ADDENDUM
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The Diary of Phineas Wolcott Cook, with the addition of his later life when he
evidently did not keep a diary would hardly be complete without referring to the
later life of his four wives. This short addendum is added to refer to their
last years and perliaps catch, their feelings, especially as they relate to the
plurality of wives as existed in the church at that time.
ANN ELIZA ROWLAND COOK was the mother of 16 children, five of whom died as
infants or small children. It is very apparent that she remained faithful and
true to Phineas from the date of their marriage, January 1, 1840 until the end
of her life. During these years Phineas built several log cabins and larger
homes for her and his family. Each time he was asked co move to other areas, his
obedience must have been her will as well, for he does not mention that she was
reluctant to go with him when he was called.
Ann Eliza kept a diary from 1894 to 1896 in which there is not one critical
opinion given, and she does not criticize a relative or neighbor in one detail.
On December 18, 1853 Phineas married Amanda Polly Savage, age 17, and Catharine
McCleve, age 17. From that time on, Ann Eliza lived in harmony with them. For
many years they lived in the same house. Later when the family moved to Bear
Lake, each family had a home. Ann Eliza chose Amanda Polly for her first
counselor in the Relief Society.
Many years later, September 13, 1878, Phineas married Johanna Christina Palsson
(Pahlson) who was 33 years old. Phineas at this time was 59. For five years,
until 1883 Johanna lived in the Swan Creek area. Ann Eliza's diary makes
frequent reference to Johanna. Alonzo L. Cook records that Ann Eliza was very
deeply hurt when the U.S. Government enforced the law and required her husband
to live only with one family. He chose his youngest family whom he moved to
Afton, Wyoming. Eliza did not record one word of sorrow, complaint, or criticism
in her diary. She also tells of their visits to her from Wyoming and indicates a
higH regard for Johanna.
Ann Eliza kept this interesting diary until April 30, 1896 ^ just a few days
before her death on May 17, 1896.
Annie, Hyrum's wife, wrote a postscript in her diary. It reads, "Grandma Cook
suffered very much from the day she left off writing and for that reason she did
not keep up this record until the last. Her children were not all here as Hyrum
was in New Zealand on a mission and Pheve in Mexico. The rest of her children
were here and a large number of her relatives and friends. She was buried by the
side of our dear babes for which I was very thankful. This ends the month of May
and with it the life of a noble mother and friend to all both young and old,
rich and poor She was always loving, kind and patient, and in her last days was
as cheerful as it was possible for one to be and she died and she had lived in
full hope of a glorious resurrection and worthy of a noble crown."
Excerpts taken from a larger writing in "The Autobiography of Melvin Cook,
Volume 1."
AMANDA POLLY SAVAGE COOK was born in upper Canada, Co. York, August 23, 1836.
She was the daughter of David Savage and Theodoci Finch Savage. Her mother died
when she was two months old. When she was five years old her father took her to
Knox Co., Illinois.
In 1842 her family moved to LaHarp, 25 miles from Nauvoo. After enduring all the
persecutions the Saints were called to pass through, the family went west in
Parley P. Pratt's Company and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 24, 1847.
Amanda at that time was eleven years old and walked most of the way. Her father
was called to help settle Lehi.
When she was a little past 16, she went to work for the family of Phineas W.
Cook in Salt Lake City. Persuant to this association, and through her great
respect and admiration for these people, she married Phineas W. Cook on December
23, 1854 as his second wife.
Grandfather Cook was called to settle Goshen, Utah. There Amanda's first child,
David Savage Cook, was born. For six years they lived in. different places. Then
in the fall of 1863 grandfather was called to cro to Bear Lake to help colonize
that place. Amanda was in a delicate condition and could not go. She stayed at
her father's home in Holden, Utah until the next spring. While at Holden, on
November 12, 1863, she gave birth to twin girls. When her babies were a month
old, the oldest one died. In the spring of 1864 she joined grandfather at Bear
Lake. They settled at Swan Creek, now called Lakota. She had a little son,
Joseph, born at Swan Creek in May of 1866, but he died when he was five months
old, so it left her with two children, her oldest son, David S. Cook and her
daughter, Mary R. Cook McCann.
In 1882 Amanda, and the first wife, each bought a home and small farm at Garden
City. Being liighly skilled she was kept busy taking care of the sick. When the
first Relief Soceity was organized at Garden City, Ann Eliza Rowland Cook chose
Amanda for her first counselor. They labored together in that capacity for
twenty years, with the same unity and love that had characterized their whole
life.
After Ann Eliza died, Amanda still held the position of first counselor for
about ten years. She also taught Sunday School and Primary for many years. When
she was no longer able to nurse, she sold her home and lived with her family
where she had many and pleasant retirement years. She was a great lover of
children and young folks and enjoyed her family to the utmost. She died in
Garden City on the 15th of July 1915, being ill only four days, lacking one
month and eight days of being seventy-nine years old.
By Dean Cook
CATHERINE MOCLEVE COOK was born September 17, 1836, in Belfast, Down County,
Ireland. She married Phineas Wolcott Cook December 18, 1853, in the Endowment
House, Salt Lake City.
Joseph Wolcott Cook was born to them on April 21, 1855.
"Catherine was divorced from Grandfather Cook in 1857, when her only child of
this marriage, was two years old. She married David Dudley Russell in 1862. Four
children were born to them: Hannah Jane, David Riley, Margaret, and Sarah
Catherine who died in infancy.
Catherine died December 19, 1869 at Payson, Utah where she was buried."
Quotes as reported by Helen McAllister.
Joseph Wolcott Cook settled in the area of Border, Wyoming, on a hay ranch. He
ran cattle on something like 2,000 acres of land. Carl Cook and his brother
Emerson, worked for him first in haying and in 1900 built a big barn for him. Of
him, Carl in his diary reports, "J. W. or "Wolk" as we commonly spoke of him,
was a real brother to me and my brothers. He was a kind hearted man with good
"Common Sense" judgement and wide experience....He was devoted to the Church,
had filled two regular missions, and was always a leader and valiant supporter
of any public cause or improvement. His family also have been and are kind,
friendly and devoted to the welfare and progress of their communities and the
Church."
JOHANNA CHRISTINA. POULSON COOK cx>ntijiued to live in Afton, Wyoming. She saw
her family grow to maturity. After Idalia was married to Lesley Covey, and they
had moved to Salt Lake, Johanna would spend the winters in Salt Lake with them,
returning to the beautiful Star Valley in the sunnier time. Later on, she
remained with Idalia all the time.
She passed away on February 13, 1929, in Salt Lake City. The Covey's were living
at 919 East 3rd South at this time. She was taken to Afton where the funeral was
held and she was buried by Phineas in the Afton City Cemetery.
By Eva Covey Madsen