The Cox Families of Madison County, Iowa

Theodore Cox was one of the most prominent men among the early settlers of Madison county and his demise was a distinct loss to the county. He was born in Talbot county, Maryland, on the 23d of September, 1817, and as his father died when he was quite small he made his home for a number of years with an uncle. When sixteen years of age he went to Baltimore and there became an expert machinist. He worked in the shops which built the rolling stock of the first American railroad and helped to construct the first locomotive used on that road. His health failing, he removed to Lafayette, Indiana, and there engaged in the stock business. The following year, 1845, he removed to Keokuk county, Iowa, and in 1853 went to Mahaska county. The next year witnessed his arrival in this county and he purchased a claim in Scott township, two miles east of Winterset. There he passed the remainder of his life, giving his time and energy to farming and stock-raising. He frequently shipped stock to Baltimore and in the early days it was necessary to drive stock to Eddyville, which was the nearest railroad point. He usually went with the stock, seeing that it was cared for properly on the long journey to Baltimore. He accumulated a considerable fortune and was very generous in his support of public measures of value. When it was proposed to build a railroad from Des Moines to Winterset he was one of the first to strongly advocate its construction and probably gave as much both of time and money to the project as any man in the county.

Mr. Cox married Miss Sarah Johnston in Keokuk county in 1846. She was a Kentuckian by birth and was a woman of much ambition and industry and proved a valuable helpmate to her husband. They became the parents of six children, two of whom remained in this county, namely: Mrs. E. W. Jones and Mrs. E. R. Zeller, both of whom reside in Winterset, and a sketch of E. R. Zeller is found elsewhere in this work. The Cox home east of 'interest was for years famed for its generous hospitality and was in the early times a favorite stopping place for travelers and home-seekers. ',

Mr. Cox was a democrat and was loyal in his support of that party in the times of its success and its defeat alike, losing no opportunity to champion its principles. He held a number of local offices and usually presided over the county democratic conventions. He never ceased to take the keenest interest in the public welfare along all lines of activity and in many ways aided in the advancement of his township and county. He passed away on the 12th of July, 1891, and there are still many who remember his life and his many good works and cherish his memory.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

George Cox, a leading carpenter of Winterset, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 6th of August, 1850, the third in order of birth of the twelve children born to Eli and Mary (Mills) Cox, natives respectively of Clinton county, Ohio, and Tipton county, Indiana. The birth of the father occurred in August, 1825, and that of the mother in 1826. Eli Cox was reared upon a farm and as he grew to manhood his knowledge of agricultural work increased. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenter's trade and while still living in Ohio erected a number of barns and other buildings. In 1856 he came overland with his family to this county, settling on section 36, Madison township. Returning to Cincinnati, he there had a sawmill built, which was shipped to Keokuk and thence hauled by ox teams to North river, where it was put up in 1857. It was the only sawmill in that region and did a large business. Mr. Cox engaged in contracting and erected a number of the early bridges in this county. During the last years of his activity in that line he built two of the finest barns in the county, one for David Mills in Madison township, and the other for George Miller in Jefferson township. The Cox family only resided in Madison township for about a year, as in 1858 they removed to section 5, Union township, where the father owned about eleven hundred acres of land. He hired others to cultivate the fields and care for the stock, while he devoted his time to contracting. He was affected by the hard times of 1856 and 1857 but later retrieved his losses. He held a number of local offices and in the late '60s served as county supervisor from Union township. His religious faith was that of the Quakers. His demise occurred in 1883 and he was survived for many years by his widow, who passed away in 1909.

George Cox attended the pioneer schools of this county, the schoolhouse being built of logs, the furniture and curriculum being equally primitive. When eighteen years of age he began to assist his father in the operation of the latter's sawmill and continued to conduct the mill after the father's death until 1895. He has much mechanical ability and, being a skillful workman himself, he refuses to tolerate any slipshod work from those in his employ. As a contractor he has erected many of the better structures in the county and in 1894 and 1909 served as foreman of the county bridge gang. For many years he lived in Union township, where he owned land, and he gave some attention to farming, although that occupation is not at all congenial to him, and most of the time he left the operation of his fami to others. In 1908 he removed to Winterset, where he is still residing.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

John Cox, a retired farmer and carpenter of Winterset, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 13, 1849, and accompanied his parents to this county when but a child. He attended the Guiberson district school of Union township and also pursued his studies for a time in a log schoolhouse in Jefferson township. Upon starting out for himself he operated a part of his father's farm in Union township but in 1872 purchased land and concentrated his energies upon its cultivation. From time to time he added to his property until he became the owner of four hundred and forty acres. He followed general farming and his labors were rewarded by a good financial return from his land. In 1900 he sold his holdings and removed to Winterset, where he has followed the carpenter's trade to some extent, although ill health compels him to live partially retired.

On the nth of November, 1869, Mr. Cox married Miss Nancy McDonald, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in June, 1849, and died on the 31st of November, 1901. Her parents were William and Jane (Atchinson) McDonald, who in 1858 removed to this county, settling in Jeii'person township, where the father owned considerable land. He was a man of progressive views and took a keen interest in public affairs. He served as supervisor for some time and in 1865 was chairman of the board. He was also active in church circles and helped to organize the United Presbyterian church of Jefferson township. He passed away upon his farm and his death was sincerely mourned. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom Mrs. Cox was the youngest. By her marriage she became the mother of five children: Harriet, who was born November 17, 1870, married M. E. Addy, a farmer of Madison township, by whom she has five children. Charles A., a farmer of Douglas township, who was born October 18, 1872, is married and has four children. William Riley, born December 15, 1877, is farming in South Dakota and has one child. LeRoy was born September 26, 1882. Beulah is the wife of C. L. Cox, of Winterset, by whom she has one child. On the 16th of January, 1904, Mr. Cox married Miss Barbara Mills, a native of Douglas township, this county, and a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Mills, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Cox is a republican and for three terms served as township clerk and for six years as assessor. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church, in whose teachings he finds the guiding principles of his life. He is a valued citizen of Winterset and has many friends who hold him in the highest regard.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.