Eli Cox, now deceased, was a Butler county pioneer, a record of whose career is well worthy of a place on the pages of a work of this character. Mr. Cox was born in North Carolina, March 23, 1824, and died in Richland township, December 4, 1893. He was a son of Steven and Hannah Cox, natives of North Carolina.

Eli Cox grew to manhood in his native State and on March 21, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Stinson, a native of North Carolina, born December 21, 1827, a daughter of Robert and Mary Stinson. Five children were born to this union, as follows: George W., deceased; John C., resides in North Carolina; Thomas M.; Hannah L.; and Andrew J., all of whom are deceased. The wife and mother died while Mr. Cox still lived in North Carolina, and he married for his second wife, Mary Ann Picket, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter

of Jeremiah and Hanna Picket, also natives of North Carolina. To this union were born the following children: Mrs. Emily F. Ball, Richland township; Mrs. Lizzie D. Getchel, resides in Washington; Homer F., a minister in the Friends church, and resides in Montana; Jaben C., Wichita, Kans.; Mrs. Marietta Canfield, Derby, Kans.; and Jeremiah C., Douglass, Kans.

Eli Cox and family left Greensborough, North Carolina, February 21, 1871, with Kansas as their destination, coming by rail. They reached Lawrence on February 26, and from there went to Lexington township, Johnson county, where they remained one year. In March, 1872, they came to Richland township, Butler county, where the father homesteaded 160 acres of land, where he made his home until the time of his death. He was an industrious, God-fearing man, and a good citizen. He and his wife were members of the Friends church, and among the charter members of that organization of Butler county.

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Pages 576-577,