William S and Christine Bowman Cook

A Brief History of Christine Bowman

and William Simpson Cook

 




Christine Bowman, youngest daughter of Marg­aret Snaddon and William Bowman, was born July 13, 1837, in Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire Scotland. Christine had four brothers and four sisters:

Margaret Bowman born April 5, 1822

John Bowman born June 15, 1824

Janet Bowman (died in infancy) born Oct 24, 1825

Archibald Bowman born April 6, 1827

Janet Bowman born July 24, 1829

George Bowman born June 20, 1831

Elizabeth Bowman born March 13, 1835

Christine Bowman born July 13, 1837

William Bowman born 1841

Christine's family were hard-working, self-sustaining people. Her father and brothers worked in the coal mines and her sisters, when thirteen years of age, were weavers in the cotton and linen factories. Christine's health did not permit her to work in a factory.

The Bowman family belonged to the State religion, the Presbyterian Church. They were a very religious and devout family. Each night, the parents called their children together to sing psalms, read a chapter from the Bible, and to have their family prayer.

Margaret Bowman, Christine's mother, had great faith. She had been ill for several years with an incurable disease of the liver. Her liver had grown to her side. The doctors told her that they had never known of a person with this disease to live more than seven years. Most patients lived for less than five.

Christine's mother, while lying helpless in her bed, constantly read her Bible. She read and re­read in the New Testament, accounts of healings through faith and prayer. She also read the scrip­tures which told that the gospel of Jesus Christ would again be restored to earth in the latter days. She believed what she read.

When the Mormon Elders visited her home and taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ, she knew that it was the true gospel again restored. She believed that if she was baptized she would be healed.

Christine's father was more cautious. He wanted more time to study, test and prove this religion. Besides, it was winter and his wife was bedfast and very ill so he opposed her baptism. Her faith was so strong and her assurance so great that finally all his arguments were overcome and he consented to her baptism.

The Mormon Elders carried Margaret Bowman to the water's edge. The ice was broken and she was baptized. As she was lowered into the water she felt something loosen in her side and after the Elders confirmed her a member of the church, she walked home.

She had been bedfast for weeks, but the following day she did the family washing and was able to do her own housework. Great was her faith and her healing! Her life was prolonged twenty-five years.

All the family joined the church in Scotland. All later came to America with the exception of Chris­tine's father. He died February 4, 1850, two years before his wife and children sailed for America.

Margaret Bowman's great desire since baptism was to take her family to Zion. They couldn't afford to all leave together. The older boys were sent on ahead and Margaret and her younger children re­mained in Scotland until her sons could earn enough money in the coal mines in New Orleans.

In the fall of 1852, enough money was sent to Margaret but there was no company of Saints leaving Scotland until the following spring. Margaret Bow­man was very anxious to join the members of her family in America.

Margaret was troubled so she and her family fasted and prayed.

In their sacrament meeting one of the Elders spoke in tongues. He advised her and her children to set sail for America. He promised them a safe journey to Zion.

They left Liverpool September 20, 1852. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean a great storm arose. It was so great that all feared that the ship would sink and all would be drowned. But in the midst of the storm Christine said, "We can't drown. We have been promised that we shall reach Zion, and we shall." Turning to Christine her mother said, "Lassie, thy faith is greater than all of ours. Of course we will get to Zion."

They arrived in New Orleans November 10, 1852, and joined the other members of their family. They came to Great Salt Lake Valley with Captain Wilke's Company.

Margaret Bowman drove an oxen team across the plains. Christine at the age of fifteen walked all the way.

Upon arriving in Great Salt Lake City, Margaret Bowman was set apart as a nurse and was promised that if she was humble and trusted in the Lord that she would never lose a patient. Her success was marvelous.

Margaret Bowman lived to the age of 74 years. She spent her later years in Centerville. She was buried in 1896 in the Centerville cemetery.

Christine Bowman married William Simpson Cook of Salt Lake City July 23, 1854. Christine was 17 years of age and William was 27. They were married by President Brigham Young. Eight children were born to them:

David Cook — 11 April 1856

Margaret Cook (Wilson) — 7 February 1858

Janet Cook (Allen) — 28 March 1860 (twin)

Christine Cook — 28 March 1860 (twin)

Elizabeth Cook (Walker) — 27 August 1863

Christine Cook (Walker) — 29 January 1866

William Cook — 2 September 1869

Agnes Cook (Coles) — 7 November 1875

They lived in Salt Lake City until 1864 when they moved to South Weber. In 1881 they moved to Syra­cuse (known as South Hooper) where they lived the remainder of their lives.

Together William and Christine endured the hard times of the early days in Utah without a murmur. They loved each other and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They were very industrious and economical. Christine washed, dyed, carded, spun her own wool, wove it into cloth, dyed it and made by hand all the clothes for herself, her husband and children. Thorns were used for needles. She made her own dyes from clays and weeds. Christine also braided straw and made all the hats for the family. She made their shoes from cloth and buckskin; knit their stockings from wool; made their soap, candles and starch. Out of necessity she made practically every­thing they had. Christine also found time to knit and crochet beautiful lace.

At times she and her family went hungry. For days their only food consisted of sego roots, dande­lion greens, and bran bread. Nothing was ever wasted. They knew what it was to want.

Christine Cook was an ardent lover of flowers and music. Wherever she lived her home was sur­rounded with beautiful flowers. She encouraged singing and other forms of music in her home. When she was a little girl in Scotland, she was lost several times while following the Bagpipe band. She wanted to be near the music she loved.

Christine was always a frail delicate woman but she was never too tired nor the night too dark or cold for her to render aid and assistance to the sick and needy.

To her grandchildren she was a second mother, a sweet, kind, gentle, thoughtful person. Cookies, sandwiches, apples, etc., were always ready for them when they called in on their way home from school. Children affectionately called her Grandma Cook.

She had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She so loved the Heavenly Father that His will became the law which governed her whole life. Through all her trials she always said, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Christine was an ardent member of and worker in the church.

The first Relief Society in Syracuse was organized and held in Christine's home. She served as first counselor in the Syracuse Relief Society for seven­teen years.

She was a humble, faithful spirit, feeling ever weak and unworthy and relying entirely upon the Lord.

Her influence, though now only through memories, helps us to live better lives.

Christine Bowman Cook died April 25, 1915, at the age of 76, just four weeks to the day after her husband died. Her great wish was to live until he passed on and then join him immediately. This de­sire was granted. She was buried in the Kaysville Cemetery by her husband's side.
William Simpson Cook, second son of David Cook and Margaret Simpson Cook was born February 2, 1827, in Kingcarden, Perthshire, Scotland.

William had two brothers:

James S. Cook — born July 11, 1825

David Simpson Cook — born January 12, 1829.

The family were honest, peace loving, self- sustaining people. They owned their home. He, his father and brother worked in the coal mines in Perthshire. The family belonged to the Presbyterian Church.

When William was three years old his mother died of cancer of the breast at the age of 27 years. Two years later they moved to Dunfermline and his father married Catherine Hunter.

William lived with his father and step-mother until his father died May 25, 1844 at the age of 43 years. Then he moved to Lochgelly to live with his aunt and his younger brother David.

In Lochgelly they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. David joined the church and at 18 years of age was set apart as a traveling Elder to preach the gospel to the people of Scotland. Through David's efforts many people joined the church, including his brother, William Cook. David and William were very anxious to join the Saints in Utah. They left Scotland for Liverpool, England, February 10, 1850, February 17, 1850, William was baptized by his brother David and the same day was confirmed by the President of the Liverpool branch.

March 2, 1850, they set sail for America on the ship Hartley. David was placed in charge of the com­pany of Saints. Two months later, May 10, 1850, they landed in New Orleans. May 14, they left for St Louis. They arrived May 16, 1850.

For eleven months they worked in the coal mines to earn money to travel farther. April 18,1851 they left with a company of Saints for Utah.

They encountered many hardships en route. Due to rains and high water they had to detour for 160 miles. During this time they lost their three horses. They searched for them for three days but had to continue on without them September 8, 1851 they arrived in Great Salt Lake City. [For] Four years, 1852- 1855, William worked in the stone quarry, in Cotton­wood Canyon cutting blocks of granite and pulling them, with ox teams, to the temple site to be used in building the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. He also made adobes at the adobe plant located in the Sixth Ward in Salt Lake City.

In 1853, William was ordained a Priest by Alfred Corden. In 1854 he was ordained an Elder under the hands of Heber C. Kimball. The same day he received his endowments.

July 23, 1854, William was married to Christine Bowman by President Brigham Young. William was 27 years of age and Christine was 17. They lived in Salt Lake City. William and Christine had two sons and six daughters.

September 28, 1857, William was sent by Brigham Young to Echo Canyon with a company of Saints to keep back Johnson's Army. They remained there for sixty-five days.

William S. Cook was a close friend of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant.

In 1864, he and his family moved to South Weber. In 1881 they moved to South Hooper, later known as Syracuse. June 19, 1899 William was ordained a Patriarch of Davis Stake,

William S. Cook was a true Latter-day Saint. He had implicit faith in his Heavenly Father. His Heavenly Father loved and blessed him.

William enjoyed good health all his life. He lived until he was 88 years of age. His dark hair was almost free of gray when he died.

He left this earth life March 28, 1915, honored and loved by all. He was buried in the Kaysville cemetery March 31, 1915 (just one month before his wife's burial).