Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization

10/13/2026

[1882] It was an agonizing decision, but many men realized in order to obey God’s directive to keep the law of the land they would have to leave some of the wives they had legally married. It was especially hard when others in the church claimed men should stay with their wives, maintaining if the church changed its policy, it would be a sign of disobedience and apostasy. After all, they said, plural marriage was an eternal principle.

10/07/2026

Words based on poetry by Maud Osmond Cook, music arranged by Becca Groberg.

Some of you are descendants of Phineas' grandson, Alonzo Laker "A.L." Cook who was married to Maude Osmond Cook. Maude was a poetess and published many of her poems. Becca Groberg, a Phineas and A.L. Cook descendant, has set some of Maude's poems to music with the help of AI.

Let us know if you enjoy this rendition and we can share more of her poems-turned-to-songs with you.

Send a message to learn more

09/30/2026

On Saturday, November 7th at 10:00am MST over Zoom will be a meeting of the Phineas Wolcott Cook Book Club! We will be discussing pages 107-200. 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://docs.google.com/document/d/1saA5Da3s9fQLJltozV3JBgn-gZONVWEnntXj2X1Fe2g/edit

Or you can purchase a hardcover version of the book at:
https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Ann-Eliza-1894-1896/dp/B0DQ14R26Z/ref=sr_1_1

09/25/2026

Johanna watched over her little family. Her third son Kib Phineas was born July 4, 1882 at Swan Creek. When Kib was born Hilma was 11, Elvira was 9, Carl was 2½ and Moses 1½. Johanna really didn’t have time for anything else.

09/17/2026

Phineas wrote several letters. In 1880 he explained his reasoning in writing to the President: “I will state my reasons why I have written the foregoing letters to President Hayes President of the United States. Being strongly impressed by the spirit even so sleep was a stranger to my eyes for some time and with an assurance that it should stop the persecution for a season, at least which has been done. For one year the Saints have had rest from the afflictions, and if those letters have been the means of touching his heart may God be thanked; for all the hours of dictating them belongs to him as well as for all good done on earth and in Heaven.”

09/15/2026

After January 6, 1879 when the Supreme Court declared the practice of polygamy could be stopped by government intervention, the appetite for stronger legislation was insatiable. Immediately legislators went to work to craft a more powerful bill, and polygamists began to see an end to their peace and security. The presidential election in 1880 was peppered with references to the Utah question.

09/11/2026

Words based on poetry by Maud Osmond Cook, music arranged by Becca Groberg.

Some of you are descendants of Phineas' grandson, Alonzo Laker "A.L." Cook who was married to Maude Osmond Cook. Maude was a poetess and published many of her poems. Becca Groberg, a Phineas and A.L. Cook descendant, has set some of Maude's poems to music with the help of AI.

Let us know if you enjoy this rendition and we can share more of her poems-turned-to-songs with you.

09/01/2026

On Saturday, September 5th at 10:00am MST over Zoom will be a meeting of the Phineas Wolcott Cook Book Club! We will be discussing the Journal of Ann Eliza, pages 1-106 or through year 1894. 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: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1saA5Da3s9fQLJltozV3JBgn-gZONVWEnntXj2X1Fe2g/edit

Or you can purchase a hardcover version of the book at:
https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Ann-Eliza-1894-1896/dp/B0DQ14R26Z/ref=sr_1_1

08/27/2026

In 1880 he wrote a letter to the Detroit Post and Tribune, explaining how polygamy protects women and children who would otherwise be neglected and abused. First, he asked, “I should like to know why the citizens of the United States desire to pass laws to prohibit polygamy while they keep so many prostitutes and abandoned women in Washington and in all the great cities of the nation. Why not let all the women marry and be honorable? Did you even (hear) of a nation [which] persecuted its own subjects [and] stood long afterward? Or can a nation or family that is divided against itself abide long?”

08/25/2026

Ann Eliza was Relief Society President for fifteen years in Garden City, doing her best to serve until the very day she died. After the ward had matured somewhat and Amanda was her counselor, she wrote a daily journal beginning in 1894, and described Relief Society in those early days.

[The Cook Family Organization published the Journal of Ann Eliza Howland Cook and can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Ann-Eliza-1894-1896/dp/B0DQ14R26Z.]