Back to Biographies
Back to Main Page

WIVES OF FREDRICK WALTER COX
   

 

Biographies & Obituaries

Cemeteries

Census Information

History

Land & Maps

Look-Ups & Family Websites

Military Information

Newspapers

Resources

Vital Records
LIFE SKETCH'S OF THE WIVES OF FREDRICK WALTER COX

EMELINE WHITING COX was one of God's noble women. She was slender and dark and always trim and neat. Her dark, beautiful hair turned smoothly from a white brow. Her features were clear cut and in youth or age she was sweet to look upon. So ambitious and active one must keep going to make pace with her swift movements. Her family was always neat and her home tidy. In health she was bright, full of humor and wit. The children loved to her hear tell her droll anecdotes. How we laughed! Our merriment was contagious for she laughed with us. But if you did mischief it was your desire to keep out of her sight. Her look of scorn was almost withering. She was just as ready to commend you for a good deed. She remained ever true and faithful and devoted to the husband of her youth and pride. No one will ever know what it cost her to share the husband she loved with others, though no one ever robbed her of one fot of his affections and esteem. In her age after her family was raised she was endeavoring to console a couple who were going from home on a mission, leaving parents, home and friends, and she said, "Why, if I could have my husband to myself, I would be willing and happy to go with him to the ends of the earth." No brighter crown than hers will wait the mortals of the earth.

JEMIMA LOSEE COX was a Quaker by parentage and her whole life was influenced by their religious teachings and environment. She was of medium height with a round, full form. She had an unassuming dignity and a graceful and lovable simplicity that one could not help but admire and revere. Her hair was a beautiful dark brown with a smooth and regular wave. She had brown eyes and a smiling countenance. She had a quiet disposition and it was a miracle how everything slipped quietly and gently into place as she made every step count. She was neat and tidy in every stitch and turn. She had a self-sacrificing nature and befriended everyone in trouble and need. She was an ideal mother, a loving devoted wife, and a real woman in every sense of the word, "A blessing in the sunshine and an anchor in the storm." Aunt Cordelia says of her, "Your mother JEMIMA Cox was kind and devoted to her children. No one could say ought against her. She and I lived and ate together. We were driven from our home and husband in the dead of winter among strangers with no friends to come visit us. We felt we were alone with no one but God to rely upon. We put our trust in Him. When it was our bedtime, we knelt down in humble prayer and asked God to take us into his care and keeping through the night. We had six little children under six years old without a father's care and protection. The finger of scorn was pointed at us. We bore it with patience, looking forward to a time when we could leave and enjoy the society of our husband and friends. Your mother bore the cares of life with patience. When she was sick I was her nurse. When I was sick she nursed me. She was born September 30, 1823 in Canada, Township of Zone, County of Kent. Girls emulate her good works and prepare yourselves to meet her and dwell with her again."

Oh woman, woman, know thyself, and what thy mission, too
Thou comest from thy Maker's hand a might work to do."

Aunt Cordelia

CORDELIA MORLEY COX--She was perhaps a trifle taller than either of the other women. She too had dark hair and black eyes that in youth twinkled in merriment. As she grew older and we children aroused her ire, how they would darken and glow. She was of a quick, nervous disposition. She was a true and loyal wife, a self sacrificing mother, a noble woman who had many friends. Although her home and family were first with her, she was more ready to mingle with people in public life. This was probably the result of habit, as she had been her father's secretary and had traveled about with him while he was giving patriarchal blessings. She was his scribe. She had taught school in the Morley Settlement and after they came to Manti, too. Later she was secretary to the Relief Society for fourteen years. She was a worker in the Manti Temple for thirteen years until her death.

TWO MOTHERS - A story of JEMIMA and Cordelia
From "Heart Throbs of The West" by Kate B. Carter. Vol. 3

In the latter part of the year 1851, while the Saints were being additionally persecuted on account of polygamy, Fredrick Walter Cox and families were temporarily located in Missouri. Here Brother Cox was arrested and stood trial for polygamy. His sentence was to "recognize only one wife or leave the country." His reply was: "I will never forsake my wives and children."

His second wife, JEMIMA Losee Cox, was expecting her third child. With sentiment so much against them, he realized that for the safety of the mother and babe, and the child must not be born in that state. Cordelia, the third wife, was very devoted to JEMIMA, so she volunteered to take her three children and go with JEMIMA wherever the husband thought it wise to take them.

A wagon loaded with food, bedding, a stove, etc., was fitted out for the mothers' and children's accommodation, and they started out to find a place somewhere in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The task was not an easy one. At last, on the lonely prairie, not too far from the main road, an abandoned barn was found which had possibilities. In it was a stable 14 feet square, which was cleaned out, the floor boards turned and scrubbed, a window was improvised, the stove put up and beds made. Then wood was provided, after which the husband returned to the main body of the Saints. The women made themselves as comfortable as possible and the care of the children kept them well occupied. Cordelia, though very devoted, felt she was very poor help for a woman facing the great ordeal, as nervousness was her ever-present companion.

February was almost gone, when one evening Cordelia noticed that JEMIMA was trying to hide her distress. She then realized that the time had come. A terrible fear came over her a thousand thoughts rushed through her mind, and uppermost was the thought, "What shall I do?" The answer was a knock at the door. Cordelia opened it and there stood a woman, unexpected but so welcome, so necessary, this wintry night. She said she had felt she was needed and had come to offer assistance. That night, February 29, 1852, the babe was born. As soon as everything had been taken care of and and the babe placed in its mother's arms, the kindly woman left, and neither of the wives ever saw her again or heard from her anymore, but they always felt that this was God-given aid, for who but God could have expressed such a keen sympathy or sent more needed help. He did not send them an earthly doctor, who might appear curious enough to hurt these two wives who were so much alone, but a woman, sympathetic, understanding and capable.

The baby was named Esther, and when she was three months old, they left for Salt Lake City, arriving there September 28, 1852. They then continued on to Manti in October of the same year. Here this baby grew to womanhood, and was married in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, to Gardner B. Snow. She became the mother of eight children, to whom she always loved to tell the story of pioneer days, and especially the one regarding her birth. - Alida Snow Wooley

***************

LYDIA LOSEE - Daughter of David Losee and Lydia Huff. Sister to JEMIMA, with the same background. Brought up as a Quaker. She was born July 24, 1839 in Canada, Township of Zone, County of Kent. Although much younger than JEMIMA, she accepted the life as a plural wife and was true to her calling. A good wife and mother.

EMMA SOPHIA PETERSON - Was of Danish blood. She came from Copenhagen, Denmark where she was born 27 July, 1850. Her mother was a widow when she arrived in Manti, but soon married again. She seemed to have small patience with the older children which made life very hard for Emma. She married very young, glad to bear the honorable name of her husband. Then when he died leaving her a widow with a family of four small children, she bravely bore every hardship and tried to make her little ones comfortable. They have grown to be honorable people, striving to be a credit to their father's name.

MARY DARROW RICHARDSON - The daughter of Stephen and Harriet Burbank Darrow, was born February 23, 1818 in Hebron, New York. In 1840 she married Edmund Richardson and had Emma, Lynette and George. In 1852 with her family, her mother, sister and a company of fellow Presbyterians, she started over the old Oregon trail for Oregon. Continued and increasing trouble along the trail forced the Richardsons to part with the rest of the Company and spend the winter in Utah. They went towards the Mormons wondering of whom they were more afraid, the Mormons or the Indians, but before the Winter was over they were baptized and gave up all thought of continuing on to Oregon. President Young sent them to Manti to help strengthen that new community and over-come its very early troublesome days. They took part in the life of the community and tried earnestly to be worthy Latter-Day-Saints. In 1853, President Young divorced Mary and Edmund Richardson and she was married to Fredrick Walter Cox. By him she had two sons, Charles Edmund, born October 13, 1858 and Sullivan Calvin, born January 26, 1861. These boys were raised as the sons of Edmund Richardson and carried his name all their long lives to their graves, though they knew he was their foster-father. Mary Darrow as a fit companion for the other mothers of the children of Fredrick Walter Cox. All her life she was strong of mind and character, and when she came to know and understand the principles of the gospel of Christ, she embraced them as firmly and whole heartedly as she had other strong principles. She did not hesitate to make of herself a living sacrifice that her sons might live. May her name be known and honored for her integrity to the end of time and on into eternity.

(Notes by Clare B. Christensen in regards to Mary Darrow Richardson)

In 1902 my Mother, Maud M. Driggs, went to Mexico to teach school. She spent many pleasant hours at the home of Edmund Richardson. He told her that he was her Uncle. He of course, was there to avoid persecution of the United States to Polygamous man. From her recounting and other verbal accounts, I make the following statement, realizing the dangers of some errors and some criticisms:

"After the Richardsons had the three children, they felt that that was enough. He therefore had an operation to destroy his masculinity. After they both joined the L.D.S. Church and understood the principles of eternal lives, they both came to realize and sorrow over what he had done. Their repentance was so great that they resolved to undertake a most unusual procedure to have more children. They approached President Young about the matter. He said that it would be necessary for Richardson to put away his wife for this life. Accordingly there was both a divorce and a marriage. One must assume that the previous agreement with F.W. Cox was that the issue would bear the Richardson name. Charles E. Richardson was known to my Mother as Edmund Richardson. I make this explanation because I desire to thwart whispering tongues."

****************

Any history of Fredrick Walter Cox would not be complete without a record of his children, for they were his joy, his pride and his wealth.

Children of his first wife, Emeline Whiting:

1. Fredrick w. b. 6 Nov. 1836, Wyndam, Ohio, md. Lucy Allen, Alvira Coolidge.

2. Louisa Jane, b. 3 Feb, 1839, Far West, Mo. d. 1846.

3. William A. b. 27 Dec. 1841, Lima, Ill, md. Christina Anderson.

4. Eliza E. b. 4 May 1843, Lima. Ill.

5. Rosalia E. b. 22 Feb, 1846, Nauvoo, Ill. md. Benjamin W. Driggs.

6. Edwin M. b. 2 Aug. 1848, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. Jane Reid.

7. Edward W. b. 7 Feb. 1849 Silver Creek, Iowa, d. infant.

8. Emily A. b. 8 Aug. 1852 on the Platte River, md. Luther Terry Tuttle.

9. Harriet L. b. 6 Feb. 1855, Manti, Utah, md. Henry Reid.

10. Sylvester b. 15 Feb. 1857, Manti, Utah, md. Mary Parry.

11. Lucia b. 2 Feb. 1860, Manti Ut. md. Albert Tuttle.

12. Luella b. 10 Aug, 1863, d. 1865 Manti Utah.

Children of 2nd Wife, Jemima Lossee:

13. Mary Adelaide b. 28 Aug, 1848, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. William T. Reid.

14. George Byron b. 18 Nov 1849, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. Susan L. Henrie.

15. Esther Phelina, b. 29 Feb. 1852, Council Bluffs, Iowa, md. Gardner E. Snow.

16. Alvira J. b. 14 May 1855, Manti, Utah, md. Alfred Adler.

17. Carmelia b. 30 Dec. 1857, Manti Utah, d. 1864.

18. Abraham L. b. 17 Dec. 1853, Manti, Utah, d. 1855.

19. Sarah Eleanor b. 30 Nov. 1859, Manti, Utah, md. Brigham J. Peacock.

20 Alice b. 17 Feb. 1862 Silver Creek, Iowa, md. Chas. Tennant, E.V. Hardy.

Children of 3rd Wife, Cordelia Morley:

21. Lavina E. b. 27 Sept, 1846, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. Andrew Van Buren.

22. Theresa Emorette b. 25 March 1849, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. John M. Clark.

23. Sarah Ann b. 10 April 1851, Silver Creek, Iowa, md. Fredrick Anderson.

24. Francis M. b. 23 August 1853, Manti, Utah, md. Elizabeth Johnson.

25. Isaac b. 8 June 1855, Manti, Utah, d. 1865.

26. Calista Cordelia b. 20 December 1857, Manti, Utah, d. 1933, md. W. G. Crawford.

27. Arletta Maria b. 12 October 1861, Manti, Utah, md. Frank M. Tuttle.

28. Evelyn Amelia b. 8 December 1866, Manti, Utah, md. John M. Moffitt.

Children of 4th Wife, Lydia Losee:

29. Samuel b. 11 December 1855, d. 1847 Manti, Utah.

30. Amanda b. 1 July 1859, Manti, Utah, md. Mortin Tuttle.

31. Charles A. b. 27 January 1857, Manti, Utah, md. Sabra E. Stringham.

Children of 5th Wife, Emma Sophia Peterson:

32. Peter b. 13 June 1871, Manti, Utah.

33. Lucinda Belle b. 30 January 1873, Manti, Utah, md. Jacob Ruesch Jr.

34. Walter b. 27 July 1874, Manti, Utah, md. Mamie Chapman.

35. Mary E. b. 17 August 1876, Manti, Utah.

36. Olivaette B. b. 14 June 1878, Manti, Utah.

Children of 6th Wife, Mary Darrow Richardson:

37. Charles Edmund Richardson b. 13 October 1858, Manti, Utah, d. 1925, md. Sarah Louisa Adams, Sarah Rogers, Caroline Rebecca Jacobson, Daisy Stout, Father of 36 children. (This is the Charles Edmund Richardson referred to in the notes by Clare B. Christensen.)

38. Sullivan Calvin Richardson b. 26 January 1861, Manti, Utah, md. Martha Irene Curtis, Teresa Leavitt. 21 children.

Last Updated: 03.10.2018