplinarian, something I often resented but accepted because of who he was. Grandpa always received what seemed to me a lot of Christmas presents and it always seemed to be the same things; house slippers and boxes of chocolates. The house slippers he never wore because he never took his shoes off until just before going to bed and he was always fully dressed when he came out of his room in the morning. The chocolates he passed around fairly regularly. Once, however, I didn't think they were coming quite often enough and I sneaked into his room and filled my pockets with them. Unfortunately he spotted me coming out and asked me what I had in my pockets. I told him, "Nothing." When he started towards saying, "Let me see," I darted past him through the kitchen and went down to the horse stable. He followed, grabbing his razor strap as he passed through the kitchen. When I saw him approaching I climbed up the north wall to the pigeon loft that was just underneath the gables in the roof knowing he wouldn't be able to reach me there. When he came through the door and looked up and saw where I was he just turned around and left saying, "You'll be in for supper." I stayed in the loft until it started to get dark and I began to get hungry. By this time I had come to the conclusion that I was going to get the razor strap sooner or later so I may as well get it over with so I could get something to eat. When I opened the kitchen door I saw the family was all sitting around the table eating. Grandpa, who hadn't even told the family what had happened, was seated at the south end of the table with the razor strap hanging just begin his left shoulder. When I come through the door he turned around and grabbed it but when he saw that I wasn't going to run, he hung it back on its hook saying, "I guess you've already been punished enough." Dad had warned us children not to play on the straw stack saying that it would make holes in the stack where the rain would get in and rot the straw. One Sunday afternoon while dad was in the house visiting with friends, my friends and I thought that if we played on the side away from the house, dad would never even know about it. When I came in for supper that night I saw that my plate had been put back in the cupboard. Dad told me that I would have to go without my supper because I had spoiled some of the cattle feed. I went into the living room and cried myself to sleep. I was awakened by grandpa as he stood me on my feet. He led me to the kitchen and got my plate from the cupboard. He had filled it for me before the food had been cleared from the table. Even though grandpa died when I was only eleven years old, I always felt thankful that I had the opportunity to spend those few years under his influence. * * * * * * *

HENRY FREEMAN COOK BORN:12 Jan 1815Homer, Cortland, New York DIED:14 Apr 1882Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah FATHER:William Cook6 Sep 1780 - 4 Nov 1840 MOTHER:Lucy Chapman5 May 1787 - 16 Oct 1857 SPOUSE:Sophronia Strobridge14 Mar 1813 - 24 Jul 1909 Married 9 Apr 1837, New York CHILDREN:NAME BIRTH DATE DEATH DATE John Cook 22 May 1838 - 17 Feb 1904 James Cook 14 Jan 1840 - 06 May 1906 Hannah Cook22 Jan 1842 - 16 Apr 1926 Mary Jane Cook 2 Jan 1843/44 - 22 May 1895 Charles Cook 21 Feb 1846 - 10 Sep 1846 William Cook 19 Oct 1847 - 27 Nov 1934 George Cook 20 Mar 1850 - 26 Nov 1916 Harriet Ann Cook20 May 1853 - 25 Mar 1854 Jennette Cook 17 Mar 1856 - 23 Oct 1947 Marrett Cook17 Mar 1856 - 10 May 1931 SPOUSE:Julia Ann Rocker19 May 1828 - 22 Jan 1891 Married 12 Mar 1857In “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah CHILDREN:David Franklin Cook 9 Jan 1858 - Jun 1887 George Henry Cook 18 Feb 1860 - 12 May 1912 Florence Malinda Cook 11 Sep 1862 - 29 Jan 1899 Ada Cook 9 Dec 1866 - 9 Nov 1941 HENRY FREEMAN COOK is the father of William Cook who is the father of Barnes Alma Cook who is the father of Sheldon Barnes Cook who is the father of Ronald Sheldon Cook This life sketch of HENRY FREEMAN COOK was prepared using the history written by Henry Freeman Cook’s great-grand-daughter Gertrude C. Jackson as a base. New research findings, census records, documentation by Paul Henke and others, historical comments by Alice Adeline Southam Cook and some commentary have been added by Ronald S. Cook. Also, please note that many of the events written about in this history of Henry Freeman Cook are also written about in the history of his wife, Sophronia Strobridge Cook. I have prepared this history for my family - my children and grandchildren, based upon information I have learned about Henry Freeman Cook and his family from my family research over the past few years. I have written it in context of our family in hopes that my family will recognize how their ancestors related with each other before they were family and how our family history relates to the history of our great state and nation. I share it with members of the Henry Freeman Cook family hoping that it can yet be corrected and add to as new information is found and made available. Please share information you may have or find. Thank you. Ronald S. Cook WILLIAM COOK AND LUCY CHAPMAN Henry Freeman Cook was born 12 January 1815 at Homer, Cortland, New York. He was the fifth child and fourth son of William Cook, who was born 6 September 1780 in Massachusetts, and Lucy Chapman, who was born 5 May 1787 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Henry's parents, William and Lucy, were married 19 December 1805 at the First Church of Pittsfield, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. On 23 December 1806, just one year after they were married, Henry's parents bought ½ acre of land in Warren, Herkimer, New York. Two months later on 18 February 1807 they brought 40 acres of land in Warren. Henry's oldest brother Amassa was born in Warren on 16 April 1807, which indicates that they must have been living in Warren at the time. The land was all sold on 20 January 1810. They must have moved to Homer, Courtland, New York, before the sale of their land because Henry's second oldest brother, Edwin A. Cook, was born there 10 February 1809. Henry and all of his other brothers and sisters were born in Homer: William - 25 January 1811, Henrietta - 31 March 1813, Anne E. - 17 April 1818, Benjamin Franklin - 25 February 1821 and Harriett - 7 August 1824. AMASSA AND ANN DARBY CHAPMAN Lucy Chapman's parents were Amassa Chapman and Ann Darby. They spent most of their married life in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts, where Lucy and all her brothers and sisters (Amassa, Ann [Harris], Lois [Cook], Cynthia, Lyman, Hiram, Henry, and Isaac) were born. Lucy's father, Amassa, died 1 November 1822 in Hancock. Researchers Larry Piatt and David Zolman have found that Ann Darby died May 29, 1852 per a death notice that appeared in the records of th Egremont, Massachusetts Congregational Church on page 148 of an extracted church record. She was 89 years old. MOST OF THE COOK FAMILY MOVES TO MICHIGAN The 1835 New York state census lists a William Cook with the correct number of persons in his household, so we believe that Henry Freeman's parents were still in Homer, New York, at that time. The1837 Michigan State Census of Kalamazoo County lists a Cook, William, 60, living, probably in the home of his brother Abiel, with a male under 21 and females under 15, 21 and 50. Also living in the home was his son Henry, under 30, his nephew, Hiram (Abiel's son), under 30, and Abiel's son-in-law Edward Willan (Willard), under 30. Footnotes to that census also indicate that in 1838 William was on the "assessment roll" in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Henry's sister, and William and Lucy's sixth child and second daughter, Anne E. Cook, died 7 January 1840 in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 21 years, 8 months and 21 days old at her death. Eleven months later, on 4 November 1840, Henry's father, William Cook, died in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 60 years, 1 month and 29 days old when he died. Lucy lived another 16 years, 11 months and 12 days. She spent most of the rest of her life living with Henry Freeman and his family. She died 16 October 1857 in Cedar Fort Utah. She was 70 years, 5 months and 11 days old at her death. One of William's great-granddaughters reported that she learned that William was the first person buried in the Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan Cemetery. Lucy was buried in the old cemetery in Cedar Fort, Utah, Utah.. MICHIGAN STATE CENSUS OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY - 1837 Michigan’s first state census was taken in October and November of 1837. “By an act of the state legislature approved 27th March 1837 the township collectors were designated census enumerators. The act required that they should visit each house in their respective townships and make an enumeration of all the inhabitant***cept Indians not taxed, residing therein, on the second Monday of October 1837, and the act further specified that the names of all males over 21 years of age should be entered on the list.” (Salt Lake Family History Library, film # 925967) Michigan State Census for 1837 Males to: Females to: HEAD OF FAMILY5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 5 10 15 21 30 45 50 60 75 80 Cook, Hiram 1 Cook, William (76) 1 1 1 1 1 William, Edwin (Edward Willard) 1 Cook, Henry 1 76On Comstock assessment roll in 1838 HENRY FREEMAN AND SOPHRONIA STROBRIDGE COOK We know very little about Henry's childhood. History tells that the Cooks were farmers and stock raisers. Henry, no doubt, helped on his father's farm. On 9 April1837, at the age of twenty-two, Henry Freeman married Sophronia Strobridge, in Solon, Courtland, New York. Sophronia was the daughter of George Augusta Strobridge who was born 3 September 1785 in Clairmont, New Hampshire, and Abigail Lull who was born in 1780 in Massachusetts. Approximately six months after their marriage, (October/November 1837) Henry was living with his father and cousins in his Uncle Abiel's home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Based upon the state census information give above it is assume that his new wife Sophronia is not in Kalamazoo at this time. However, Henry's first son, John, was born in Comstock, Kalamazoo Michigan on 22 May 1838. So, sometime between October/November 1837 and May of 1838 Sophronia and Lucy arrived in Kalamazoo. Henry Freeman and his family had to work very hard in this new location to make their home. History books of Michigan states that mosquitoes and other insects were terrible and the soil was rampant with infectious diseases. 1840 Federal Census – Comstock, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Page: 262, Line 19 HENRY COOK *** Age Years Possible Identity Male20 - 301810 - 1820(Henry Freeman Cook) Female20 - 301810 - 1830(Sophronia Strobridge Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(John Henry Cook) Male 0 - 51835 - 1840(James Henry Cook) HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF COMSTOCK “‘Henry Cook” who I (Paul Henke) believe is Henry Freeman Cook, served as one of the three highway commissioners for the township of Comstock in 1842. Concerning the making of local roads which Henry would have been involved in at that time, Maude Ellwood wrote, “Local roads were often constructed over marshy land by hewing logs flat on one side, then placing them side by side with the smooth side up to form a corduroy road.” It was probably quite a feat to (build), manage and to take care of the roads in this wilderness back in those days” (Paul Henke, “Research Update,” Barnes Alma Cook Family Letter, June 5, 1996, p 6-7). Three more children were born to Henry Freeman and Sophronia in Comstock: James, 14 January 1840; Hannah, 22 January 1842; and Mary Jane, 2 January 1844. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Elder Milo Edward Webb, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found and taught Henry Freeman Cook and his wife Sophronia the gospel during this period. Henry Freeman Cook was baptized into the church in February 1843. Sophronia was baptized in March of 1843. The following letter, written by Milo Edward Webb and printed in Nauvoo and in the “Times and Seasons” in England, tells of Elder Webb’s missionary experiences in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, during the time Henry and Sophronia were converted and baptized. NAUVOO, April 17th 1843 Dear Sir: Believing that a knowledge of the spread of truth will be interesting to you, as well as the numerous readers of your valuable periodical, I thought I would give you a short history of my labors and success the last six months. I left Nauvoo Oct. 3, in company with Elder H. B. Owens. We traveled preaching by the way, shaping our course for the state of Michigan. We preached five times and baptized one in Kendall county Ill.; from thence we came to the village of Niles, state of Michigan. Here we separated taking different directions for Albion, Calhoun county, where there is a small branch of the church. I labored in Niles and the regions round about for two weeks to crowded congregations. Much prejudice gave way, and many appeared to receive the word with gladness. I then left for Albion where I labored three weeks. I then started back intending to go to Niles, but came as far as Comstock (a small town four miles east of Kalamazoo, the shire town of Kalamazoo co.,) where I learned that the notorious J. C. Bennett was lecturing in Kalamazoo. Some of the citizens of Comstock went to him and told him that a Mormon preacher was in Comstock. Oh, says he, he is one of Joe Smith’s “destroying angels” my life is not safe here, he has got five hundred out to kill me. And in his hurry to get away from the “destroying angel,” he forgot to pay his tavern bill, and the poor Presbyterians for lighting and warming their house, as might be expected. They called him a notorious rascal and knave, not only for this circumstance, but from his own statements which were of such a nature that none could believe them but such as had an uncommon degree of credulity. The next day (being Sabbath) I preached in Comstock. They requested me to preach again, I did so. By this time I had invitations to preach in several places. I continued laboring in that section of county till March 7th, and baptized 24, and organized them into a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which we called the Kalamazoo branch. The work is but just begun in that place. I left scores believing, and I never saw such calls for preaching as there is in all the western part of Michigan. I had more invitations than I could possibly fill, although the Priests used their utmost endeavors to stop the progress of the work yet it rolled forward with a steady pace being propelled by the mighty hand of the Great God, and the truth found its way home to the hearts of the honest, some of whom walked forward in obedience to its divine requirements. I regret that circumstances were such that I had to leave so soon. I hope that some faithful elder will call on them, and continue the work. They will find the brethren hospitable and kind. Should the twelve remember them while on their mission to the east, they can enquire for Ezekiel Lee, or Lemuel Willard, Esq, or Jesse Earl, Comstock, Kalamazoo Co. Mich. I will now close by subscribing myself your friend and brother in the new and everlasting covenants. E. M. Webb. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 4, p. 166-167) “This letter was published in Nauvoo on April 17, 1843. This would mean Henry Freeman and Sophronia were among the first 24 baptized in this area and that they were taught the gospel and baptized by Elder Edward Milo Webb. As I was researching about Elder Webb I found he died on July 31, 1852, while crossing the plains near the Platte River. I did find that among the prominent church members who came and visited the saints in Comstock were two of the Quorum of the Twelve, viz: Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith. It is wonderful to think that Henry and Sophronia became acquainted with these great brethren at this time and were probably influenced by them to once again make preparations to move their family, this time to Nauvoo to be with the main body of the saints. (Paul Henke, Cook Family Letter, “Research Update,” June 5, 1996) THE COOK FAMILY MOVE TO NAUVOO Sometime after the birth of their fourth child, Mary Jane, in January 1844, Henry, Sophronia and their family moved to Nauvoo. Their fifth child, Charles, was born in Nauvoo on 21 February 1846. According to the “Historic Nauvoo Land and Records Research Center” Henry Freeman Cook and his family owned and lived in a home on the NW corner of Taylor (running east and west) and Durphy (running north and south) streets. The home was in the southeast 1/4 of lot #8, just nine blocks north and one block west of the Nauvoo temple and 2 ½ blocks east of the Mississippi River. The Cook family suffered the same persecution as the other saints. They had to leave this beautiful city almost before they were settled. Along with other Saints they went to Council Bluffs, Iowa for awhile. Their sixth child, William, born 19 October 1847, and their seventh child, George, born 20 March 1850, made their appearance here. 1850 FEDERAL CENSUS – District #21, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Page: 86B, Lines 38-42 and 37A lines: 1-6, Enumeration Date: 18 Sep 1850 NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONESTATEBIRTHPLACE Henry Cook 35MaleLaborer NY Sophronia Cook 37Female NY John Cook 12Male Mich Ja’s Cook 10 Male Mich Hannah Cook 8Female Mich Mary Cook 7Female Mich Wm. Cook 4Male Iowa Geo. Cook 6/12Male Iowa Lucy Cook 62Female Mass Harriet Dolphaimar 26Female VA Wm. Dolphamar 1Male VA COUNCIL BLUFFS AND KANESVILLE, IOWA From Nauvoo, Henry and his family traveled to Council Bluffs (Kanesville). Pottawattami County, Iowa where they stayed until the summer of 1852 Council Bluff's is where the Lewis and Clark expedition counseled with the Otoe Indians in 1804 on their way to explore the west and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. In 1846 the Mormon Pioneers changed the name of the area to Kanesville in honor of Colonel Thomas L. Kane who on at least one occasion refused to execute the Prophet Joseph Smith and said he would personally hold accountable anyone who participated in the execution of him. It was at Kanesville, where Brigham Young encouraged the Saints to respond to the call for a battalion of men to fight for the United States government in the Mexican War. The Mormon Battalion was the result. It was in Kanesville whre on December 4, 1847 the Quorum of the Twelve sustained Brigham Young as President of the Church, where a special new tabernacle was built in three weeks, where on December 2, 1847 the Saints meet together to sustain the new president, first presidency and Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kanesville was one of the three main areas, Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah being the other two, that for almost six years supplied thousands of Saints and others who were heading west. We have no records to verify it, however, we can assume that Henry Freeman Cook and his family were involved in all of the activities that took place in Kanesville between 1846 and 1852. Shortly after the Saint left Kanesville in 1852, the remaining local residence changed the name of the area back from Kanesville to Council Bluffs. THE COOK FAMILY MOVE WEST – THEY SETTLE IN CEDAR FORT Shortly after the birth of George the family moved to St. Louis where they prepared to make the trip to Salt Lake. The family consisting of Henry Freeman, Sophronia, John (14), James Henry (12), Mary Jane (9), Hannah (7), William (5), George (2) and Henry’s mother Lucy, traveled west with the Warren Snow Company, arriving in Utah on October 9, 1852. For awhile they made their home in Big Cottonwood, in SE Salt Lake County. Their eighth child, Harriet Ann, was born in Big Cottonwood 20 May 1853. Their last two children, twin girls, Jannett and Marrett, were born in Cedar Fort, Utah County, 17 March 1856. A survey for a “Genealogical Survey of LDS Members between 1924 and 1929 stated the William moved to Cedar Fort from Big Cottonwood in October of 1953. Also, little Harriett Ann died 25 May 1854 and was buried in one of the first graves in the old Cedar Fort cemetery, so we know the family came to Cedar Fort before that. The Life History of Henry Freeman Cook in the files of the Daughters of the Pioneers in Salt Lake City, Utah, states: “Sometime after their seventh child, George was born March 20, 1850, they moved to St. Louis Missouri, then continued on to Utah. They traveled in the Warren Snow company, and arrived in Salt Lake in October 9, 1852. They stayed in Big Cottonwood the first winter, then in the summer of 1853, they moved south to Cedar Fort, Utah.” Cedar Valley ward membership records held in the LDS Church Historian’s office in the Church’s special collections in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicate that Henry Freeman Cook and Sophronia Strobridge Cook were “received” from the Big Cottonwood ward in December 1853. CEDAR VALLEY WARD MEMBERSHIP RECORD NAME: Cook, Henry Freeman PARENTS:William & Lucy Chapman BIRTH: Jan 12, 1815WHERE:Homer NY BLESSING: BAPTISM:Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb CONFIRMATION: Feb 1843BY WHOM:E. M. Webb RE-BAPTISM: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:John Brown RE-CONFIRMATION: Aug 14, 1875BY WHOM:Birch Johnson ORDINATION Aug 30, 1857TO WHAT OFFICE:High Priest RECEIVED:Dec 1853WHERE FROM:Big Cottonwood DIED:April 14, 1882 JANE HACKING FISHER TERRY WAS THE MIDWIFE FOR SOPHRONIA- MARCH 17, 1856 Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the midwife who took care of Sophronia when the twins, Janett and Marett were born. Sometimes she would take her small son, Moroni, with her when she went to care for mother and babies. Moroni told Alice Cook that he remembered those visits with a warm feeling as he always got a big slice of bread and butter, which he didn't get very often at home. Jane Hacking Fisher Terry was the mother of John Sampson Hacking, and was Alice Adeline Southam Cook’s great grandmother on her mother’s, Jane Hacking Southam’s, side. HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT TWO HOMES FOR HIS FAMILY IN CEDAR FORT Henry Freeman Cook built two homes for his family in Cedar Fort. The first was an adobe home. It was built in the middle of the south side of the “Cook” lot. The “Cook” lot was the south half of the block the school and Church gym were in. The adobes for this home were made in what was later referred to as “the adobe hole,” which was located approximately two blocks east of where the home was built. According to Donald S Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook, the remains of this hole can still be seen. It is approximately ½ block east of the store located along the highway in Cedar Fort (2005 AD). As a historical note: After the community ceased using the area around the adobe hole for making adobes, the hole was used as a baptismal font. Once every year or two, water from the south spring was used to fill “the font.” Then all the children in town who had turned eight since the last baptism were baptized in “the old adobe hole.” Barnes Alma Cook and Alice Adeline Southam, my grandparents, were both baptized in this “baptismal font” (Adobe hole) on July 30, 1897. This adobe home Henry Freeman Cook built, as can be remembered by Donald S. Cook, was a four room home. It had two basic rooms in front with a lean-to off the back with two additional rooms in. After Henry Freeman Cook lived in the home, his son William, my great grandfather, lived in it. All of William’s children, including my grandfather Barnes Alma Cook, were born in this home. When Donald, grandson of William and son of Barnes Alma, was a boy, the home was used as a chicken coop. It has since been torn down. The second home Henry Freeman Cook built for his family was on the west side of the “Cook” lot, facing west. It was a two story frame house. James Rodeback, Barnes Alma Cook,s grandfather - his mother’s father, help Henry build it. The home was built from logs men in the community cut in the Oquirrh Mountains and sawed at the saw mill build in Cedar Fort to serve Johnston’s army. With some modifications this second home is still standing and is still being lived in. It is now referred to in Cedar Fort as the Berry home. It is the only home in the block facing west, and is south of the church and school in Cedar Fort. On July 8, 2006 I learned from the present owner of the home, Jason Westagard, that he plans on tearing the home down in August of this year and replace it with another home. He wanted to preserve the home, to fix it up and keep living in it. However, he said he found it too expensive to do what banks required him to do for them to work with him. Therefore, he decided to tear the home down and replace it with another home. On July 9, 2009 I learned that within the past few months the Henry Freeman Cook home burned down. Orson McKinney reported that after the home caught fire the Cedar Fort Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The home was reparable. However, a few ambers must have been left burning because several hours later the home burned a second time. This time it burned beyond repair. Since then the remains of the house have been removed from the lot and a hole has been dug for the footing and basement of another home to be built on the lot. DUGOUTS ALONG THE JORDAN RIVER From the history of William Cook, son of Henry Freeman and Sophronia Strobridge Cook, written by Gertrude Cook Jackson, a granddaughter, and Barnes Alma Cook, a son, we read, "One winter, because of the trouble the Indians were making, they (meaning Henry Freeman Cook and his family) lived in a ten by twelve foot dugout on the banks of the Jordan River." Alice Southam Cook in her history of Cedar Fort wrote the following about evacuating Cedar Fort because of Indian trouble. “When the Walker War broke out in the spring of 1853, all the settlers of Cedar Valley moved to Lehi, in order to be safe against Indian depredations. This move took place April 27, 1853, and the settlers remained in Lehi until June 25, 1853 when they returned to their homes in Cedar Valley. The settlers evacuated Cedar Valley a second time July 28, 1853, as the Indian hostilities continued. Part of the people set up temporary homes along the Jordan River. They moved back to their homes September 7, 1853.” If the incidents Alice Cook wrote about were the same as referred to in the history of William Cook by Gertrude Jackson above, and Henry Freeman Cook and his family didn’t move to Cedar Fort until December of 1853, Henry and his family were not even in Cedar Fort yet when the incidents occurred. In the book, LEHI, PORTRAITS OF A UTAH TOWN, by Richard S. Van Wagoner, (US/CAN 979.224/La, H2v), on page 8 we read, "... When Johnston led his forces through Salt Lake City on 26 June 1858 the town was essentially vacant. By the end of August, however, virtually all Salt Lakers had returned home. "As news reached Lehi and Cedar Valley that the army was moving southward, most Fairfield and Cedar Fort citizens left their homes and camped near Cold Springs west of the Jordan River (Sherwin Allred's ranch in 1989)." Also, in “Our Pioneers” written by Annie M. Glines Hacking for the Vernal Express, August 6 & 13, 1931, Annie wrote: “When Johnston’s army came to Cedar Valley in the spring of 1858, President Brigham Young sent word for the people to move at once to the east side of the River Jordan” If Johnson’s army coming to Cedar Valley is the event that is referred to in William Cook’s history aforementioned then the move was not because of the Indians. Henry Freeman Cook and his family were living in Cedar Fort at the time Johnston’s army came and probably took part in the more to the Lehi area at then. It is also interesting to note from Richard Van Wagoner's book that the citizens of Cedar Fort, for different reasons, moved to the Lehi area on two or three different occasions those first few years they lived in Cedar Fort. However, most of the time they "camped in the Meeting House. Some were boarded in private homes, while others burrowed in dugouts or slept in makeshift shelters against the fort's wall." Cold Springs is on the Sherwin Allred Ranch on the west bank of the Jordan River, west of Lehi. It is located by turning north just about 150' west of the bridge over the Jordan River on the road heading west from Lehi to Cedar Fort. About .03 to .04 tenths of a mile north along that road is a large pond of water located on the east side of the road. Water from Cold Springs feeds that pond. We do not know for sure if that is really where Henry Freeman Cook and his family "lived in dugouts." However, I believe there is a good chance that it is. William Cook lived with my father, Sheldon Barnes Cook, and his family for several years while my father was growing up. One time I asked my father if he knew where those dugouts were. He said he thought so. One day as we were crossing the Jordan River bridge headed for Cedar Fort, he pointed south and said "I think they were down there." As I inquired further, my father said that he always was going to have his grandfather show him were the dugout were but he never did. My father’s understanding as to where Henry Freeman Cook and his family might have spent a winter living in dugouts is definitely different than reported by Richard Van Wagoner. 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY NAME*** Henry F. Cook M Sophronia F John M James M Hannah F Mary J. F William M George M Lucy Cook F Alonzo M Martha F DAVID SANDER LAUGHLIN (Lauchlin) David Sanders Laughlin (Lauchlin, Lanklin, Lockland) was born April 26 1815(16) in Dunbarton, Merrimack, New Hampshire. He was the son of David and Sarah Caroline Watkins Laughlin. David’s first wife, Mary Clark (born April 1821) died July 14, 1845 at Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 24 years, 2 months, 3 days, of the fever. He married Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker, Ap;ril 11, 1849 in Ohio, City, Cuyahago, Ohio. David Sander Laughlin was a member of (private in) Company D of the Mormon Battalion. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at an early day in Kirtland, Ohio, and afterwards moved to Far West, Missouri, where he suffered persecutions together with the rest of the saints. He afterwards located in Nauvoo, and was with the Saints when they were driven from that place in 1846. On the journey westward he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and after he returned to Winter Quarters in the fall of 1847, he filled a mission to Ohio and settled in the Salt Lake and later Cedar Valley with his family in 1852. He died after a long illness. David was a member of the 35th Quorum of Seventies. (Peterson, Margery J., OUR ROOTS GROW DEEP - A History of Cedar Valley, 2nd ed [American Fork, Utah, 2003] “David S. Laughlin, p 15:21). As a missionary David met and converted Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker to the Gospel. Julia had been married to Martin Knapp and had one child, Mary Louisa. She and Mary Louise left and was divorced from Martin before she joined the Church. After David Laughlin converted Julia to the Church they were married probably in 1849 or 1850. This was also David’s second marriage. He had previously been married to Mary Clark who had died July 14, 1845 in Nauvoo, Illinois of the fever. It was after Mary’s death that David had joined the Mormon Battalion. David and Julia have five (six) children. Johnnie, their first born died at age 13, from infection he got from wading in impure water. Twins, Joseph and Jacob were born January 2, 1851 and only lived long enough to be named. John Alvin was born in March 1852, Julia Ann September 19, 1853 and Harriet was born July 3, 1855. (Taken from the history of Julia Ann Bercier/Rocker). REPORT OF DEATH: DIED: In Fort Cedar, Cedar Valley, December 5, 1856, DAVID S. LANKLIN, aged 40 years, 7 months and 29 days. Elder Lankin embraced the gospel in Kirkland, Ohio; moved to Far West, Missouri, and suffered with the saints in their expulsion from there; cheerfully enlisted in the ‘Mormon Battalion,’ in obedience to the call; returned to Winter Quarters in 1847; proceeded from there on a mission to Ohio, and moved with his family to these valleys in 1852. He lived respected and esteemed by those who knew him, and died in full hope of the reward awaiting the faithful (Desert News, December 31, 1856). 1856 UTAH TERRITORIAL CENSUS - STONE CITY, CEDAR COUNTY David Lockland M Julia F Louisa F John M Julia A. F Susan F JULIA ANN (BERCIER) ROCKER KNAPP LAUGHLIN COOK Henry Freeman Cook and David Saunders Laughlin were friends. In 1856 David was sick and knew that he was about to die. Tradition tells us that before he died on December 5, 1856 in Cedar County, Utah, David told his wife Julia Ann not to worry because his friend Henry Freeman Cook would take care of her. On March 12, 1857, just three months and seven days after David Laughlin passed away, Henry Freeman married David’s wife, Julia Ann (Bercier) Rocker Knapp Laughlin in “The President’s Office” in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time Julia had four small children: Mary Louisa Knapp (from her first marriage to Martin Knapp), John Alvin, Julia Anne and Harriet Laughlin (from her second husband David Sanders Laughlin). From this marriage Henry Freeman Cook became the father of four additional children: David Franklin, George Henry, Florence Malinda and Ada. MARCH 12, 1857 WAS AN IMPORTANT DATE FOR HENRY FREEMAN COOK On March 12, 1857, Henry Freeman Cook acted as proxy as Julia Rocker was sealed to David Laughlin by President D. H. Wells, at 6 1/4 pm in the “Presidents Office.” At the same time Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Julia Rocker by D. H. Wells for time only. Then Henry Freeman Cook was sealed to Sophrornia Strobridge in “The President Office” by President D. H. Wells. The time was 6 ½ pm. All three of these sealings were witnessed by G. D. Wood and D. O. Colder. (Ordinance #660 as reported on film # 1149514 in the “Special Collections” section of the Salt Lake Family History Library.) Henry Freeman Cook was sealed again to Sophronia Strobridge on September 27, 1861 by President D. H. Wells in the Endowment House. This sealing was witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus. That same day in the Endowment House Henry Freeman Cook was again sealed to Julia Rocker for “time only” by D. H. Wells, and stood as proxy for David Saunders Lauchlin was sealed to Julia Ann Rocker and Mary Bell, deceased. All of these sealings were also witnessed by B. Young and S. L. Sprogus (Ordinance # 3913 and 3914 as recorded in film # 1149514 of “Special Collections” in the Salt Lake Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah). HENRY FREEMAN COOK BUILT A HOME FOR JULIA AND HER CHILDREN “I (Sheldon Barnes Cook) was born and spent the first 18 months of my life in a small three room house constructed by my great-grandfather Henry Freeman Cook, for his second wife, Julia Ann Rocker. It was located east and a little north of the Cedar Fort School house, about the center of the area occupied by the Orson McKinney home at the present time. “Two rooms were constructed of native clay sun dried brick or “adobe” as they were called. The inside walls were plastered and the ceiling were lath and plaster. The third room was on the south side of the house, a lean-to-type wood frame with lumber sheathing on the outside and up about three feet on the inside and cheese cloth on the upper inside walls and ceiling. The cheese cloth was white washed. I remember well how the cloth ceiling sagged. This room had a bare wooden floor and was used as a kitchen by my mother. Rag carpet covered the wooden floors in the other two rooms. The windows were wood frame with clear glass, and the roof was wood lumber sheathing with wood shingles. I was informed by my grandfather William Cook, that all building materials used in constructing and finishing the house except nails, cheese cloth and glass, were native materials produced in Cedar Fort (From the personal history of Sheldon Barnes Cook, great-grandson of Henry Freeman Cook). FIRST PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – August 11, 1857 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young, August 11, 1857, and the second from Zabedee Coltrin, June 18, 1875. The first is as follows: Patriarchal Blessing given Cedar Valley, Aug. 11. 1857, by John Young upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Eliza, (Lucy), born Jan 12, 1815, Omar (Homer), Kirtland (Cortland), County, New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct text). - J. W. Long, Reporter. (Henry F. Cook's blessing Recorded in Book C. Page 317, No 168) LUCY CHAPMAN DIED AND IS BURIED IN CEDAR FORT OCTOBER 16, 1857 Henry's mother, Lucy Chapman Cook, came with Henry Freeman and his family to Utah and made her home with them until her death on 16 October 1857. We have no record that Lucy ever officially joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by being baptized. The fact that on May 13, 1874, a granddaughter, Hannah Cook Dayton was baptized by proxy for her in Salt Lake City may indicate that she didn’t ever officially join the Church. However, she received a patriarchal blessing, usually only given to official members of the Church; and in that patriarchal she was told that the blessings of the heavens would rest upon her because she embraced the gospel, left her native home and gathered with the saints in the valleys of the mountains. This leads us to believe that she might have been a baptized member of the Church. Whether a baptized member of the Church or not, Lucy came west to Cedar Fort because of the Church and was among the first buried in the community that was settled by Church members. She was buried in the old Cedar Fort Cemetery. 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1060, Lines: 1-11, Dwelling: 3842, Family 2998, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Hy F Cook 46 M F (Farmer) NY ESTATE550 PROPERTY1700 Ceprona 47 F NY Jn 22 M L (Laborer) Mich Js. 20 M L (Laborer) Mich Hannah 18 F Mich Mary J. 16 F Mich Wm. 11 M IowaAttended School Geo. 10 M IowaAttended School Jeanette 5 F UTAttended School Mary E. 5 F UT Wm. Nay 22 ML (Laborer) 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS – Fort Cedar, Cedar County, Utah, Page: 1061 line 40 & 1062 lines 1-6, Dwelling: 3872, Family 3012, Enumeration Date: 8 Oct 1860 BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATION ESTATEPLACE COMMENTS Julia A. 33 F Conn Louisa L. 14 F 150Ohio Attended School Jo. S. L. 8 MIowa Attended School Julia A. L. 7 F UT Attended School Harriet A. 5 F UT Attended School David F. 3 M UT Geo. H. 8/12 M UT COOK FAMILY HORSES Henry and Sophronia Cook seemed to have had a little more property than most of the families coming West. They had horses and cattle which were brought with them across the plains. They may have also had sheep as there were sheep in the valley in the early days. Their daughter Hannah used to tell of a light gray or white team she remembered well. Alice Adeline Southam Cook wrote that “When Henry Freeman Cook and his family settled in Cedar Fort he had a span of Mares. Later he and his boys bought some horses from among a band that were being taken to California from the east. One mare in particular was heavy with foal and the owner was afraid that she would not survive the trip west, so he was glad to sell her. Her colt grew to be a fine stallion named Jeff. His stock proved to be very good dual purpose animals. They were good riding horses and also good to drive and to work with the equipment used in the early days. His colts were in great demand by settlers in the surrounding counties for breeding purposes” (Mrs Barnes A. Cook, “Cedar Fort” p 290). Sporting men from the East saw the quality in them and paid a big price for one of Jeff's colts, which he took East. He found him being used to run a threshing machine. The Cook Brand was and still is JHC with the J and H combined on one side and the H and C combined on the other. It looks like a J and a C connected with a bar in the middle. (This horse was branded with the JHC Cook brand, which was mistaken for JIC which was the name given to the colt by his new owner.) As the colt grew he was found to be a tough mouthed animal who required a special bit to hold him under control. A special bit was designed for the horse. Because it worked so well for this horse it was marketed to other horse owner, who had horses that were hard to control. It was called the JIC bit and was marketed for many years. The colt JIC was trained for cart racing. He was very successful and became one of the top cart-racing horses of his time. He was next to Maud S., who at one time held the world's record in cart racing. 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 198, Lines: 1-8, Dwelling: 1, Family: 1, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACECOMMENTS Cook, Henry 55 M FarmerNew York ESTATE2200PROPERTY2000 Sophronia 55 FKeeping HouseNew York John 30 MLaborerMichigan PROPERTY3000 William 23 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 500 George 21 MLaborerIowa PROPERTY 200 Jeanette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Maynette 14 FAt HomeUtahAttended School Antonia Parigo 35 MLaborerPROPERTY 30 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS – Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, Page: 199, Lines: 24-28, Dwelling: 18, Family: 17, Enumeration Date: 2 Sep 1870BIRTH NAMEAGE***OCCUPATIONPLACE COMMENTS Julia Cook 42 FKeeping HouseCanada Parents foreign born/ cannot read & write Franklin Cook 12 MAt HomeUtah Attended School Henry Cook 10 FAt HomeUtah Attended School Malinda Cook 8 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born Ada Cook 3 FAt HomeUtah Mother foreign born SOPHRONIA, BECOMES CEDAR VALLEY’S FIRST RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT The “Church” organized a Relief Society in the Cedar Valley Ward on January 28, 1871. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia was called and set apart the first president of that organization in Cedar Valley. Those serving with her included Sarah Jane Weeks, as Sophronia’s first counselor, Phoebe Rodeback as second counselor, Malinda Cook as secretary and Almina Weeks as treasurer (Alice Cook). PROXY BAPTISMS FOR ANCESTORS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS From Family History Temple records we learn that on May 13, 1875 Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia and two of their children, John and Hannah, did proxy baptisms in Salt Lake City for many of their ancestors and other family members as follows: NAMENUMBERPROXYRELATIONSHIP George Augustus Strobridge1284John CookGrandson George A. Strobridge1285 “Great Grandson James Strobridge1286 “Grand Nephew Oliver Stgrobridge1287 “ ” Sanford Strobridge1288 “ ” Archibold Strobridge1289 “ ” George Washington Strobridge 1290 “Nephew Abner Lull1291 “Great Grandson David Lull1292 “Grand Nephew Billings Lull1293 “ “ Samuel Lull1294 “ ” James Lull1295 “ ” Abigail Lull Strobridge1296Sophronia Storbridge CookDaughter Julia Strobridge1297 “Step Daughter Hannah Lull1298 “Niece Sally Wilman1299 “ ” Lydia Lull1300 “ ” Rebecca Strobridge1301 “ ” Nancy Strobridge1302 “ ” Annabender Page1303 “Cousin William Cook1304Henry Freeman CookSon Job Cook1305 “Nephew Abial Cook1306 “ ” Amasa Chapman1307 “Grandson Lyman Chapman1308 “Nephew Amasa Chapman1309 “ ” Isaac Chapman1310 “ ” Henry Chapman1311 “ ” Hyrum Chapman1312 “ ” Joseph Darby1313 “Grand Nephew Rufus Darby1314 “ ” Amasa Chapman1315 “Great Grandson Anna Lull1316Sophronia Strobridge CookGranddaughter Ann Darby1317Hanna Cook DaytonGrand Daughter Lucy Chapman1318 “ ” Cynthia Chapman1319 “Grand Niece Lois Chapman1320 “ ” Ann Chapman1321 “ ” Ann Darby1322 “3rd Cousin Asenath Darby1323 “ Almyra Cook (Doud)1324 “Niece in Law Ann E. Cook1324 “Niece Mrs. Darby1326 “Great Grand Niece Mrs. Darby1327 “ ” Harriet Cook1328 “Niece Baptized By S.H.B. Smith . Confirmed By John Cottam Witnessed by Peter Peterson and James Bennett Recorded J.D.S. McAllister PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ORDER OF CEDAR FORT AND FAIRFIELD On May 3, 1874, the Saints in Cedar Fort and Fairfield together organized into what was called the United Order. Henry Freeman Cook was president of the Order. When the new Order notified Brigham Young as to what they had done and ask for directions, Brigham Young wrote back: “Wait ‘till the head moves before the tail starts to wiggle.” The United Order experiment was discontinued. (Mrs Barnes A. Cook - “Cedar Fort” p 288-289). Henry also took part in other community projects. He owned shares in the co-op owned by the people of the Valley. His son, John, helped manage the store. SECOND PATRIARCHAL BLESSING – June 18, 1875 Henry Freeman Cook received two patriarchal blessings. One from John Young on August 11, 1857 and the second from Zabedee Coltrin June 18, 1875. The date is not discernable on the copy of this blessing. However I believe it was given on June 18, 1875, and was the second Patriarchal Blessing given to Henry Freeman Cook. Henry Freeman Cook’s wife, Sophronia Strobridge, received a Patriarchal Blessing from Zabedee Coltrin on June 18, 1875. The blessing was recorded in book “B” and Sarah P. Austin was the secretary. Henry Freeman Cook and his Wife Sophronia Strobridge also received their first Patriarchal Blessings the same day (August 11, 1857), from the same Patriarch (John Young). Henry Freeman Cook’s blessing is recorded in Book “C,” page 317, No 168; Sophronia’s is in book “C,” page 318, No. 169. Henry Freeman and his wife Sophronia did things like this together. The blessing is as follows: Blessing given by Zabedee Coltrin, Patriarch, upon the head of Henry Freeman Cook, son of William and Lucy Chatman (Chapman) Cook born January 12, 1815, in the town of Homer, Cortland Co, state of New York. (Parenthesis added by typist, Ronald S Cook, to correct the text.) Recorded in book B - Sarah P. Austin, Secretary - BISHOP OF THE CEDAR VALLEY WARD – June 11, 1876 (October 13, 1877) to April 14, 1882 The Cedar Valley members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were organized into a ward on April 3, 1853. Allen Weeks was sustained and served as the first bishop of the ward. On December 19, 1858, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained as 1st Counselor to Bishop Weeks. Henry served with Bishop Weeks as 1st counselor of the ward until Bishop Weeks resigned because of ill health. Alice Cook in her history of Cedar Fort, Gertrude C. Jackson’s history of Henry Freeman Cook and Henry Freeman Cook’s obituary printed in the Deseret News (See below), indicated that Henry Freeman Cook then became the bishop of the Cedar Valley ward on June 11, 1876. Margery J. Peterson in her book Our Roots Grow Deep - A History of Cedar Valley page 4-18 indicates that the date Henry Freeman Cook became bishop was October 13, 1877. What ever the date, Henry Freeman Cook was sustained and ordained to be the 2nd bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward. He served as bishop until his death on April 14,1882. Henry Freeman Cook was a kind, generous, quiet, industrious man, not given much to frivolity. A story is told of him by Annie Glines Hacking in her biographical sketch in which she tells of attending a dance in Cedar Fort. The band began playing a waltz, which the Bishop and other Church authorities frowned upon. Youth-like, the young ladies of the ward decided the Bishop and counselors were going to dance, and so converged on Bishop Cook and his counselors and pulled them out on the floor. Other young ladies kept them dancing for a considerable length of time. One of his sons, George (Dod for short), came into the dance hall and saw his father dancing the waltz. He exclaimed loudly, "Father, you are actually waltzing. I don't believe my eyes!" The Bishop was quite embarrassed, but we wonder if he didn't enjoy it a little. 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cedar Fort, Utah County, Utah, ED: 86, Page: 27B, Lines: 1-9, Dwelling: 245, Families: 254 & 255, Enumeration Date: 18 & 99 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Cook, Henry F M 65 Head Farmer NY MassMass Sophronia F 67 Wife Keeping House NY MassMass George M 30 Son StockmanIowa NY NY Cook, Wm M 69 Farmer NY MassMass Dayton, Chas M 25Coal BurnerUtah NY Sallie F 20 WifeKeeping House Utah England England 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS - Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho, ED: 9, Page: 114A, Lines: 1-4, Dwelling: 227, Family: 235, Enumeration Date: 28 & 29 Jun 1880 NAME***AGERELATIONOCCUPATION BIRTH FATHER MOTHER Julia Cook F 53 HeadKeeps House Canada CanadaCanada George H. Cook M20 SonHerdsman Utah NY Canada Malinda Cook F18 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada Ada Cook F15 DaughterAt HomeUtah NYCanada HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S 2ND WIFE LIVING IN IDAHO IN 1880 It is interesting to note that Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together that are still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. No reason for them being in Idaho has ever been given in any of the histories I have read about Henry Freeman Cook or his family. However, historically there could be several reasons. Federal authorities trying to prosecute men who were practicing polygamy could be one. Those practicing polygamy usually ended up having their different families live in different town in different areas. Another could be water. Cedar Fort was very limited on water. Dry years could have placed a strain on the area’s ability to support the growing population almost 100% dependent upon agricultural to live. As the Cook family grew and water supplied were limited, they could have had to seek other areas in which to grow and expand their flocks and herds. Many from the Cedar Fort area seemed to end up in the Cottonwood and Dingle area of Bear Lake County in Idaho. I think most of them went their because of water and increased farming and cattle, sheep and horse raising opportunities. We really don’t know yet why Julia and the children she and Henry Freeman had together who were still living at home are living in Cottonwood, Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1880. HENRY FREEMAN COOK DIED - OBITUARY Henry Freeman Cook passed away 14 April 1882 and is buried in Cedar Fort. A pioneer of merit, his obituary printed in the Deseret News read as follows: “At his residence in Cedar Fort, April 14, 1882, Bishop HENRY FREEMAN COOK Deceased was born Jan. 12, 1815, in Homer N.Y., and was baptized February 1843. Ordained a High Priest August 30, 1875, re-baptized August 14, 1875, and ordained Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward June 11, 1876. He was beloved and respected by all, filled the office of Bishop as a true servant of God and died in full faith of the Gospel” (Deseret News, 31:244). HENRY FREEMAN COOK’S TWO WIVES LIVED IN CEDAR FORT MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF THEIR DAYS Henry Freeman Cook was 22 years old when he married Sophoronia Strobridge and moved from Cortland, New York to Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 28 when he and his wife Sophronia were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 when he moved with his family to Nauvoo and 37 when they crossed to plains to Utah. He was 38 when he settled in Cedar Fort, 42 when he married his 2nd wife, Julia Rocker and was sealed to his 1st wife Sophronia, and 61 or 62 when he was called and sustained as Bishop of the Cedar Valley ward. He was 67 years 3 months and 2 days old when he died and was buried in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery in lot 07-05-01 as per the Orson McKinney plating system for the cemetery. Julia Ann (Bercier)Rocker Knapp Laughlin Cook, we think, lived most of the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died in Cedar Fort, January 22, 1891, 8 years 9 months and 8 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. Sophronia Strobridge Cook lived the remainder of her days in Cedar Fort. She died July 24, 1909, 22 years 3 months and 12 days after Henry Freeman Cook died. She is buried next to Henry Freeman Cook in the New Cedar Fort Cemetery. * * * * * * * HISTORICAL RESEARCH NOTES COOK ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK Henry Freeman Cook is the son of William and Lucy Chapman Cook. William Cook is the son of Abial and Susannah Cole Cook.* Abial Cook is the son of Job and Ann Bennett Cook. Job Cook is the son of Thomas and Lydia Taylor Cook. Thomas Cook is the son of John and Ruth Shaw Cook. John Cook is the son of John, alias Butcher and Mary Borden Cooke. John Cooke, alias Butcher, was the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, and his wife ? Mary ? . Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher, who stands at the head of our Cook Family in American, is the son of Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or Butcher. Thomas, his wife Mary and their three oldest children: Thomas, John and child, came to Taunton, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts in 1637 on the ship Speedewell. Thomas Cooke, alias Bowcher, Bocher, or butcher, the last generation of our Cook family in England, was born about 1570. He died in Netherbury, Dorset, England 20 May 1614 as Thomas Butcher. COLE ANCESTORS OF HENRY FREEMAN COOK *Susannah Cole is the daughter of William Cole and Elizabeth Luther. William Cole is the son of John Cole and Abigail Butts. John Cole is the son of John Cole and Susannah ? John Cole is the son of Hugh Cole and Mary Foxwell. Hugh Cole is the son of James Cole and Mary Lobel, James Cole, who stands at the head of the Cole family in America, is the son ? . He came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1633 with his wife Mary and two oldest sons, James and Hugh. THE NAME OF THE TOWN OF CEDAR FORT During the time Henry Freeman Cook lived in Cedar Fort the name of the town changed several times. In the Territorial Census of 1856 the town was named Stone City, Cedar County. On August 11, 1857 in a patriarchal blessing given by John Young to Jane Clark Hacking the town was named North Fort, Cedar Valley. In “The Tintic War and the death of George and Washington Carson” by Lynn R. Carson, Fairfield at this time (1855-57) was often referred to as South Fort, supporting the fact that Cedar Fort at that time was also often referred to as North Fort. In the 1860 Territorial Census the town was called Fort Cedar, Cedar County. And finally, in the Federal Census of 1870 the town is called Cedar Fort, Utah County, the name it continues to be known as to this day. A CORRECTION TO PUBLISHED INFORMATION All published information is not correct. The following, published by and in the LDS Collectors Library: Early LDS Membership Data, 1995 Infobases, Inc., and taken from Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830 - 1848 Volume XI compiled by Susan Easton Black and published in 1989 by Brigham Young University, demonstrates why it is important to audit our records. Henry Freeman Cook’s record in this book has two errors. First, his name is only listed under Henry Freeman. It is not listed under Henry Freeman Cook. His father is listed as William Cook and his children are all listed as Cooks. But, he is only listed as Henry Freeman. Second, under "Places of Residence" it states that in 1850 “Henry” lived in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. The information was taken from the 1850 Utah Federal Census. When I first read this it excited me. I wondered if I had found something that would help us learn more about our family. I immediately reviewed the 1850 Census of Utah for Great Salt Lake County. On page 169 (55 of the typed census) I found a Henry Cook, 25 from NY, a blacksmith, living with Oscar 5 Ill and Harriet Cook, 26 from NY, a schoolmistress. When I found this information I immediately knew something was wrong. I knew that our Henry Cook had a sister named Harriet and that they both were from New York. However, I knew that our Henry Freeman Cook was older than his sister Harriet and that on 18 Sep 1850 Harriet Cook Dolphaimar, 26, and her son Wm, age 1, were listed as living with Henry Freeman Cook and his family in Pottawattami, Iowa. From personal research I found a Harriett Elizabeth Cook born 7 Nov 1824 in Utica or Whitesborough, Ontario, NY. She had a brother named Henry (or Harvey?) Cook born 22 Jan 1827 in Utica, Oneida, New York. Their parents were Archibald Cook born 2 Apr 1792 in Duchess, New York, the Son of Archibald Campbell and Martha Cook, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mosher, daughter of Josiah Mosher and Rebecca Doolittle. I also learned from the record that Harriet Elizabeth Cook was the wife of Brigham Young. They were married in Nauvoo, Hncck IL, 2 Nov 1843. Reason tells me that this is the Harriet and Henry Cook found in the 1850 Federal Census of Great Salt Lake County in Utah. It was not our Henry Freeman Cook living with his sister Harriet Cook. And it doesn't surprise me that this Harriet is still going by the name of Cook. That was not uncommon at all during those times. It would have helped to protect her and Brigham Young from the Federal authorities and others who were trying to use polygamy to destroy the Church and its leaders. Had our Henry Freeman Cook been in Salt Lake with his sister Harriet he would also have had the rest of his family with him. There was no reason for him to come to Utah in 1850 with his sister and then hurry back so they could be with his family on 18 Sep 1850 to be counted in the Pottawattami County, Iowa Federal Census. Thi***tra crossing of the plains would have been something that would have been reported by somebody over the years. Based upon just what I have found, I do not believe the extra trip across the plains took place. I do not believe our Henry Freeman Cook was residing in Salt Lake in 1850. I do believe that along with Henry’s name being wrong in the above identified publication, identifying his “place of residence” in 1850 as Salt Lake City, Utah is also an error. THE WARREN SNOW COMPANY - THE 8TH COMPANY or THE GHOST COMPANY While researching for information concerning ancestors that crossed the plains before the railroad came to Utah, I found that very little is known about the Warren Snow company. In fact, in 1997 I was told that until just a few years ago there were questions about whether or not there was such a company. Once researchers in the LDS Church’s historical department determined there actually was such a company they began calling it the “8th Company,” because they figured that it must have been the 8th company to arrive in Salt Lake in 1852. However, because so little information has been found about his company many to this day refer to it as the “ghost company” (Ronald S. Cook).