Jehu and Elias Cox in the Blackhawk war

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.