Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization

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Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization

Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization
Descendants of Phineas Wolcott Cook (1819-1900)
Family: it's where we've been and where we are going

12/12/2025

Gift a Cook family member some family history this holiday season! All books sold at cost. Order through Amazon.com to have them delivered right to your door!

Available in print or ebook:

Phineas Wolcott Cook: A Legacy of Faith ($51.18/$2.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Phineas-Wolcott-Cook-Legacy-Faith/dp/B09YT2HFYX/ref=sr_1_3

"My Only Desire Is To Do Right:" Phineas Wolcott Cook and the Founding of Goshen, Utah ($34.08/$2.99)
https://www.amazon.com/My-Only-Desire-Do-Right/dp/B0D4M9SSQ1/ref=sr_1_1

Henry Cooke: Proprietor of Salem ($6.32/$1.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Henry-Cooke-Proprietor-Bryson-Cook/dp/B0BVD2SF7Z/ref=sr_1_1

Homestead Heroes: Battling the Bear (children's book) ($8.40/$1.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Homestead-Heroes-Battling-Phineas-Adventure/dp/B0D9QMD3TB/ref=sr_1_1

Captain Daniel Cook Jr.: Connecticut Minuteman, Militiaman and Militia Captain ($9.99/$2.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Daniel-Cook-Jr-Connecticut/dp/B0FJFV2ZF1/ref=sr_1_1

The Journal of Ann Eliza Howland Cook, 1894-1896 ($16.18/$2.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Ann-Eliza-1894-1896/dp/B0DQ14R26Z/ref=sr_1_1

Annie Bryceson: A London Girl's Leap of Faith (childrens book -- about Alonzo Howland Cook's wife's mother) ($8.40/$2.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Annie-Bryceson-London-Girls-Faith/dp/B0FXTQL67L/ref=sr_1_1

12/11/2025

On April 22, 1857, Phineas W. Cook raised a flag and dedicated the land for the town of Goshen, named for his birthplace in Goshen, Connecticut. Phineas W. Cook Goshen Journal, April 22, 1857, page 3 (Image 3-1).

12/04/2025

On Saturday December 6th at 9:00am MST over zoom will be a meeting of the Phineas Wolcott Cook Book Club! We will be discussing pages 283-300. The zoom link will be the same one from previous meetings, if you would like the link, please directly message the social media page.

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

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

12/02/2025

Tuesday April 14th [1857]: The Bishop being anxious to hear the results of my mission came over early next morning to see me. I told him what I had seen but I did not feel willing to go there without the consent of President Young. If the Bishop was willing to write a letter of recommendation I would go and take it to him and bring back the answer, which he accordingly did. It was in substance as follows:

Payson, April 14, 1857

President Young,

Sir

Brother Cook has been out prospecting and he has found a place near the mouth of Salt Creek sufficient for a settlement as large as Payson or larger and there are a number of Brethren here that have no land. As we have as much land under cultivation as we have water to irrigate, I would be glad if a settlement could be made there if you in your wisdom think [it possible].

President Chas B. Hancock.

Brother Jack Hardy, Clerk.

Tuesday April 14th noon: Started for Salt Lake. I arrived the 16th. [I presented] the letter, and President Young handed it to Squire [Daniel H.] Wells who read it aloud. President Young remarked that he thought it would be very prudent providing we could get a company sufficient to make ourselves safe.

I answered I thought I could get a hundred men if it was necessary. Brother Wells said the land there is all chartered for herd grounds.

President Young replied he knew it was, but no charter should be granted to interfere with the rights of settlers. I asked President Young if he would be so good as to answer in writing to Bishop Hancock, which he did as follows:

President’s Office,

G.S.L. City.

April 16th 1857

Bishop Hancock, Payson.

I have considered that Phineas W. Cook go to the mouth of Salt Creek as stated in your letter and that he take about 25 men with him.

Yours truly.

Brigham Young

This letter was read to me, from which I took for granted it was my privilege to raise the men and go ahead. Accordingly I stopped on my way home at nearly all the settlements and asked the Bishops to inquire among the people to see if there were any that wanted land and would volunteer to go with me. I found some few and ex- pected the Bishops would feel interested to inquire after those [who] wanted land; but afterwards learned by individuals living in those settlements they had heard no such inquiry made. I arrived home on the 19th and gave the letter to the Bishop. I asked him to read it to the people. He answered he did not know when, but he would sometime.

11/27/2025

Wednesday April 8th [1857]: I took my team and hired a man and plow and other tools. I went to Spanish Fork to put in my wheat and after working some three or four days I was informed that the title to my land was not good and I could not have it.

I resolved to go to Bishop Hancock and see if I could get the privilege of going over the mountain in company with some others which he might direct to make some farms where I supposed no one had taken any claims, supposing, as I told him, he would still be our Bishop. Accordingly on the 13th I went to see him and he told me to go and see what I could find. He said there was a good place on the east side of the lake [where] the springs could be taken out and land enough for ten or twelve of the brethren to make farms. I told him I thought he was mistaken for I thought it was on the other side, but I would take a level along with me and see if [we could get] water onto it.

11/24/2025

[1857] I also found good soil on the creek bottoms which led me to think there must be good farming country below. After leaving this canyon [now known as Goshen Canyon] I came where the Indians had camped and had planted some corn and wheat, and upon examining the soil I pronounced it good. I then left the creek and turned to the left. I proceeded to the bench of high land and looked over the country below which more and more convinced me a good location existed there. It being late, I continued my course homeward, and arrived about 9 o’clock p.m. Finding my horses had been located by Wilson and were safe in the corral, I informed him if he had found the horses I had found a first rate place for farming, but I should not probably need it, as I have a farm of twenty acres at Spanish Fork.

11/21/2025

On Saturday December 6th at 10:00am MST over zoom will be a meeting of the Phineas Wolcott Cook Book Club! We will be discussing pages 283-300. The zoom link will be the same one from previous meetings, if you would like the link, please directly message the social media page.

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

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

11/18/2025

Phineas W. Cook Goshen Journal, first surviving page, written on the only paper at his disposal at the time, in this instance, a form for Indian depredations (Church History Library General minutes, Goshen Ward, Santaquin-Tintic Stake, page 1-1).

11/13/2025

March 16th [1857]: The people assembled at the water for Baptism. Mosiah came over to make it right about the course he took to get Margaret but justified himself and made the matter worse by accusing Amanda of lying. She has not yet [come] home from her father’s in Iron County. The people were called upon to covenant to sustain all the authorities over them, and never to speak against the order of celestial marriage, and to keep the commandments of God. It was a unanimous vote. The Bishop and his council were baptized first and the presidents of Seventies next, of which I was one. I then baptized Ann Eliza, Catherine, Harriet, Augusta, and about a dozen others. We had confirmation meeting in the afternoon.

11/06/2025

[1857] The Bishop came to me and wanted to know if I was willing to work for him on the store house. I told him if it was his counsel for me to do so I was willing. But if not, it had been my intention to go to farming for a living. He said it was not [his counsel]. I could do just as I pleased. Beginning in September of 1856 a Reformation movement went through the church settlements, inspired by church leaders and bishops. John Young came here and called a meeting and told the people they had been hammered long enough [by the reformation movement] and they had come to extend the hand of mercy and said that all hands must go and be baptized.

11/05/2025

February 21st [1857]: This morning [Sister McCleve] went to the Bishop herself and asked for a home, but he did nothing for her, and Mosiah said he would keep her a few days until she could do better. I had provided for her over four months. My provisions were mostly gone and I had no means to buy [more] with but a small job here and there, and I could not depend upon it for so many. She took her things away to Mosiah Hancock’s but not until she had made propositions to me. But I told her I could not take any more wives at present. So she left in a rage and no thanks, claiming she had paid her way. The Bishop had failed to furnish me with employment as he had agreed to do, and I knew no other way but to get me a farm to raise my provisions. I rented five acres of corn ground of George Patten and agreed to give him one forth in the shock.

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Layton, UT
84041

Website

http://www.cookfamily.org/

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