Cox Ancestors

42 Pages·2014·3.93 MB·English

Chapter Twenty-Three
Ancestors of
Elvira Pamela Cox Blackburn
The Wife of Henry Thomas Blackburn - Mother of Lester
Elvira Pamela Cox was born on 3 February 1875 in Washington, Washington County,
Utah. She married Henry Thomas Blackburn on 6 September 1892 in Saint George,
Washington County, Utah. When Henry was 26 years old, his wife to be, Elvira was born.
Henry was one year older than Elvira’s Father Delaun Mills Cox.
The story is told that while Elvira was an infant, and Henry was the teamster for the
Muddy Mission, he took the Cox family in his wagon. Little did he know that the infant
in her mother’s arms would someday be his wife.
A Great Heritage
The Cox families were good people who came from the New York area before they
learned about the restored gospel and joined the LDS Church. The Cox family married
into the Mill, Kelsey and Finch lines. Each one of these lines has great heritage for us
today. Abigail Finch and Easton Kelsey followed the Saints and later settled in
Elvira Pamela Cox
Washington County, Utah.
Blackburn
The Cox Name and Origin
A wave of immigrants came to the New World in extremely large numbers as a result of the political and
religious confusion that struck England in the early 1600's. Many came to America in poverty, starving and
with illness from the trying journey across the oceans. However, the promise of eventual prosperity and become
the actual owner of acres of land was such an enticing dream that they were willing to make the sacrifice.
Some of the first North American settlers carried the name of Cox, or one of its variation. They were; William
Cox, who settled in Virginia in 1610; Anne Coxe, who settled in Maryland in 1633; James Cox who came in
Virginia in 1652; Henry Cox, who settled in Maryland in 1653. It is possible that James Cox, the earliest Cox
on our pedigree was the same James Cox who came to Virginia in 1650 (Some information was taken from “House of
Names.”)
Cox Ancestors
Eight Generations
Generation & Name Birth Spouse Marriage Death
1 Elvira Pamela Cox 1875 Washington, UT Henry Blackburn 1892 St George, UT 1949 Washington, UT
2 Delaun Mills Cox 1850 Manti, UT Charlotte, Kelsey 1871 Salt Lake, UT 1932 Manti, UT
3 Orville S. Cox 1814 Plymouth, NY Elvira Pamela Mills 1939 1888 Fairview, UT
4 Jonathan Upham Cox 1785 Cambridge, MA Lucinda Blood 1807 Charleston, MA 1830 Owege, NY
5 Walter Cox 1744 Cambridge, MA Judith Deland 16 Nov 1769 1830 Conn.
6 Matthew Cox 1717 Boston, MA Elizabeth Russel 1739Cambridge,MA 1756 Cambridge.
7 Robert Cox 1655 of Boston, MA Agnes Okeman 1703 Scituate, MA 1731
8 James Cox a1629 of England a1653 MA
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Ancestors of Elvira Pamela Cox
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Generation 2 four adobe houses. I also played the fiddle for most
of the dances for that settlement, Simonsville, also St.
Delaun Mills Cox & Charlotte Kelsey
Joseph and Overton, for about 4 years.
Parents of Elvira Cox Called to Long Valley, Utah by Brigham Young
I went to Long Valley with my father, he being
Delaun Mills Cox -Leader, called by Brigham Young. We arrived 5 March 1871
Musician, Builder and helped to put in a crop.
Delaun Mills Cox, the father
of Elvira, was born on 24
March 1850 in Manti, Sanpete
County, Utah. He is the son of
Orville Sutherland Cox and
Elvira Pamela Mills.
Delaun was a High Priest,
counselor in YM-MIA in 1880-
Delaun Mills Cox
1881; Sunday School chorister
1892-97; Foreman, Blacksmith
Department in Orderville 1875-77; Building
Department for five years; Wagon Department 1876-
87; violinist, musician, farmer and horticulturist.
Early Life - By Delaun
I was born in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah, 24 March
1850, about where the east end of the first terrace of
the Manti Temple now stands.
Long Valley & Towns Established
I herded my father*s sheep 3 or 4 summers. In 1861
I bound wheat through harvest. Moved to I started about the first of June to Salt Lake City.
Northbend, or Fairview, with my parents in the While on the way I visited with my Mother, brothers
summer of 1863; the same fall bound wheat, also and sisters and friends a couple of weeks in Fairview,
cradled some. In 1865 I cradled along side my father going on to Salt Lake City June 14. I tended my
through harvest, also in 1866. (Stood guard in the Mother*s farm that summer. In November I started to
Black Hawk War at night.) Washington, Utah, arriving the 28th. As we left our
To Muddy Mission - Limited Education wheat growing when we left the Muddy, I made a
trip to the Muddy about the last of February 1872 and
I went with my father to the Muddy in the fall of
was gone about 15 days and got a load of wheat. My
1866. While there, I started a small orchard and
first child, Abigail, was born in Washington, June 22,
vineyard. Also, I worked on the farm raising wheat,
1872. While living there I farmed a little, worked
cotton, cane, and corn. I went to school most of one
mostly at carpentering, finishing houses.
quarter where I studied writing, reading, arithmetic,
and spelling. My schooling previous to this was quite Worked for United Order-Elvira is Born
limited, being confined to spelling and reading a little. I worked for the Order (in Washington)
I had read the third reader (Wilson*s) twice through February 28, 1874, and performed 152 day’s labors in
while in school. the Order till the time it dissolved. My second child,
Liked Tools Elvira Pamelia, was born in Washington, February 3,
1875.
I had a liking for tools. I gathered up my Father*s
old tools and repaired them, made myself a jointer Duties in The United Order
and fiddle box and chest with blue black on the sides I moved to Long Valley, (Mt. Carmel) arriving
of the chest that came across the waters from England March 5, 1875. I worked March 6 in the United Order
by the Mills family and across the plains by my on the Dining Hall, March 8 in the blacksmith shop.
Mother in 1847. Also, I made some window and door March 9 I went to the sawmill and made a logging
frames. I made several thousand adobes and built cart with wooden wheels. It gave me satisfaction. I
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did most of the black smithing for Orderville until mean more than just to provide food and raiment and that
April 1877, about 2 years. We are running, besides the it means to put them in a safe house, town, city, state,
wagons and farming implements, a sawmill, thrasher nation, and the whole world so far as it is in his power. He
and reaper. When I was not black smithing, I worked also says if your enemy smite you on one check to turn the
most of the time at carpenter work. Moved to other also. Do you think that means to stand idly by and
Orderville 26 April 1875. I was baptized in the Order see your wife and daughter or sweetheart ravished and
July 11, 1875. them and their children slain by the thousands and
innocent men also slain by the millions as has already been
done? No! NO! Not so long as there is a drop of the blood
of Ephraim in our veins. Sacrifice? What is the sacrifice
of all our earthly possessions in comparison with the
sacrifice of our noble men and boys whose blood is now
running and making the earth crimson for the sake of
humanity?
The First Community of the United Order in Orderville, Uth Have you or your children taken a Liberty Bond? Or
Thrift Stamp? Or War Stamp? Or donated to the Red
Journal Entries Cross or other charity fund?
Delaun keeps a journal for 1876 to 1932 which Do you belong to the Red Cross or any society or
reveals some interesting details about his life and the committee or club that is working in the interest of
times. humanity? Or have you eaten less flour, sugar, or meat
than you formally did?
Delaun’s Letter to His Son Charles
A rare insight into the personal life of Delaun is This is what I have done: Besides eating less flour,
revealed in this unedited letters to his son Charles in sugar, and meat than usual. I have used by influence with
1918. others to do likewise, and have made the following
subscriptions:
“At the time of this letter World War I death tolls
were approaching nearly 9 million. The trench Red Cross Membership $ 1.00
warfare took a terrible toll in human lives and Donation to Red Cross $ 5.00
suffering and I think you can read that into his letter. War Stamp $ 8.26
He is making significant sacrifices for the war effort
Liberty Bond $100.00
and sought his kin to do likewise.” Bill Cox
Total $114.26
Shelley, Idaho My 6th Child March 24, 1918
Your loving father, Delaun Mills Cox
Greetings and Best Wishes to my Dear Son Charles
World War I, also known as
Robert Cox
the First World War, and
I am celebrating my sixty-eighth birth day different to
(before 1939) the Great War, the
any previous one in remembering each one of my family
War of the Nations, and the
and asking them if they will please answer a few questions
War to End All Wars, was a
and if they will I intend to write them again and inform
world conflict lasting from
them of the results (also my brothers and sisters) so far as
August 1914 to the final
they are applicable.
Armistice (cessation of
Will you, if possible, answer by April 6, (that being one hostilities) on November 11,
year since this nation declared war?). 1918. The Allied Powers (led by
Britain and France, and, after
How many Grandchildren have you blessed me with?
1917, the United States)
Please give the name and date of birth of each.
defeated the Central Powers (led by the German Empire,
What have you done or are doing against the devil and Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire), and led to the
his emissaries who have gone mad while they are professing collapse of four empires and a radical change in the map of
Christianity and claiming to be doing to others as they Europe. The Allied powers are sometimes referred to as the
would be done by? What do you read? The Lord says that Triple Entente, and the Central Powers are sometimes
a man that will not provide for his own house has already referred to as the Triple Alliance.
denied the Faith and the Truth is not in him. I take that to (www.solarnavigator.net/world_war_one.htm)
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Delaun Married
Charlotte Kelsey
Delaun married Charlotte
Kelsey on 19 June 1871 in
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake
County, Utah in the LDS
Endowment House.
Charlotte was born on 18
November 1856 in Little
Cottonwood, Salt Lake
County, Utah. She is the
daughter of Easton Kelsey Cotton Mill in Washington, Utah
Charlotte
and Abigail Finch.
Life Story - by Daughter
Charlotte Meets Delaun Cox Washington was settled by the first missionaries to the
Cotton Mission in 1857. The growing and processing of
When Charlotte Kelsey was fourteen years old, she
cotton were the major reasons for its settlement and
was quite mature and had dark hair and eyes flashing existence until the turn of the century. Ten families under
with life and mischief. At this time the Kelsey family the leadership of Samuel Adair and twenty-eight families
went on a visit to the Muddy in Nevada. Here led by Robert Covington arrived in May 1857. The
settlement in this raw, barren valley in Utah Territory was
Charlotte met Delaun Mills Cox and he fell in love
organized as a branch of the Harmony Ward by Isaac C.
with her. However, she emphatically said no. With
Haight, who presided over the Parowan LDS Stake. At this
a low but hopeful spirit he requested she write to him
time, the name Washington was chosen in honor of the
if she should ever change her mind. When at home nation's first president, and civic and religious leaders
again her folks and their friends kept dropping a were sustained. . . .
word here and there about what a fine man 'Laun Cox
There was more cotton acreage planted in Washington
was, and occasionally remarked that 'Lottie did not than the other settlements. The settlers struggled with
seem to care a drop for him. This kept her thinking nature: floods washed out their dams built on quicksand
and she finally wrote the letter. bottoms year after year; and they suffered from chills and
fever (malaria spread by the mosquitoes which hatched in
Married in Salt Lake
the springs and along the edges of creeks), drought, grass-
The young man had a team of horses which pulled hoppers and animals at night. They also soon realized that
man does not live by cotton alone. They learned they would
their wagon the 600 odd miles to Salt Lake City where
have to grow their own food and supply their own goods to
"Laun and "Lottie's small brother William went with
survive. Many quit the mission; by June 1861 only twenty
them. It took 15 days to reach Salt Lake, and they had
families remained in Washington. More calls were made by
a lovely time all the way. Daniel H. Wells married the church leaders in Salt Lake City to serve in the mission,
them. and by 1964 there were 85 families with 413 people. (Utah
History Encyclopedia.)
Settle in Washington
Third Family to Move into Orderville Home
When they returned, they settled in Washington,
Wash, Co., Utah. Delaun helped to build the cotton When the United Order was begun in Orderville,
mill (the only one the Church ever operated.) He Kane Co., the family moved up, stayed at Mt. Carmel
helped build the mill machinery and kept it in until a home in Orderville could be built. They were
working order, improving it occasionally. This the third family to finish and move into their home in
proved to be a fine work as he ever did in that line. this new town. The town built up quickly and
Lottie's father owned two lots in the village and gave Charlotte took her turn cooking in the rock ovens for
one to his daughter. Here they built their log cottage the village, because they all ate together in a common
and here were born Abigail and Elvira. dining hall.
Charlotte, One of Very Best Weavers
The United Order was lived well and everyone in
it prospered, but it was discontinued by the advice of
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President Brigham Young in about 1884. They were grain, then ground it. The father came usually at
in need of clothing so they divided the town into night and helped them, especially in the weighing of
districts with women at the head of each district to the gists, and moving of the filled flour barrels. This
take charge of weaving woolen cloth with cotton taxed the strength of the family and the eldest girl,
warp which they called 'Linsey.' Charlotte had charge Abigail, hurt her back lifting the grain sacks and it
of one district. The young girls did the spinning and became a permanent injury.
one of the old ladies wound the bobbins. Only the
Persecution of Polygamy Families
best weavers wove. Charlotte was one of the very
When the father was 'on the underground' as they
best.
called it, he hid in the near hills most of the day.
Charlotte always said "I am going to do this much
Elvira was entrusted with carrying his meals to him.
today," and then worked until she got it done, no
Each day he would be in a different place or she
matter how late it was before she could go to bed,
would take a different route. He hid in the corn or the
"Her daughter Abigail said that her mother was an
rocks on the hillside, usually with a companion
excellent spinner and her weaving ability increased
hiding for the same purpose. The family laughed
amazingly.
about it later but it was a very trying experience for
Raised Silk Worms - Wove Fine Beautiful Cloth the children and the wives.
Two families Evading the Marshals
in the ward
Charlotte had to evade the marshals too, or they
were selected to
would try to force her to give information. On 'quiet'
raise silk
days children were posted on lookouts on the top of
w o r m s ;
a hill to watch both ways for a buggy. The marshals
Charlotte was
used black buggies, a luxury unknown to the local
one. When the
people, so it was easy to identify 'the law'. The men
cocoons were
in the fields could be warned to hide by a signal. One
ready, it was
day a Marshall stepped into the Laun Cox home,
Charlotte who Silk Worms in the Process found only 2 little girls hiding in the bedroom. He
un wove them
asked where their mother was. The eldest, Charlotte,
and wove the
said she was over to the neighbors, while the younger
cloth. Without aid she wove the silk into 8 yards of
one, Maggie, said, "Oh, she isn't either, Charlotte,
cloth 18 inches wide. This shows her skill in this art.
she's down at the mill." He left and Charlotte cried
No loom was fine enough to weave silk onto so 'Laun
and said, "Oh, Maggie, now you've told where Ma is
made one for his wife. The result was a fine beautiful
and Pa will have to go to jail." Maggie was innocently
cloth, a rarity in the United States. Of the cloth she
very repentant.
made 6 handkerchiefs, 12 inches square. Three were
Charlotte ran through the field to warn her mother
white ladies handkerchiefs and three she dyed
and Maggie followed. The Mother had already fled to
magenta for men. She made the magenta coloring
the willows alone the creek, accompanied by several
from roots and it was a bright red, mellowed with
other women. As the Marshall looked through the
purplish and pinkish shades.
mill, Maggie spied her Mother and called and waved
Strict Moral Codes
to her. When her Mother did not answer, she ran
Delaun installed a little feed mill in the creek and toward where she was until Mother stepped out and
his children and wife helped grind cornmeal, graham motioned her back. Maggie stopped and finally
flour, and other necessities. The town mill burned caught on, and the day was saved.
down, and it was four years before it was rebuilt,
Very Reserved Personality - Sturdy Pioneer Type
mostly because the United States marshals were
Mother Charlotte Cox was a very reserved and
raiding polygamist families in the effort to jail all men
even retiring personality. She always said she could
with plural wives. Orderville was composed mostly
not do public work, but she learned she could later.
of these families and obeyed its strict, high moral
She was a good singer and she attended choir practice
code. So during this critical period 'Lottie and her 5
regularly. Much of the time Laun or her son Leonard
children kept the mill going every day and most every
were the choir leaders. She was short [with a] firm
night, except, of course, the Sabbath, to keep the town
build of the sturdy pioneer type. Her judgment was
supplied with flour. They washed and dried the
even more solid and she was thoroughly dependable.
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She was a counselor in the Relief Society for years and The Story of the Stolen Cow
her judgment and decisions were honored and
By Elvira Blackburn
invariably sound and safe to follow. She had the
(In Helen Blackburn Willden, comp., Events in the
respect of all who worked with her. Her self-control
Life of Henry Blackburn (1995), 28)
was commendable. She is never known to use a
swear word. She said "That is enough, "to her lively The Indians have stolen a cow it was decided to
children and that was all she ever said. If more was have the Indian interpreter ask them to pay for the
needed, one firm slap slightly below the middle of the cow. They refused saying "We'll fight first" so the cry
back was sufficient. She never gossiped and taught "to arms" was made among the settlers. The same
her children tolerance as in her saying. "You can't night about 75 Indians gathered on a knoll and kept
measure that person in your half bushel." Her up a pow wow and war dance continued all night.
daughter Abigail says that her calm, firm way of Early next morning the white men were gathered and
speaking her terse wisdom make it 'stick'. partly organized at Bishops place at West Point.
Several men of St Thomas were stationed at the corral
Detested Fighting and Quarreling
guarding horses, among them Henry Blackburn,
She detested to see quarreling and fighting, and
Henry W. Esplin, Thomas Chamberlain and Lou
kept a firm hand over her children when at home,
Jensen. Some who were stationed by the house were
although she never interfered in their petty
Andrew H. Gibbons and son Billie, Healy [Helaman]
differences or their fun. She especially had to hold
Pratt, Bishop of Overton, Stratton - a little fellow, Bill
Leonard down because his nature was like her, and he
Swapp who swore words not suitable for Sunday
had to be told when to quit teasing. He did not have
school, Delaun Mills Cox and others.
a brother to even up with him. She was a strong and
An Indian who could speak a little English came
healthy woman and was called on by neighbors and
down where the men were stationed. Soon another
relatives for advice which was given kindly, mildly,
brave followed, then another and another until finally
and wisely and could always be depended on as
the big chief Frank put in his appearance.
good.
Andrew Gibbons stood upon the wagon tongue
Last Ten Years
and began talking peace. The red men were about to
The last ten years of her life she was quite ill from
give in when some of them showed a great desire to
a stomach injury received from the constant pressure
fight by twanging their bow strings and raising their
of the loom on her stomach. In 1909 she worked as a
tomahawks, causing the chief to again say "no will
counselor in the Primary. When she had but two
fight first."
children unmarried, they moved to Hinckley. At
"Form in line boys," said Gibbons, "don't shoot
Leonard's request his father and mother and brother
until the word is given and then go to it." "I wish I
Orin came to Idaho to help him. His wife was fatally
had brot my gun instead of my pistol" said the little
ill. They had a small home, tended bees, and kept a
Stratton fellow, while Delaun began spotting out the
fine garden besides helping their son Leonard
heads in the group he would unload his pistol and
through his difficulties.
then he would take his gun to those hiding behind
Killed by Lightning
trees and rocks. Suddenly Captain Pratt shouted,
One July day a thunderstorm came up very "They are surrounding us boys, they'll stampede our
suddenly and she said, "Oh, Lahn, we've got to cover horses," and before a final command could be given
the bee hives." And hurried from the house. He away ran five of the boys, Bill Swapp in the lead.
followed. She walked through the orchard and was "Don't shoot," commanded Gibbons and an old Indian
nearly to the tow of beehives when lightning struck a stepped forward saying "hole on, hole on, hole on,"
large cottonwood tree, split it in half and grounded, seeing that the whites meant business, the Indians
killing her instantly. Laun was several yards behind began to sue for peace in that great chief Frank
and was knocked down with the shock. Her stepped out and began running and pulling his
Patriarchal Blessing promised her she should never blanket from around him waving it in the air, which
taste death. She didn't. She was one who never lost signified 'surrender' so the battle ended without the
her temper, became frenzied, or lost self-control; yet shedding of blood.
she was not in the least domineering. We cherish her
memory.
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The Children of Utah and they had eleven children: Lula, Fern, Ferron
Delaun and Charlotte Joseph, Charlotte, Cora, Laurence, Vera, Delaun,
Irene, Easton and Ralph Cox Blake.
1 Abigail b 22 Jun 1872
9 Nancy b 24 Apr 1890
Abigail was born in Washington, Washington
Nancy was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
County, Utah. She married Fred Walker Heaton on 5
died the next day on 25 April 1980.
Mar 1898 in Payson, Utah County, Utah. They had a
daughter Winfried Heaton on about 1899. 10 Phebe b 5 Oct 1891
*2 Elvira Pamela b 3 Feb 1875 See Chap. I Phebe was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
married Joseph Shelton Thurber on 21 Dec 1910 in St.
3 Leonard Delaun b 16 Apr 1877
George, Washington, Utah and had seven children:
Lenard was born in Orderville, Kane County, Fauntella, Bardell Cox, Fal King, Florence, Ross
Utah. He married Diantha Esplin on 16 Mar 1909 in Delaun, Stanley Roy and Karl Garner Thurber.
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. They had nine
11 Zephyr b 3 May 1894
children: Louie B., Minnie Estella, Leonard Delaun Jr.,
Zephyr was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
Charlotte, Delaun Esplin, Orin J, Diantha, Maggie
died on 25 Oct 1896 in Orderville.
and Anna.
4 Charlotte b 22 Jul 1879 12 Henry b 16 Jun 1896
Charlotte was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah. She Henry was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
married Israel Hoyt Heaton on 28 Nov 1900 in St died the same day.
George, Washington, Utah. They had ten children:
13 Orin Kelsey b 16 Oct 1899
Erma, Jonathan Delaun, Lola, Zephyr Australia,
Orin was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
Violet, Israel Cox, Alma Cox, Julie, Charlotte and
married Mabel Foster McIntire on 1 Feb 1925 and had
Leroy Cox Heaton.
a child Frank Cox. Orin later married Crystal
5 Margaret b 19 Jul 1881 McCann.
Margaret was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah. She
Delaun Married
married Charles Carroll Heaton and had ten children:
Susan Brown
Charles Leonard, Jennie, Cliford K, Richard, Kezia,
Jonathan Grant, Grace, Melvin Kelsey, Margaret
Delaun also married
Alyce and Lavina Ann.
Susan Brown on 8
6 Louisa Euphrasia b 17 Nov 1884 August 1877 (six years
after marrying
Louisa was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah. She
Charlotte) in Saint
married Jesse Wiseman Dobson on 5 Aug 1908 in Salt
George, Washington
Lake City, Utah and had the following eleven
County, Utah in the
children: Zephyr, Larue J, Zellas, Marie, Jessee
LDS Temple. Susan
LaVerd, Diantha, Mesa Vernell, Camille, Thomas
was born on 18 April
Delaun, Joseph C and Jessie Roberta.
1862 in St George. She
7 Easton b 7 Dec 1886 is the daughter of
Robert H and Eunice
Easton was born in Orderville, Kane, Utah and
Pectol Brown.
Died on 25 July 1887.
Delaun writes in his journal:
8 Delta b 9 Jun
“Aug. 2 - Started on a trip to St. George. Susan
1888
Brown 2 was married and sealed to me Aug. 8, 1877.
Delta was born in
Arrived home Aug. 17th. During the winter and
Orderville, Kane, Utah.
spring I attended 19 evening schools.”
Delta married Joseph
The Children of
Elijah Blake on 5 Aug
1908 in Salt Lake City, Delaun and Susan
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The following children were born in Orderville, His father died when he was
Kane County, Utah. about fifteen years old. And
he was then "bound out";
1 William Mills b 25 Jun 1878
apprenticed to learn the trade
William married Eliza Olive Allen on 11 Oct 1905
of a blacksmith under deacon
in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah.
Jones, “who was considered an
2 Charles Robert b 9 Apr 1880 excellent man as he was a pillar
of the church. The agreement
Charles Married Hannah D Ellicock or Blake on 16
was that he was to work
Nov 1910 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
obediently until twenty-one
3 Eunice Ann Cox b 8 Dec 1881
and that Jones was to give him
Orville Surtherland Cox
Eunice married Solomon Herbert on 16 April 1912 board and clothes, three
in Salt Lake City, Utah. months of school each winter,
4 Edward b 13 Jul 1884 teach him the trade of black smithing.”
Edward married Polly Estella Belnap on 8 Jan 1908 Denied Education
in Salt Lake City, Utah. No schooling was given or allowed, and one pair
5 Susan b 29 Aug 1886 of jean pants was all the clothing he received during
the first three years of his apprenticeship, and his
Susan married George Benjamin Wilson on 3 Apr
food was rather limited too.
1912 in Utah.
The women folks ran a dairy, but the boy was
(The following children were born in Moccasin,
never allowed a drink of milk, of which he was very
Mohave County, Arizona)
fond because the Mrs. said "it made too big a hole in
6 Amasa Brown 31 May 1889
the cheese." He was indeed a poor little bondsman,
Amasa died 9 July 1894 at the age of five. receiving plenty of abusive treatment.
7 Amy 6 Apr 1892 Denied Trade Training - Trains Self
Amy married Solon Edwards on 27 Aug 1919. As to teaching him the trade, he was kept blowing
the bellows and using the tongs and heavy sledge.
8 Clarissa b 17 Feb 1894
But the deacon sometimes went to distant places and
Clarissa married James Smith Blake on 20 May
the boy secretly used the tools and practiced doing
1914 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
the things his keen eyes had watched his master do.
9 Orville Sutherland b 12 May 1901 During some of these hours of freedom, he made
himself a pair of skates from pieces of broken nails he
Orville married Ruth Gertrude Christensen on 14
Feb 1930. He also married Betty Virginia Jensen on 18 gathered carefully and saved.
June 1957.
Also, he straightened a discarded gun barrel and
made a hammer, trigger, sights, etc. to it, so that he
had an effective weapon. These things he had to keep
hidden from the eyes of his master and associates, but
Generation 3 a
secretly he had great joy in his possessions and once
in a while found a little time to use them.
Orville Sutherland Cox & Elvira Pamela Mills
Learn to Shoe Oxen
Parents of Delaun Cox
Occasionally the monotony at the bellows and with
the tongs and sledge - was broken in other ways; for
Biographical Sketch of
example - at one time oxen were brought to the shop
Orville Sutherland Cox
to be shod and had extremely hard hoofs, called
(Pioneer of 1847 - Written by Adelia B Cox Sidwell for "glassy hoofs.” Whenever deacon undertook to drive
the "Daughters of the Pioneers," Manti, Utah, 1913.) a nail in, it bent. Cox straightened nail over and over,
as nails were precious articles in those day and must
Orville Sutherland Cox, was born in Plymouth,
not be discarded because they were bent. After a
New York the 25 November 1814. He was one of a
while the boys said "let me.” And he shod the oxen
family of 12 children, ten of whom reached maturity.
without bending a single nail; And thereafter Cox
Father Dies, Apprenticed to Learn Blacksmithing
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shod the oxen, ane and all that came to the shop. A free boy! For now he was sure pursuit would not
overtake him. His passenger called "What shall I do
One other pleasant duty
with this canoe?" “Keep her or let her float," shouted
was his; that of burning
Cox. As for food on this trip with the canoe, game
charcoal, as coal was then
was plentiful and he was a good shot. While on this
undiscovered. He learned
boat, he must have worked his passage, for he had no
much of the trade of the
money.
woodman while attending to
the pits in the depth of the On board that boat with a cargo of Southern
mighty New York Forests, as Produce, he for the first time in his life, saw an
well as having an orange. He remained on this little river packed some
opportunity to use his skates Oxen Shoe distance up the river, then landed and found
and gun a little. lucrative employment at lumbering and logging, and
sometimes at the black smith's forge. Soon he had
Escapes Harsh Treatment - To Susquehanna
the good luck to find his two brothers, Walter and
He acquired the cognomen of "Deek" among his
Augustus, rafting logs down the river. He was an
associates, and when he had worked for something
expert at this himself.
over three years, he came to the conclusion that was
Learns His Family Left for Ohio
all he ever would acquire, along with harsh treatment;
so during one of the Deacon's visits to a distant Now he learned that his mother and her younger
parish, he gathered together his few belonging and a children, Amos, Harriet, Mary and Jonathan had gone
lunch, between two days, shouldered his home made to Ohio under the care of his older brother, William
gun and "hit the tail for the tall timber.” That being U., via the great world famous Erie Canal; (at that
the route on which he was lest apt to be discovered. time the largest canal in the world.) So by slow
He made his way toward the Susquehanna. He began degrees and hard work he began to work his way
reconnoitering for a means of crossing or floating toward Ohio.
down the river and soon discovered a log canoe,
Usually he worked for lumber companies. His two
"dugout" as it was called, frozen in the mud. He
brothers did likewise. They literally walked all the
decided to confiscate it as "contraband of war" and
way through the forests the whole length of the state
pried it up, launched it, and was soon floating and
of New York. Finally they were invited as a family in
paddling in it down toward the junction of the Tioga
Nelson, Portage Co. Ohio. The former home of his
and Susquehanna.
future wife, Elvira, although she was at that time an
Shortly he felt his tired feet being submerged in emigrant in Missouri.
cold water. Stopping to investigate, he found that the
Cox Boys Succeed Going West
log was leaky and rapidly filling with water. He also
The eight cox boys continued their westward
found an old woolen firkin, a small barrel, that he at
course; some of them reached California during the
once began making use of, bailing the water,
gold stamped. Charles B Cox was elected Senator
alternately paddling, steering and bailing. He
from Santa Rose Company for a number of terms.
continued down stream, keeping near the shore as
William U. had put his property in a concern called
possible in case the old dugout should get the best of
the Phalanx and was defrauded by the officers of
him. The second day he heard, "Hello, there, will you
every cent and left him in debt $3000.00, an enormous
take a passenger?" From a man on shore. “Yes, if
sum for those days. Orville's mother Lucinda, and
you'll help bail, steer, and row." "Barkis is willin,”
her family went to Missouri. Walter had received the
came the reply, so there were two in the log canoe.
gospel in Ohio previously.
Then they made better time. Nearing the
Meets Elvira Mills, A Mormon
confluence of the rivers, they saw a boat preparing to
leave the dock for a trip up the Susquehanna, a Orville heard terrible stories of the outlawry of
primitive stern wheel packet of those early days those "awful Mormons"; but he became personally
(1831). He and his passenger applied themselves to acquainted with some (among them a Sylvester
their paddling, bailing and steering, signaling the Hulet) He decided they were sinned against. He lived
boat to wait; just as she started he drew near enough in Jackson County for a time, and ever after Jackson
to leap from the dugout to her deck. County Missouri was the goal of his ambition; He
believed to his dying day that he should one day
A Free Boy
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