Elias Cox biography

ELIAS COX

1835-1917

Elias Cox, the seventh of sixteen children born to Jehu Cox and Sarah Pyle, was born on January 15, 1835 in Green Castle, Putnam County, Indiana (35 miles west of Indianapolis) Because his wife Sarah was in poor health, Jehu moved the family from Indiana to Crawford County, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozarks, in 1836. There the family found a better climate and all enjoyed good health. In the winter of 1837-1838, Mormon missionaries came to the area and Jehu was converted to the Mormon Church. He was baptized January 12, 1838; Sarah was baptized February 13, 1838. Both were baptized outside and had to have the ice broken in order to be baptized. Joining the church at this time must have taken a great deal of courage because the Mormon Church was then undergoing the height of the Missouri persecution. The saints were being threatened with extermination and were being driven from the state. Despite the persecution, the family remained in Missouri, however, until November of 1839 when they moved to Hancock County, Illinois, within three miles of Nauvoo. It was while they were living here on October 7, 1844, that Elias Cox was baptized.


According to his son Albey, Elias reported that on one occasion as a young child he sat on Joseph Smith's knee and talked to the prophet. Elias also personally knew Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and during the height of the Illinois persecution, the family moved into Nauvoo during the winter of1845-1846. Here on February 2, 1846, Jehu and Sarah were endowed in the Nauvoo Temple. It was also reported that Elias Cox and probably other members of the family attended the meeting at which Brigham Young was recognized as the rightful head of the Church despite the claims of Sidney Rigdon. Elias reports that he said to his father while they were at the meeting, "Brother Joseph's come back." His father explained the transfiguration to him. According to those present, Presidents Young's voice and mantle were transfigured into those of Joseph Smith and the people who saw and heard him knew he was to be their leader. The Cox family did not leave in the bitter winter exodus of 1845-46 but remained in Nauvoo for the birth of the 13th child, Nephi, on March 20, 1846. Nephi died April 29, 1846. The family remained in Nauvoo three weeks until May 20, 1846, then crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa. In the words of Jehu's diary, "We left Nauvoo and came to Piagah and planted some corn."

The family left Piagah, Iowa, and was in Council Bluffs, Iowa, by July 16, for on that day the oldest living son, Henderson, left Council Bluffs with the Mormon Battalion. The family was never to see Henderson again. After completing the famous march with the Battalion, and after being at Sutter's Mill when gold was discovered in California, Henderson set out with two companions to explore a route to Salt Lake City for a group of the Battalion members. He and his companions were murdered and scalped by a band of Indians near the summit of Donnor's Pass in California on June 24, 1848. The springs near which they were massacred are still today called Tragedy Springs. (Some people thought the massacre might have been done by white men seeking gold dust or nuggets, but the fact that a pouch of gold was discovered on the body of on of the murdered men seems to refute this idea.)

After Henderson left them, the family remained in Council Bluffs. Early in the spring of 1847, they crossed the Missouri River and moved seven miles up river to the Campbell farm. Joshua the 14th child was born July 14, 1847, and died that same day. They remained on the farm until April of 1848 when they returned to Winter Quarters. On May 18, 1848, the family left Winter Quarters in Heber Kimball's company to make the journey to Salt Lake City. Because his father had been appointed a captain and had the responsibility of the wagons of his group, Elias, then 13 years old and the oldest son since Henderson's departure, had the major responsibility for driving the Cox wagon with its two yoke of oxen. He reports that if one of the wagons in Jehu's group broke down, Jehu would be called to assist making repairs and Elias had to assume full care of the Cox wagon and oxen. When all was well, Jehu would assist Elias in making camp and caring for the animals.

On June 15 Elias' little sister Lucretia, then six years old, fell off the front of one of the wagons and was killed as the wagon passed over her neck. The company stopped briefly; a grave was dug; and the little girl was placed in it. The family received many expressions of support and sympathy from others in the company, but they had to move on, leaving the little grave behind them on the plains. A short but moving statement from the diary Jehu wrote many years later "...when we were coming up on Platte River to the valley she was run over with a wagon and died June 15, 1848," tells much of pioneer suffering and fortitude.

The Coxes joined the church in difficult times and left a grave as monuments to the most of the important historical places and events in Mormon pioneer history: the baby Nephi (1846) in Nauvoo, the City Beautiful; the baby Joshua (1847) at Winter Quarters; Lucretia (1848) on the plains of Nebraska on the epic trip to Zion, Henderson (1848) at Tragedy Springs near Donner's pass after the famous Mormon Battalion march. Later Elisha (1856) a baby was buried at Union during the difficult early years in the Salt Lake Valley.

Later in June, according to one report, the company was attacked at Cedar Creek by a band of Omaha Indians who attempted to run off their livestock. In the fight which followed, two members of the company were wounded and several Indians were killed. However, most of the experiences with Indians as the crossed the plains were friendly.

Elias told of a violent storm striking the company one day. Hail stones as large as bird's eggs struck the animals and the wagons. He, along with the other drivers, had to hold the oxen from stampeding. Since his clothing consisted only of a flaxen shirt and trousers for protection against the storm, his sister scrambled down from the wagon and fastened her cape around his shoulders to give him more protection. A number of diaries written by members of the company mention a violent storm which struck September 1 at South Pass. This may be the storm Elias remembered.

Elias also related another experience he remembered having while on the journey. One time while they were camped, he was with a group of playful boys who were supposed to be herding the cows of the wagon train. While the boys were playing instead of watching the cows, some of the livestock strayed out of sight. Looking up, the boys became alarmed and drove the remaining cows back to camp, telling the leaders that the Indians had taken the rest of the cows. One of the men said, "Where is the black-eyed Cox boy?" and the boys said "He is lost." The leaders couldn't be fooled so easily--they said, "Wait until the Cox boy comes in." and shortly he arrived with the rest of the herd which had been feeding behind the willows.

The company was in Ft. Laramie on July 22 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 24, 1848. They had traveled approximately 1,027 miles in 130 days, averaging about 8 miles per day. The family endured the many hardships of the 2nd winter in the Salt Lake Valley. Since the crickets had destroyed part of the crop, food was very scarce and the Cox family with their nine living children must have known a good deal of hunger and hardship during the cold winter months. In April of 1849, the family moved out to little Cottonwood Creek (later named Union) as the fist settlers in that area. Because of the possibility of India attacks, Brigham Young advised the group to build a fort. Jehu Cox gave 10 acres of his farm to the community on which to build the Fort.

On May 6, 1855, Elias Cox married Martha Richards, a daughter of Silas Richards who had moved to Union in October of 1849. They received their endowments in the Endowment House on that day. Elias Henderson Cox, born December 19, 1856. During the Utah war of 1857-58, Jehu Cox's family, along with the rest of the members of the Church abandoned Salt Lake City. The Coxes moved temporarily to Spring Lake, Utah, four miles south of Payson. After peace was made and Johnson's Army marched through Salt Lake City, the families returned to their homes in Union.

By 1859, the area around Union in Jehu's view had become rather crowded. Therefore, early in the year of 1859 Elias and Martha bought a ranch in Spanish Fork Canyon near Thistle. On May 6, 1861, the 6th marriage anniversary of the young couple, Martha Richards Cox died. In those days people made their family coffins, as they called them so Elias took some pine boards and made the coffin for his young wife's burial. He then accompanied the body to Union for burial. After her death, close relatives of the family helped Elias raise his young son, Elias H., until he was able to ride and work with his father. After the death of his wife Elias apparently lived in Fairview and in Thistle Canyon for several years in the 1860's and 1870's.

Elias was involved in the Blackhawk Indian war. In 1864 some of the Cox boys were herding sheep near Fairview when a band of Indians surprised them and drove the sheep off. The boys ran quickly into town to tell the adults. Jehu and Elias, heavily armed, rushed out after the Indians. When the Indians saw the coming, they quickly left the sheep and fled into the mountains. This was probably one of the first incidents of the Blackhawk war. On May 29, 1865, Elias and his brother-in-law David H. Jones were riding together out on guard against Indian attack. At one point they had to ride single file through some willows. The Indians attacked and David H. Jones was killed. Elias expected to be killed but managed to escape to bring back help, but the Indians had fled. Later in his life Elias was presented a badge at one of the Blackhawk war reunions.

His relationship with the Indians, however, was generally peaceful. He learned to talk their language and they accepted him as their friend. His friendly relationship with the India made him of great value to the early surveyors in the state. On one occasion in driving a wagon from Salt Lake to Castle Valley for his store a group of Indians met him. They circled his wagon and one old Indian asked him if he remembered Jones' death. When Elias said yes, the Indian said "I shoot Jones." Elias asked why the Indian had not shot him. The Indian said "No Indian will ever shoot you. You're a friend."

Later Elias traded his ranch near Thistle and moved to a farm near Midvale. After the railroad cam to Utah in 1869, Elias Cox and Lynn Brady got a contract and got out timbers to help build the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad went through their farms and they also helped build the grade for track through their property.

Early in 1877 explorers were sent out by church authorities to explore Castle Valley and the head waters of the San Rafael River. They went through Spanish Fork Canyon to Castle Valley. The men sent were Jefferson Tidwell, Elias Cox, Jehu Cox Jr., Benjamin Jones, and Elam Cheney. They were the early scouts for the Emery, Carbon, Grand and Juan counties as they are now. These men scouted the Henry Mountains, Buck Horn, etc. When they returned with the information they had gained of the vast area, 75 men were chosen to settle that part of the country. However, only a few of that number responded and moved to Emery County in the winter of 1877-78. The Richards family was prominent in Church leadership. Elias was personally acquainted with Brigham Young, John Taylor and others. He therefore received a call to move to the new area and help establish it.

Erastus Curtis and sons settled at what is now Orangeville; Orange Seeley settled at Castle Dale; Elias and Jehu Cox Jr. settled at Huntington. Others followed later and by 1878 enough people were settled in this area so that Orange Seely was called to preside over all the people of the valley. They first lived in dugouts along the border of the Huntington River. In January 1879 Elias Cox was appointed presiding elder in Huntington. On October 7, 1879 he became the first bishop of Huntington and served until 1883. During his term as bishop the first Sunday School in Huntington was organized on December 8, 1881; the first YMMIA on October 26, 1882; the first Relief Society on February 27, 1883 with his wife Mary Elvira Cox as secretary. Early records of the YWMIA and Primary have been lost, so the date of their first organization is not known. A bowery was completed near the river by July 24, 1880, and a log meeting house was constructed on the site now occupied by the North Emery Jr. High School and opened with a gala New Years Dance December 31, 1880. (The log meeting house burned November 11, 1918). After his release as bishop in 1883 Elias served as a member of the Emery Stake High Council for many years. Elias surveyed Huntington canal from where it came out of the river to the point where it divides to go to Lawrence. He surveyed it with two forked sticks and a spirit level.

In the spring of 1880 the Sherman Family and the others moved to the site on the Huntington Creek and a courtship began between their oldest daughter Mary Elvira and Elias Cox. In later years Mary Elvira Sherman related this story to her daughter Grace. "When your father and I were courting he came to see me where I lived in a dugout with my folks on the north side of the river. The mice and rats were coming in from the fields as the cool weather began to set in and we could see their shining eyes once in a while as they darted here and there in the candle light across the dirt floor. We sat across the room from each other and tilted our chairs back against the wall to keep our feet off the floor while we carried on some sort of conversation.

In the spring of 1880 the Sherman Family and others moved to the site on the Huntington creek and a courtship began between their oldest daughter Mary Elvira and Elias Cox. In later years Mary Elvira Sherman related this story to her daughter Grace. "When your father and I were courting he came to see me where I lived in a dugout with my folks on the north side of the river. The mice and rats were coming in from the fields as the cool weather began to set in and we could see their shining eyes once in a while as they darted here and there in the candle light across the dirt floor. We sat across the room from each other and tilted our chairs back against the wall to keep our feet off the floor while we carried on some sort of conversation."

"There were no houses yet on the townsite, but your father was appointed with William H. Avery, David H. Leonard, Sr. and W. Albert Guymon, Sr. to survey the townsite. The site was nothing but a bed of prickly pears with scarcely a cow trail in sight. Your father had his store in a dugout. He had a son, lacking 6 months of being the same age as I and I had a child old enough to go to school. It wasn't long until a school was organized, for there were several children who were of school age.

"The work of surveying progressed and the townsite was divided into blocks; each block divided into four parts. The settlers then drew lots to determine ownership of each fourth of a block. Each man received a lot, with those who had two wives receiving two lots. We danced in larger dugouts and went to picnics, programs and church in the bowery. (The bowery was built on a site just west of the house on what is now known as the Murray farm. It was built in time for the celebration July 24, 1880). Elias was bishop so we always attended church. At last the day came when we thought we could take the time to get married. All the plan's were made, we hitched up old Bolly and Nell and were on our way to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City which took two or three days to drive." Elvira told her daughter Blanche: "On the way to be married we stopped overnight at Richards' home in Union. Mrs. Richards watched me very closely. When we left, Mrs. Richards said to me, "You must have noticed how I've been watching you. I want you to know that there couldn't be two young women whose actions and movements were more alike as yours and Martha's."

There in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Elias Cox and Mary Elvira Sherman Gillespie were married on November 10, 1880. Instead of giving bride an engagement ring, Elias gave her a golden watch and a chain. Mary Elvira Sherman Cox was the daughter of Albey L. Sherman and Mary E. Swan, pioneers in 1854. She was born in Santaquin July, 7 1856, just six months before Elias H. Cox, later to become her step-son. She was the 2nd of 14 children. About 1860 the Sherman family moved from Santaquin to Fountain Green, Utah. There Mary Elvira married Alpheus Monterwill Gillespie on January 10, 1874, and to them a daughter Mary Elvira Gillespie was born. The couple later separated. One year after the marriage of Elias and Elvira, Elias' son Elias H. Cox married Ellen Sherman, younger sister of his father's wife on September 8, 1881.

In 1879 Elias opened the first store in Huntington, selling his goods from a dugout along the river bend. His merchandise was rather limited. He had some denim and calico cloth, overalls, a few notions such as buttons, needles, and thread, some salt, soda, and a few hardware items. He first freighted his goods from Salt Lake City, later from a terminal at Thistle, and finally from a terminal at Price. After the town of Huntington was laid out, he built a small adobe house on Main Street, the first house on the Huntington town site, and he had the store in it. Later he built a new home and a new store. However, he extended credit to too many people. Many wouldn't or couldn't pay and he finally gave up the store. Albey tells a story of one fellow who owed a considerable amount and promised he would pay when his grain was thrashed. He had a fine crop. Some friends cam to Elias and told him that the man had no intention of paying and that he was at that moment taking a wagon load to Price. Elias went out and caught him. He reluctantly returned to the store and paid grain on his bill but said, "Brother Cox, if you had been a little later you wouldn't have got a cent." After selling his store to Abe Hammon and Bill Floyd, he became a shareholder in the Huntington Mercantile Association which operated from 1900 to 1908.

In 1879 a saw mill operated by Elias Cox and Charles H. Holingshead operated at Rilda Canyon in Huntington Canyon. In 1880 the mill was moved to The Forks. The mill was run by a water wheel. In 1896 a saw mill owned by Cox and Pulsipher was moved to town just west of the grist mill. Elias furnished employment for many men in the vicinity. Many who worked for him said that he was a kind, gentle and understanding man. He also had a shingle mill; he would split logs and pare them down with a knife.

Elias' father and mother cam from Fairview to Huntington to live. Both became very ill. Elvira had small children and was having a difficult time caring for both the children and her ill father-in-law- and mother-in-law. Elias asked if one of his sisters could come help. Emma (Blanche believes it was Emma) came to help. Sara Cox died, however. Frank Sherman was sent on a pony through Huntington Canyon to notify the family in Fairview. Sarah's body was taken in a wagon over the rough road to Fairview for burial. Jehu was so ill that he was not able to accompany his wife's body. Elvira also had to stay in Huntington to care for him and was not able to attend her mother-in-law's funeral.

People who knew Elias said that he used the best judgment and was the most fearless leader they had ever known. He possessed great understanding, using wisdom in the smallest details. He was a man of few words. Some people remarked of him, "Elias Cox would say more in six words than most people could say in six weeks." He served in a number of leadership positions in Huntington: He was a probate judge for five years, and was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in1890, after the visit of Karl G. Maeser to Huntington; he was appointed a member of the first seminary board. When Huntington with a population of 738 was incorporated as a town in 1891, he was one of the first town board members. He is also listed as a member of the Emery Stake board of Education in 1897-98.

His ability to advise people or to help them in important decisions was unusual and frequently commented on. One time a man holding a very important position in Carbon County said of him "Many is the time I have gone to Elias Cox for advice, but never once did I hear him say, 'Do this, or do that'. He has always reversed the situation and let me see the other side of the point in question and immediately I could decide what to do."

According to his children, he was always patient and understanding in the management of home situations. If difficulties arose in the home with the children, he could settle them in such a way that they were ashamed of their conduct. Albey Cox said of his father Elias, "My father never whipped his children; he talked to them. He talked me out of some things I don't think eh could have whipped me out of." On one occasion Albey reports that he did something and one of Elias' sisters said, "Elias, if you don't whip that boy, I'll whip you." But Elias refused to whip him. Frank Cox also reported that Elias was a patient man with all he met. According to Frank, "Dad never whipped us, nor got angry with us. His sisters were pretty onery sometimes, but I can't remember Dad ever becoming angry."

About 1898 Elias and Elvira sold the store and home in downtown Huntington and bought a farm on the west edge of Huntington. Elias built a home and lived there until he died May 8, 1917, at the age of 82. Elvira then sold the farm and bought a home down town just east of the elementary school, where she lived until she died on July 4, 1937, two days before her 82nd birthday.



Children of Elias Cox and Mary Elvira Sherman Cox:

Albey Elias born August 10, 1881, died March 12, 1971

Jehu born February 9, 1883, died August 2 1949

William E. born September 5, 1884, died June 19, 1959

Marion E. born October 12, 1886, died March 20, 1962

Sarah Elizabeth, born March 12, 1888

Orlo born March 26, 1890, died January 14, 1919

Margaret Blanche born November 17, 1892

George Francis born January 8, 1895

Grace C. born August 25, 1897

Thomas Franklin born June 9, 1900