Christina Magdalena Buchmiller - Part Two

     The Cooks made their first home in LaBelle, a farming community in Jefferson County, Idaho.  Ed farmed with his father.  Four children were born while they lived here: Agnes Christine, 17 August 1905;  Edna Jane, 12 March 1907; Carl James, 16 Jan. 1909, and Cleo Earl, 17 Jan. 1911.  A small house in the foothills near the community of Taylorville or Taylor in Bonneville County was their next move, and Ed took up dry farming. In his spare time he went to the local mountains, cut a set of house logs, and had them sawed lengthwise on two sides.  He then cut larger logs and had them sawed into lumber.  With the lumber he built a four-room house, two rooms down and two up.  He also built a granary and sheds for the livestock.

Carl, Cleo, Grandma , Verla, Grandpa, Leora
Front: Melba and Reva Cook

            One Sunday during meeting the bishop asked for the hands of all who would come the next night to organize a “Mutual” (young people’s organization).  Lena and her husband volunteered.  The next evening a horse was hitched to the buggy and they drove the 2 ½ miles to the chapel.  When they arrived they looked back in the direction of their home.  The house was on fire!  They raced back as fast as they could with a prayer in their hearts that their children had escaped.  Fortunately Agnes, who was about seven, had discovered the fire and managed to get the other three children out safely.  A man who was not of their faith was in the large crowd that gathered.  The next day he went out to the Cook’s on behalf and collected $37 for them.  Ed and Lena were thankful that their children were all right, but the loss of the house was a devastating blow.  The family moved into the granary for the rest of the winter.  While in Taylorville two more girls were born – Vendetta, 10 May 1913; and Verla May, 14 March 1915.

            During this time Lena felt she would like to have a Patriarchal Blessing.  It was given to her by Patriarch Elijah Norman Freeman on 9 May 1915, and recorded in Book A, page 180, No. 101.

            Shelley was their next home for a short time.  Vergil Nelson was born here 1 May 1917.  They moved next to the farming community of Woodville in Bingham County, a short distance south of Shelley.  Two more girls were born – Lila Devera 13 June 1919, and Leora, 2 May 1921.  Bad luck in the form of an early frost took the potato crop one year, and a hailstorm came just as the grain was to be cut the next year.

            Their next move was to Ucon.  Reva was born while the Cooks were in Ucon on 29 June 1923.  Melba was born two years later at Coltman in Bonneville County on 4 Sept. 1925.  Farming was Ed’s main occupation but he also did some selling door-to-door in the winter months and at other times.  Grant in Jefferson County was their next home.  Theola was born here 27 May 1928.  Agnes, their oldest daughter, was married in September following the birth of Theola.  Edna, their second daughter, was married in 1927.

            While the family was living in Grant, Lena was taken to the hospital in Idaho Falls to have her 13^th  child.  However, sadness filled their hearts as the baby son who cam 10 September 1930 was stillborn.  Grant was their home for a short time and the next move was to Roberts, also in Jefferson County.  Roberts was their home for many years.

            Lena was active in the Church.  She served as Relief Society president, work director, visiting teacher and served with her husband as a stake missionary.  She supported Ed while he served a mission for the LDS Church.  Ed was called to the California mission on 28 Dec. 1938, five children were still at home.  Their oldest son, Carl, stayed home to help keep food on the table and earn money to send to his father.  On 18 Feb. 1939, more sadness came to the family as Vergil, the youngest son died.  He was 21.  Ed came home from his mission to lend his support to the grieving family, and to say goodbye to his son.  He returned to the mission field in December.  When Ed completed his mission and returned home, he and Lena were called on stake missions in the Rigby Stake.  They served 14 months.  Theola, their youngest daughter, served a 20-month mission to the West Central States.

Ed and Lena holding two grandbabies

            Grant again became the Cooks’ home until 1959 when their health began to fail.  They decided to move closer to a son or daughter who could care for them, should it become necessary.  They purchased a trailer home and parked it near the farm of their daughter, Verla and her husband Milburn Hix in Coltman.

            Lena’s husband of 56 years died of heart trouble and a stroke 20 Oct. 1960.  Shortly after Ed’s death, the trailer home was moved to Roberts near the home of her oldest daughter, Agnes and her husband.  Diabetes was taking its toll on Lena.  Diminished eyesight because of the disease was only one of her problems.  She died quietly in the early morning hours 23 Dec. 1964 at the age of 79.  Lena was buried in the Grant Central Cemetery by the side of her husband 26 Dec. 1964.

     Even though in her later years, Lena’s memory and eyesight sometimes failed her, she was never heard to complain.  Throughout her life, her husband and children came first.  She loved children dearly and always found great happiness in her love for children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She has always had tremendous faith in prayer and taught her children these same values.  She raised a large family and was always a shining example to them.  I’m sure her family will always have memories of miracles which she brought about through her faith and prayers. 

     One of my fondest memories of Grandma Cook is going to their home in Grant and seeing her homemade noodles draped over the back of her kitchen chairs.  She was a wonderful cook and I always liked going to their home on Sundays.  I suppose that she spoke German but I honestly do not know.  I just know she was a wonderful Grandmother and I look forward to seeing her in the eternities.