Agnes Christine Cook-Life Story

Life Story

Agnes Christine Cook

1905-1975

     I, Agnes Christine Cook was born 17 August 1905, at Labelle, Jefferson, Idaho. I was the daughter of James Edward Cook and Christina Magdalena Buchmiller. 

James Edward and Christina Magdalen Cook

I was blessed 15 November 1905 by my Grandfather, James Nathaniel Cook. 

James Nathaniel Cook

I was baptized 2 August 1914 by Bertie Wadsworth and confirmed 2 August 1914 by Joseph C. Arave. 

     My schooling commenced at Taylorville, Bingham, Idaho, in a little one room school known as the Washington School.  I was the oldest of my family.  My father was the only boy in a family of 7; four girls older and two younger than him.  Being his first child, I was rather favored by my Grandfather and Grandmother Cook.  They also lived across the road from us until I was about six years old.  So I spent much of my time with them.

     We moved to Taylorville in the spring of 1911, away from them for the first time in my life.  Grandfather died 30 September 1911 at Labelle.  Grandmother moved to Taylorville after his death as several of her children were there and again I spent much of my time with her.  I stayed with her and went to school my first year in 1912.  I went to the Taylor school the next year. 

     The following spring we moved to our dry farm on the foot hill just a short distance from where father had been renting an irrigated farm.  That year we had three miles to go to school, which we walked when weather permitted.  During the coldest weather the neighbors got together and took turns taking the children to school.  There were times when they couldn’t get thru the roads with a sleigh until they would break the roads open.  They used to do this by driving loose horses thru until the snow was packed enough to get the sleighs over.  So we missed a lot of school during bad weather.  The rest of the time we walked. 

     In the summer I worked out in the field most of the time with my father.  Being the oldest in the family, I worked with him on the farm much of the time until I was about fifteen.  Being the oldest in the family and not much cash, I was unable to attend much school during the farming season.  I went thru the eighth grade without being able to go to school either the first or last days of the school year.  We didn’t have school buses to take us to school.  I froze my feet and hands several times while going to school.

     While on the dry farm, I tipped over the plow, stood a two section harrow on its end and went completely under the land leveler with getting hurt.  In the summer of 1915, our house burned.  We saved only a small part of the furniture from downstairs.  Father sold the dry farm and we moved to Shelley the spring I was in the fourth grade.  I went to school in Shelley one year.  We then moved to Woodville, where I finished my schooling.

     The year I was in eighth grade I had pneumonia during the winter.  I graduated the first of May 1919.  About a week later I had typhoid fever.  When school started in September, I wasn’t able to go to high school.  I started but had to quit on account of my health. 

     While in Woodvilled, I worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Sunday School and about two years as assistant secretary and secretary of the Primary.  Then from Woodville the family moved to Ucon for one year and then to Coltman.  While in Coltman I worked as secretary of the Primary for about six years.  I did house work for several different people during that time but spent most of my time with the Leslie Jephson family. 

     While in Coltman I worked as a teacher in the Sunday School.  There I met and later married Levi Wilford Levin in the Logan Temple on the 20^th of June 1928. 

After we were married, we lived in Ucon for a short time but never left the Coltman Ward.  On 27 May 1928, I was released as secretary of the Primary and sustained as a counselor to Sister Lola Hudman in the Primary.

     We moved to Coltman in the early spring of 1929 and on 25 May 1929, my son Boyd Wilford was born in the LDS Hospital. 

     We decided to try our luck at farming, so we moved to Grant, Jefferson, Idaho, in the spring of 1930.  We farmed two summers there.  I worked one year as the Bluebird teacher in Primary and a while on the Genealogy committee. 

     On 25 January 1932, my daughter, Carol was born at Ririe, Jefferson, Idaho. 

Carol and Grandpa Cook (James Edward)

We moved back to Coltman in April 1932.  I worked as counselor in the Primay again and as Bee Keeper for seven years.  I was released as counselor in the Primary and as Bee Keeper and sustained as a counselor in the YWMIA soon after.  Both children commenced school at Coltman.   Boyd completed eighth grade there.  In 1942 I was released as counselor in the YWMIA and sustained as President. 

     In the spring of 1943, we bought our home and moved to Roberts, Jefferson, Idaho.  In August 1943, I was sustained as President of the Roberts Primary and served in that capacity a little over three years.  Then I was sustained as Zion’s Boys and Girls, first year group teacher on the Rigby Stake Board 15 September 1946, under President June Tolley. I also served under President Zelpha Lufkin and Dora Poole.  I was released 21 February 1954.  During this time the Zion’s Boys and Girls 1^st year was changed to Co-Pilots.  In 1947, I was sustained as secretary of the Roberts Relief Society, also taught Zion’s Boys and Girls 1^st year in the Roberts Ward.

     I was released as secretary of the Relief Society 5 July 1953 and sustained as first counselor.  I was released from Relief Society 8 January 1956.  In February I was sustained as Trekker teacher in the Roberts Ward also as aide in Genealogy Committee in June or July of 1956.  I was sustained a Trekker Leader in Rigby Stake. 

     Since moving to Roberts, both of my children have completed high school.  I worked in the grocery store for Rollo Dutson for three and a half years.  Carol was married to Arthur Croft Ossmen by President George Christensen in Rigby, Idaho on 24 November 1950.  On 18 February 1954 our first granddaughter, Leslie Kay Ossmen was born.  On 12 December 1955, our second granddaughter, Linda Carol Ossmen was born.  Then on 4 August 1957, our first grandson was born.  We enjoy our family and grandchildren very much.  We are now looking forward to Christmas 1957 with our family. 

     My Aunt Agnes Christine Cook Levin died 24 October 1975 in Rexburg, Madison, Idaho and was buried 27 October 1975 in the Grant Central Cemetery in Grant, Jefferson, Idaho.  She was a lovely lady and is still much missed by all who knew and loved here.