Item Detail
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17447
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3
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0
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English
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The Diary of Phineas Wolcott Cook
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The Life and History of Phineas Wolcott Cook
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Brigham City, Utah
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Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization
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September 1, 1856 to March 20, 1857. Cook lives with his three wives, mother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law, plus children. He complains about Catherine's behavior and the burden her mother and sisters place on him. One of the sisters, Margette [Margaret], proposes marriage to Cook, and he accepts. Catherine's jealousy increases, and she suffers a miscarriage and several seizures. Cook believes she is not so ill, causing a fight. Now believing her possessed, he ties her to the bed. He decides to perform an exorcism by baptizing her seven times. He ties her to a chair and makes several attempts before giving up. Later, he writes he has gained the victory through prayer and fasting, although Catherine is still "disobedient." Cook travels to Iron County where he collects debts. He returns home to discover a boarder has wooed away Margette. The two are married and Cook orders them out of the house. Catherine's brother-in-law is brought into the house to chastise her. He also promises Cook that he will move out Catherine's mother and remaining sister. Cook is able to gain a confession from Catherine for lying, and he conditions forgiveness upon her confessing to the neighbors and signing a written statement. He goes to Salt Lake City, where he mills his wheat and pays his debts. He also asks forgiveness for arguing with Jedediah Grant, writing that the people are in a state of "Reformation" and sacrifice will now be necessary for sin. As Grant is dead, Cook is absolved by Brigham Young. Cook chronicles his infant daughter's death and an ill-fated attempt to marry the already-married Margette off. He removes Margette from the house, and she proposes again while going out the door. In the final entries, Cook is preparing his fields, hiring out oxen, and enjoying his rebaptism.