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Laura Clark Cook

Laura As a little girl I didn't notice any difference about Aunt Mary and Mother. I would always go to Aunt Mary's house to tell Father goodnight. When I was there, if they were eating, I was asked to sit up to the table to eat. Then before evening my father said "We'll have prayers before you go", often times I was asked to offer the prayer. Always when I had a date, I would take my date over to meet my father. I remember going over there with Mar before we were married, father said, "Be good to her she's a jewel".

Keith Did the two families get together for activities often?

Laura yes, my father just wanted to have family reunions. He just thought that one way to keep the family together was to have reunions often. At one of these reunions- it happened to be father birthday- my mother had composed some verses about four or five stanza or verses. She read this about my father and what a great man he was. Father was a patriarch, and we all revered him. My mother sang songs; she would sing the song or "Gentle Annie", "They Miss Me at Home", and other songs. She always be sitting by Father and Aunt Mary. father was always proud of mothers voice.

Keith Do you remember any of the church leaders that came to visit your father?

Laura Our home was an open home, Aunt Mary's home especially, but also mother would have them to dinner. Although we used horses and drove buggies, and didn't have cars in those days, it didn't seem very far from Salt Lake to Farmington. The President of the Church and the Apostles and other church leaders would come and gather in my father home. We would come over. Aunt Mary always had hired help. My sisters grew into young ladies. Sarah was nearly always over there helping get these big dinners for the officers of the church. Annie and Sarah were almost like twins, they were so chummy and associated together so much. They were often at Aunt Mary's helping.

Keith What kind of organization did the family have, that your father set up for them?

Laura My father had a large farm, and it was his great wish to have all of his family stay there with him. He said "If you'll stay with me and work on the farm, I'll build you all a big home", which they did. They were willing to do this because they thought a great deal of father. He was a great financier, and they knew that he was. He'd had