This is a trascribed letter written by Mary Frances Scott, wife of Amos Cook, to her daughters regarding the ancestry of their father, his birthplace and date, and the circumstances of his migration from his father's home to Oregon. It was part of the information I received in a large packet of information about Amos Scott. Posted FYI. Transcription of a letter from Mary Frances Scott Cook Portland, Ore., Sept. 8, 1907 For my dear daughters, It has been on my mind for sometime that you all will appreciate finding some written statement of your father’s parentage, his birth place, the year he was born, etc. Of his parentage I know only that they were descendants of Puritanical ancestry. His father’s name (I believe Thomas) Thomas Cook and his mother’s maiden name was Lucy Pease. They were married in 1815 in Somerset County, Maine, and to them were born 3 sons and 3 daughters. Your father, Amos Cook was the eldest son and he was born, in the above county and state near the town of Norridgewock, 30 miles from the city of Augusta. His birth was on the 8th of January 1817, AD. When he was 20 years of age, he concluded to leave the parental home and try what he could for himself as far west as the state of Illinois. After a rather uneventful trip, he arrived at the Peoria, Ill., where he soon found employment though the same was not very lucrative. (In the meantime, he met a young man who was 2 yr. his senior, his name being Francis Fletcher. They found a lasting friendship that remained unbroken till death claimed the friend in Oct. 1871. After remaining in Peoria 1 years, your father in company with 6 other young men concluded (this was the spring of 1839) to form a company and come with pack animals to Ore. They made their plans and started April 1st of 1839. They encountered many hardships on their journey but being young, sturdy and strong they were fully equal to cope with any trouble that lurked from the then unfrequented road. They met many tribes of Indians, some of whom were hostile, though the majority were friendly and the travelers escaped without having any sever trouble with any of them. Great herds of buffalo were often seen and many times the party subsisted for days on the flesh of them. Friendly Indians taught our young men the art of jerking the meat so it would keep and be packed on their animals and many times it served as a very potable and nourishing lunch when other food was not attainable. Mountain sheep, sage hens and other game were often in evidence and the travelers would for a change in diet sample one or the other as occasion offered. Time sped on and at last they reached Green River. It was then late in the autumn, heavy snow had fallen and the weather was intensely cold. Their animals were jaded and their sack of provisions almost exhausted. The men concluded that it was unwise (under existing conditions) to then proceed on their journey so they called a "halt" and decided to try to make preparations for the long cold winter. They found a place, a small valley in the mountains just named, that was called Brown’s Hole, an old mountaineer told them the name. The party then made their plans for their winter quarters, plenty of small timber abounded not far from camp and the decided that they could manage to keep warm and comfortable. Buffalo meat was then their entire food. They would often dip a slice of the steak in gall (of the animal in question) to give it a "relish" and would then roast it on sticks in a hot blaze, then they’d serve it when it was well heated through and (as they explained it) "just when the red juice would follow the knife." Salt was not in evidence, though they learned to not think of that being lacking. Their pack animas fared quite well on the various kinds of herbage with which the locality abounded. The party remained in the little retreat for many months till they felt sure the snow in the mountains would not interfere with their journey. Then they proceeded westward without any unusual hindrance. They were in good health and in fine spirits, though nothing of special note interfered with their journey and they found themselves at the Dalles Fort Dalles as it was then called. After camping there for a few days they again packed their mules and started across the Cascade mountains. Oregon City was their goal (Portland being at that time a dense forest), reaching their destination on April 1840 AD. They were in Oregon City but a short time. Though while there, they met Dr. John McLoughlin. He told them that he would furnish them with seed wheat just as soon as they could get ready to sow the same. And also would wait till after harvest for payment. So the two friends went up to Yamhill Co. and took up land and went to farming on a small scale. They concluded as they’d have to wait till Autumn be fore they could get any returns from their land, one of them had to hire out and in that way could do more in helping make the living than if he remained at home. Mr. Fletcher declared the he would much rather go away to work than to remain at home along. Your father decided that he could stay so the friend went out to Marion Co. and succeeded in hiring out to a Frenchman. He would come home on horseback at intervals throughout the summer and stay over Sunday. Aside from these little visits your father saw but two white men for a period of months. His diet for that time consisted of boiled wheat (borrowed from Dr. McLoughlin) and now and then some wild game. Friendly Indians often came to his abode and he would divide his food with them. In the late autumn the friend came home. They then hired the use of a flat boat and went to Fort Vancouver (the nearest trading post) for their winter provisions. They started on the Yamhill river (from near the old town of Lafayette). The H. Bay Co. kept large supplies of staples in payment for which they would exchange pork, wheat and potatoes. There was but very little money then and of course our pioneers were very careful in their expenditures. I’ve often heard them speak of one particular trip they made to Fort Vancouver in the late autumn when they traded for a large barrel of molasses. The two men ate every vestige of the same before the next spring. A land law was passed (I’m not quite sure of the year, though it was near 1850) in which a married couple could "Take up and hold" 600 & 409 acres. They were required to live on and cultivate the same continually for 4 years. The two men had, before that time, lived together on a large tract of land. Though in the meantime Mr. Fletcher married. Then he and his wife could hold a whole section and seemed to be essential that the land be divided. As your father was unmarried, he was entitled to only one half section. He then offered Mr. Fletcher $1500 for choice of his port of the land. The offer was accepted. My dear children all know that the old house where you all were born was their father’s share; it being the home where your mother went as a bride, Aug. 16th the year of 1853. MFC (end of letter) Be well & God bless, Kate Beaugrand Cook Minnesota List Adm. (for ROELOFSON-L@rootsweb.com) kbcook@cfaith.com or kbcook@mn.rr.com ><> God bless America! <><