Jed Cook, Local Ibapah Historian and Cowboy
Jed and CarlaJed and I visiting. He shared about his life as a Cowboy, Riding for the Pony Express Re-Ride, and Pony Express History around Ibapah, Utah. 
Jed and I met in Ibapah, Utah
Below is information that has been extracted from my FIRST DRAFT of my Pony Express Adventure Journal 2016.
I am so excited to share Jed with you, I just couldn’t wait any longer!
Please forgive me of any errors that there may be in spelling or grammar… Thank you!
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April 3, 2016
Jed, a 97 year old gentleman and local historian, pulled up in his grey sedan. Though he had a walker, he asked for no help, and got out to stand up to speak with us. After niceties, he began to share his knowledge and memories of his youth. Jed shared that he has cowboy’d all over the west, from Nevada to Montana. He expressed how he has broken many a bone, from horse wrecks, including his hip, where he had a horse roll over on him. He has survived all his siblings, and told us he never smoked a day in his life. Him and Bruce exchanged about places they had cowboy’d the same. Also, Jed included to tell us that just 3 years ago he rode in the XP’s annual re-ride; Eureka, NV to Deep Creek, UT! At age 94!?!
Jed’s family roots are from Scotland. They traveled out with Brigham Young to the Salt Lake City area in Utah. His Grandmother Elizabeth walked alongside Jed’s Great Grandmother who was also pregnant at the time… all the way from St. Louis, she had said that it was better to walk than ride the oxen pulled wagon, as it was too bumpy a ride. Once she arrived in Salt Lake City, she delivered twins! Jed stated, they were also some how related to the famous Marshal, and once body guard of Brigham Young, Porter Rockwell.
Jim Weaver, Jed’s Grandfather homesteaded in Utah.
Jed (Gerald) Cook, born on September 16, 1918 in Lehi, Utah. I laugh as I type this, but hey, it is what HE said, so I am sharing it… He said, “After my first bowel movement they moved to where the Parker Ranch is now.” (That is where we went back to purchase fuel from, since there is no longer any gas stations in Ibapah.)
Jed was married for 44 years to his wife Joyce. They had 2 girls and 2 boys
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Update; Jed called me a few months back to see how the book was coming… I was sure hoping to give him a copy… but the time it is taking for research and finding sites, it is still in the preliminary phase, and sadly he has passed away recently. His daughter Marilyn Linares, has written a wonderful book from his life’s stories titled; “Jed”, available on Amazon.
2016_ut_deep creek_xp-0493
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PONY EXPRESS!
Howdy! Thank you for choosing to follow along with us!
In order to catch you up to speed, if you are just joining in, I want to let you know about my personal project. My faithful companion, Rider (a gorgeous Australian Cattle Dog) and I, have been traveling on an Adventure, for a few years now… following the Central Overland Pony Express Trail.
Carla and Rider at Round FortRound Fort is between Ibapah and Callao Utah. It is also called Canyon Station. The Pony Express Canyon Station was further West of here though... This rock fortress was built the year after the Pony Express had ended.
Currently we are working on a Photo Journal, that will be an Ebook, with our personal experiences on the road. I started this journey, due to a visit to Fort Churchill, with my family in 2014. I read how it was built to protect the Pony Express Riders and the California Emigrant Trail. I have always been fascinated with the old West, and that of course included the Pony. On that day, surprised to find such a fortress still standing, I wanted to know if there were more! The photos I have captured, of these gems in the desert, will be in a Photo Book/Coffee Table Book. There will also be some History of the Stations, Station Keepers, Hostlers and the Riders.
Very naively I started this journey with the thought that the Pony Express "Auto Route" would drive me conveniently near all the ruins... Well, that was silly, and now I know better!
Please continue to "Ride Shotgun in Spirit" with us as we visit Historical Places along the route, and visit many Museums that house Archives of the daring young, and some not so young, Riders of the Infamous Pony Express!
Occasional we will also share with you many of the other sights seen along the way while traveling through California, Nevada and Utah.
We have decided to stop the book and journey for the time being at Salt Lake City, UT for a couple of reasons;
- One) We have thousands of Photos with just these 3 States alone.
- Two) The History of the Riders is pretty much split as Salt Lake being the middle. Though geographically that is not so. The 2 Divisions that will be included in our first book, are at the most Western end of the Trail.
There are 3 more Divisions from Salt Lake City to St. Joseph Missouri. Lord Willing, we will make a book Two!
We are so blessed to have YOU to share this Journey with us.
THANK YOU!