|
Back to Biographies Back to Main Page |
FREDRICK WALTER COX AND HIS FAMILY |
Biographies & ObituariesCemeteries
|
FREDRICK WALTER COX AND HIS FAMILY Cox family tradition says that three brothers came from the North part of England in the latter part of the 17th Century about 1660 or 1670. They landed in Massachusetts. Two remained in that state, the other went South. They were James William and Robert Cox, sons of James Cox. Robert Cox was a fisherman and a soldier. He was Freeman 1666 member of a military company from Marblehead and Salem. His brother James was in the same company. Robert was wounded in the famous "Swamp Fight" against the Narragansett Indians under King Phillip, December 16-19, 1673. By his first marriage Robert had James, William, Robert, Jane and Margaret. Their mother died on October 6, 1783, at Scituate. Robert married Agnes Okeman, widow of Joshua Kent who became the mother of Joanna, Elias, Ruth, Samuel, Andrew and Matthew Cox. Matthew Cox, son of Robert of Cambridge was a tanner born in Boston, March 3, 1717. He was killed by an accident, February 19, 1746. He united with First Church, Cambridge 1739. That year he married Elizabeth Russell of Cambridge who died before 1763. Their children were Elizabeth, Agnes, Walter (died in infancy), samuel, Mathew, William, Joseph, Phoebe, and Benjamin Cox. Walter Cox, son of Matthew, was born 1744 in Cambridge, married November 17, 1769 to Judith Deland, daughter of John, of Charlestown. Walter was a tanner by trade, served in the Revolution, said to have removed to New York. Was not very thrifty apparently. Mrs. Judith Cox and children were in straitened circumstances in Charlestown in March, 1807. She removed to Ohio 1832, with her children, Elizabeth, Walter, Susanna, William, John Hobbs, Jonathan Upham and Samuel Cox.Johathan Upham Cox, son of Walter was born February 5, 1785, baptized First Church in Cambridge, March 6, 1785. He was a miller by trade, married in Cambridge August 31, 1807, to Lucinda Blood, daughter of Caleb Jr. and Hephzibah Jewett Blood. Johnathan moved about 1809 to Plymouth, New York and settled in Nelson, Portage County, Ohio. Lucinda died at Nelson, December 5, 1833, her family scattered and the boys pioneered all across the continent. Jonathan was a drinker and so made providing for his family doubly difficult, but not one of his boys followed his example. William Upham Cox, eldest son of Jonathan lost his wife about the time of the discovery of gold in California. He had two daughters, Esther and Sarah Ann. One married and had a family. William, being lonely, took passage on a ship around the Cape to the gold fields. On the way they ran out of provisions and were rationed to wormy sea biscuits and water. The officers of the ship had only the best of food to eat. The Captain was a cruel and wicked man. He had their passage money so their privations meant nothing to him. The passengers were patient, hoping to get relief when they touched port in the Chilian coast, but the Captain took a wide circuit and avoided two ports, not giving them a chance to complain to the Port Pilots. This so enraged the passengers that they took possession of the stores and obliged the officers to share the same rations they themselves had. When they reached the coast of California and a pilot came aboard he saw the starved, wretched condition of the people and heard and saw the cruelty of the Captain. He proclaimed himself commander of the ship, hurriedly put into the nearest port, organized a Vigilante Committee and the infamous Captain was never seen again. William visited Utah and then went back and died in Sidney, Iowa, August 14 1865. He was born March 3, 1807. Charles Benjamin, second son of Jonathan, was a prosperous miller who owned mills in different places. After the Civil War he went West, visited his relatives in Utah, then settled in Santa Rosa, California where he and his wife Margaret Lockwood Cox, died. He was sent to the Senate twice from California and once from Iowa. He had eight children. He was born, January 10, 1810, at Plymouth, New York, and died April 27, 1891. Jonathan's third child was Fredrick Walter Cox, of whom more later. Orville Sutherland Cox, fifth son of Jonathan Upham Cox, was born, November 25, 1814. He was very young when his father died, so he was bound out to a blacksmith to learn the trade. His master, Deacon Jones, was to send him to school three months of the year and properly raise him, but he was very severe, broke his agreement, loaned him no tools, and taught him nothing. The women had a dairy, but they would not even let him have milk, which he loved. They made him tend the charcoal pits constantly. Orville stayed with them three years, but he felt that his life was unbearable to slavery and determined to leave them at the first opportunity, with his mother's knowledge, if not her consent. The Deacon had official business that would take him away from home all day so the boy decided this was the time to put long distances between himself and the Deacon. He traveled as fast as he could to the river Schanango and followed along it until he found a hollowed out log that served as a boat. With makeshift paddles he started down the stream. As night came on, he was horrified to find that the log was filling with water and in danger of sinking at any moment. Luckily he found an old keller or butter tub tht he could use to bail out the water and keep afloat. Knowing his danger he kept near the shore so that if it sank he could swim ashore. Next morning he was tired out from bailing and rowing. When a man hailed him and asked to be taken along, he said. "Yes, if you will bail." So they went along together to where the Schanango and the Schulkill rivers joined. There was a boat landing an a steamboat about ready to leave. Using all their remaining strength, they caught the boat and Orville climbed aboard. The man called after him, "What shall I do with your boat?" and he answered back, "Let 'er sink." So he made his way to one of his brothers' who was logging for a lumber company.Orville went to Far West in 1837. When driven from there, he located in the Morley settlement near Lima, Illinois. Here he met his wife, a Mormon girl. He was not one, and declared he did not propose to turn Mormon to get a wife. If she married him, she must marry a Gentile. They were married October 3, 1839 in Father Whiting's house. On the 6th, they visited Nauvoo, twenty miles away, where he was baptized by the Prophet Joseph. So it did not take his girl-wife long to convert him. He was a forester, a lumberman, a brave frontiersman, a splendid blacksmith, a real engineer and a natural genius. They have a large posterity of stalwart sons and daughters scattered through Utah and Idaho to carry on their work and name. Augustus Cox was the sixth child of Jonathan. An infant Jonathan was the fourth. Augustus came to Utah late in life. He was a kindly old man whom life had buffeted and finally left alone. He was born December 7, 1816 in Oswego, New York and died November 23, 188* in Springville, Utah. Samuel Leach Cox, son of Jonathan Upham Cox, born March 2, 1819 in Oswego, New York and came to Utah in 1872 on a visit to Aunt Mary Whiting, then returned to Wisconsin. He died in his home in Shenandoah, Iowa, July 6, 1891, at ten o'clock. Amos Cox was born March 26, 1821, in Oswego, New York and in his boyhood he crossed the continent on foot driving an ox team. He had work near Fort Leavenworth, then in Nauvoo he was a chore boy in the family of Joseph Smith. On the way West, he joined the Mormon Battalion and continued his way to the Pacific. He was wounded in Arizona, but returned as an escort for General Fremont. He settled in Manti, Iowa, taught school, ran a stage, was mail carrier, was captain of militia, ran a hotel at Sidney, lived among the Indians at Kemas, then moved to Shenandoah. Nearly all his life was one of hardship and losses that would have soured most men not molded on his high plane of character, but he was one not to murmur. He was one of the oldest Masons of his community. His Order buried him. He married Phelina Morley June 20, 1841, in Hancock County, Illinois. They had five children. He left his wife with four children when he went with the Battallion and she buried one in his absence. Uncle Chauncey Whiting took her to his home in Silver Creek and cared for her until her husband returned. He was a quiet modest man with no enemy in the world and his thoughtfulness for others made him universally loved in his community.Harriet Lucinda Cox was born January 20, 1823, in Oswego, New York. She was such a grand person. She lived unselfishly, always ready to work for the pleasure and benefit of others, earned the love and trust of any who were afflicted. She left sorrow and regret behind her when her short thirty-one years came to an end July 23, 1854, in Manti, Utah. "To live in the hearts that we leave behind is not to die." Father Fredrick Walter Cox always spoke with regret in voice and manner of "baby sister". Esther Cox was born January 21, 1825 in Oswego and died March 10, 1827. She was slightly burned accidentally, and the family had not thought that it was serious until she suddenly passed away, being scarcely two years old. "Down beside the flowing river, where the dark green willow weeps And the leafy branches quiver, there our baby sister sleeps." Mary Elizabeth Cox was born December 15, 1826 in Oswego, New York. With her mother and brothers she crossed the continent and in 1845 she joined the church in Nauvoo. In the Temple there she became the wife of Edwin Whiting. When driven from that city, they crossed the plains and landed in Salt Lake City in 1849. They were among the pioneers of Manti and saw all the hardships of those early days. From childhood, she was an ardent student, and at the age of fifteen years, was a qualified teacher. She taught for forty-two years. In 1876 she pioneered in Northern Arizona, where she used her talents generously for the benefit of her fellowmen. She left a large family to call her blessed. She died in Arizona July 5, 1912. Fredrick Walter Cox was born January 20, 1812, in Plymouth, Oswego County, New York. He was his parents third son. There were twelve other children. In manhood he was of more than medium height and weight. he had a mild and kindly disposition, never hasty, but seemed to look at things from every point of view to be sure that he was right, and than "Woe to the evildoer!!" They usually felt sorely punished when he was through with them. With a loving disposition, he was a universal father. Everyone desired his companionship. He lived his life on frontiers. At first, the way had to be cut through heavily timbered states. They grew to dislike those towering monarchs of the forest, which caused such arduous labor to remove, so only a small clearing could be made at one time. One was for the cabin and a second near-by for a corral for the animals. Living trees were left for posts, the huge overhanging branches serving as shade from the sun in summer and shelter from the cold winds in winter. These trees were also used by the wild beasts, especially the panther and wildcat. One pounced upon the shoulders of a girl who was milking a cow. with great grit she reached up and by the hide of his neck pulled him to the ground, then placing her knees upon him, she called for help. He was baptized by Thomas B. Marsh in 1834 in Ohio, and after being converted to the principles of the gospel of Christ, he took his lot with them, at first in Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. When driven from there, he made his home in the Morley settlement near Lima, Illinois. After their home and stacks and property was burned by mob violence, he moved to Nauvoo. Fredrick Walter had married Emeline Whiting July 22, 1835, in Nelson, Ohio. She had four children when on January 27, 1846, he was sealed to her, also to Cordelia Morley, and Jemima Losee. No man could have tried more than he to live up to the high standard of man it takes to live up to that kind of life. They left Nauvoo the 8th of the next May (1846) starting west. They spent one year in Pisgah, then on to Silver Creek, Iowa. They had been driven from place to place, but had stayed together. There in Silver Creek, in 1851, Fredrick was arrested, tried and sentenced for practicing plural marriage. His sentence one wife - or leave the country! Many did desert their homeless, helpless, women, but he said, "I will never desert these girls, so help me God." In order to keep peace and to gain time - for he was making his own wagons to go west, he moved Cordelia and Jemima and their babies into a stable in the next county, where they suffered from fear and cold and lonliness, but were comforted by a 'strange woman' who came in the hour of their need.* (Read the story later in the sketch of Jemima) From Nauvoo to Mt. Pisgah, Aunt Mary and Aunt Jemima were together - shared the same wagon and slept in the same bed. Sometimes they would ride. More often they walked. At Pisgah, they had log houses built, planted gardens and made themselves comfortable as possible. Then came the deadly malaria fever. There were not enough well ones to hand a drink of water to the sick. Aunt Jemima escaped the chills but carried the burden of all the rest of the family. She was just a young woman, but uncomplainingly did everything in her power for the sick. Aunt Emeline was very low and unconscious. She did not know that her little ones were being snatched away by death, not that Aunt Jemima was working night and day fighting to save her and the children. Nor did she know the stricken father was tried with faith and works to save his loved ones. Failing in this, with what anguish of heart he made their coffins, shrouded their bodies and laid them away. The family left Kanesvile for Utah June 20, 1852. Our outfit consisted of three wagons, seven yoke of oxen and cows. Father drove Aunt Emeline's wagon, which was loaded heavily and drove three yoke of oxen. William, then eleven, drove one yoke of oxen with a light wagon. Fred, then sixteen, drove mama's wagon (Cordelia's) also heavy and with three yoke of oxen. They lost one oxen on the way. I was four, but I remember plainly many little incidents of the journey. I was very tired of being kept in such close quarters. How gladly I raced around gathering buffalo chips for our camp fire. Best of all, I remember the water can with the cup turned over the top. The clear mountain streams had no charms for me. I used to hunt for the old can, take off the cup, and draw a good smell. Cholera raged that year, and every morning father filled the can and added a cup of vinegar with sugar, which I longed to smell. For beds the wagons were fixed with a projection something like the common sheep wagons of today, and this projection was laced with a small rope making a good roomy bed under which everything that we had, clothes to wear, tools to work with, and provisions were closely packed. Thirteen persons died of cholera during the time we were traveling the first hundred miles and a woman was killed by the stampeding of cattle caused by the shaking of a quilt. Father urged mama by every persuasion to stay with her folks, who were mostly in the East, but being a true wife, she refused to stay. Father and Byron both had the cholera, and for days they did not know that they would live. Aunt Jemima, in deep trouble, came to mama's wagon saying, "Cordelia, come and see Byron. I am afraid for him and I don't want to sit alone." So both got into the wagon. They knelt and earnestly prayed for their loved ones, that they might be restored to health. Surely our Heavenly Father is not far from his children, for their prayers were heard and answered. Next morning when they were cutting meat for breakfast, Byron reached for a piece. Fathr said, "Let him have it. Nothing can hurt him now." And though weak and ill from the sickness of the night, he and father steadily grew better. What a thankful family! Father was needed so badly for all the journey. Aunt Emeline was so poorly. When we reached the Platte, we stopped to wash. How we children enjoyed ourselves playing by the stream. Emily was born on the Platte, August 8, 1852, so Aunt Emeline needed care the whole of that long toilsome way. Aunt Jemima had a young baby and a sick boy, too, much of the way. Aunt Lydia was with them to help get a good part of the work done, but the boys had a real task caring for the cattle. Crossing the Green River, Fred's team happened to be the last one over. A bend in the crossing hid us from the train ahead. When the team reached the middle of the river, the leaders turned right back to the wagon. We were being upset into the stream. We screamed and cried with drowning staring us in the face. Then a horseman came to look for a lost animal, he quickly rode into the stream, turned our leaders and we were saved. The journey was weary, but more cheering was the call of the guard, "One o'clock and all is well. Two o'clock and all is well!" It gave us a peaceful and secure feeling that nothing else would have given. We saw large herds of buffalo and always Indians lurking, wanting food. We reached Salt Lake City September 28, 1852 and went on to Manti October 4th. We were welcomed by Granpa Morley, Uncle Edwin Whiting, Uncle Joseph Allen and Aunt Lucy, Uncle Orville Cox and Silvester Hewlett, in whose house we lived the rest of the winter. From there we moved into the stone fort. It surrounded an acre of ground. The walls of rock were nine feet high. One entrance in the center of the west side was big enough for teams to drive in and out. Opposite that was a doorway one, for people. There were bastions built two stories high. One each in the northeast and the southeast corners. Both the fort and the bastions had portholes for defense. The dirt roofs slanted toward the inside, so there was no danger of Indians seting fire to our houses. There were nine of the children born in the fort and we lived there nine years. There were only a few houses outside of te fort, and they were so close that the people could be inside at a moment's warning. There were no fences. The streets were hills, hollows, washouts, scrubby cedars and brush so that an Indian might start at you almost anywhere. It is not strange that we little folks were almost afraid to go one block to the mill when it was built where the Becker Mill now stands. In April, 1863 Father left his home and family to fill a mission in England. He was gone twenty-seven months, leaving his large family to get along as they could. I think we all depended on William to lead in the care and work of the farm. He was the oldest, unmarried man in the family. He was capable of the trust, but oh, what trouble came! It seemed we had more in those twenty-seven months than in many years before. Aunt Emeline's little Luella was born in August, but soon sickened and died. Her poor mother had to lay her in her grave while the father who never saw her was 3,000 miles away. Fred, too, buried his little Lucy. Aunt Jemima had to part with her seven year old Carmelia. Edwin was accidently shot in the back. Arletta had her fingers chopped off. Two of the girls were terribly burned, (Eleanor and Alice) but they recovered. No wonder we were glad to welcome dear Father home on the 3rd of October, 1865. No one knows what he can stand or can do until he is tried. The boys never let the flour bin get empty. The potato bin was filled in its season, and though we often had to chop our own wood, it was there to chop. What happiness we knew the day Father came home! One of the boys went to Salt Lake City to meet him. He fitted up at Florence for his third trip across the plains by ox team, and brought several people with him. Father came on home with the team of horses. We went up in the garret of the Big House to watch out of the round window at the north of the house with field glasses. We watched the county road long before he could be in sight, but so anxious were we, it was almost impossible to wait. It was along in the afternoon when we caught sight of his covered wagon. Then we six or eight oldest girls hurried off to meet him. We met at the point of Temple Hill. He stopped the horses, got out, and clasped Rosalia and Adelaide in his arms, while he looked steadily at the rest saying, "You have grown so fast, I can only guess who you are." At the time of the Black Hawk War, Father and four grown sons participated in those troublesome times. They stood guard, went into the mountains in pursuit of the Indians, and tried to defend our homes and to recover the stolen cattle from the beginning until peace was established. Four long years the Old Drum beat, calling men together to listen to new deeds of bloodshed and thieving, to plan encampments to campaign against them. They parted from loved ones going to points of danger until the name of Indian became hateful and the sound of the drum was like a stab in the heart. It was long years before we got over the terror of the sounds. Not only fathers and brothers were engaged in fighting this Black Hawk War to the finish, there were also six young men who were coming to the Big House regularly. The first two, William and Lovina were married December 1, 1866. Ten years later, seventeen of Father's sons and daughters had been married. Five of them in a company went to St. George at one time, three at another time to get married.In sickness or sorrow, how comforting it was to feel Father's dear hand laid carressingly or in a blessing upon one's head. You could not help but feel the good spirit and know that you were better. There was always something about him to inspire one to better thoughts and deeds. He seemed to be able to read the countenance like an open book and unless their lives were clean, few there were who came to even face him. Of a dignified and commanding presence, one could not fail to note that he was a leader among men. With his clear conscience, he was always able to look every man in the eye and speak his mind. His advice and counsel was sought in all the affairs of life. The poor and down trodden looked to him for comfort. Even the savage Indian found in him a true and lasting friend and counselor. After hours of patient conversation with those treacherous savages, the miracle was that they never left him in anger, for his talk to them was so forceful and the right so plainly pointed out that they were usually quite willing to do as he said. He read with so clear an eye; understood cause and effect so well that his word was almost that of a prophet. His sublime faith, his unfaltering integrity in all the walks of life made him a worthy husband, a noble father, and an all around man to be loved, honored, and respected by everyone. His name went far and near as a man of God. With a family of five wives, God alone knows from his earnest and fervent prayers how hard he tried to be a just and loving husband and that his life with all its joys and cares, its responsibilities and burdens might be equitably distributed. The home life of his wives and children was comfortable and happy in those times, and being guided by his direction and care, they were successful enough to be spoken of as an exemplary family. Of course, one who stops to think will realize that the credit cannot be all his, be he ever so perfect. His noble women carried their full share of responsibility with its attendant honors.April 14, 1879, the corner stones of the Manti Temple were laid, John Taylor officiated for the southeast corner; Edward Hunter the southwest; Fredrick W. Cox the northwest, and Horace Eldredge the northeast. Father Cox standing on the corner said, "We now pronounce this the northeast cornerstone, properly laid and we pray God the Eternal Father that his spirit may rest down upon all who shall assist in erecting this temple to his name, Amen." The Temple opened for ordinance work May 29, 1888. Francis Morley Cox baptized the first person in it. Father's last writing was June 1, 1879, in a letter to his sister Mary in Arizona, from Manti. "Mary, I thought I would write a letter for you to look at; but do not feel like writing. If I were there I could talk better, surely. Your letter came alright. Was glad to see it; and hope Vest was sobered down by this time; If not tell him for me to settle his nerves and stay where God worked for him so powerfully and raised him to life and health for He might not be found in every place on earth. So much for Vest. "I often think of you and the boys and wonder how you are getting along and you surely have my best wishes for your welfare. Now understand me, it is not the dollars and cents that I am thinking of, but the work of God. The dollars will come when necessary, no fear for them; but to keep the spirit of this work in our hearts; that is the all important for every man and woman on this earth. Never give it up; for nothing can ever be made substitute. Jesus died and there is no other to die for us. So round up your shoulders and let your firmness be to the death. So shall you find comfort and satisfaction in this life and eternal reward in the future. (This is to all the boys.) God bless you forever. F.W. Cox Just buried Father Shoemaker. He never took a dollar to bear expenses but full of the spirit of the Gospel to the last. OBITUARY Fredrick Walter Cox died at Manti, Utah June 4th, 1879, from injuries received while unloading logs from a wagon June 2. He remained in an unconscious state until he expired. He was born January 20, 1812 in Plymouth N.Y. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints at Far West, Missouri; endured the persecutions on common with the Saints and was driven from that state in 1838. Landed at Quincy, Illinois, from there he moved to Lima in dthe same state where he acted as counsellor to Isaac Morley. Performed three different missions in parts of the U.S. with good success; was driven from Lima in 1845 having his house burned by the mob and his family narrowly escaped with their lives. He next settled in Nauvoo. He gathered with the Saints in '47 at Winter Quarters. Moved to Council Bluffs in '48. Crossed the plains and settled in Manti in 1852 where he soon afterwards was chosen counsellor to Pres. Welsome Chapman. At a general conference in April 1862 he was called to fill a mission to England. He presided over te Preston and Durham conferences and spent three years on this mission. In the fall of '76 he was called as a special missionary to the Indians. He was a member of the City Counsil of Manti for many years; held the office of Treasurer of Sanpete County for a number of terms until his death. At the organization of the Sanpete Stake of Zion he was chosen president of the High Priests Quorum. He officiated at the laying of the corner stone of the Manti Temple. Fredrick Walter Cox was held in high esteem by the community in which he lived. He was the Father of thirty-eight children. His grandchildren number fifty-six, only three are dead. Five wives live to mourn his loss.Father Cox lived sixty seven years at a period of national history in which was fought the War of 1812 with England, War of 1846 with Mexico, our Civil War, 1860-65, and the two Indian Wars of Utah. With joy, he witnessed each victory; but it is not as a warrior or statesman we think of him. We love him as our Father and as one of God's chosen servants who has given us a birth and heritage as pure as a child ever got from a parent. We love and respect him because he loved others. Because of his numerous posterity. By his works we know him. His posterity has held positions of trust in half the large towns of Utah. They are scattered through the state in every college and university, and in the high schools of this and neighboring states. They have visited nearly every state and country in the world. His life was a success and the bond of affection which still continues unbroken among his descendants is one of the forceful evidences of his worth. All their highest ideals, their greatest achievements, their fealty to the principles and faith of our fathers are tributes to his memory. He has become the father of a generation that loves him, and that will add honor to his name as long as they live, though things may come to pass not yet foreseen the events of humanity crowd fast upon each other. May God grant that the memory of Fredrick Walter Cox will not be lost as long as his posterity shall have a place in the universe. |
Last Updated: 03.10.2018