Elias Cox and Mary Elvira Sherman Cox

Elias Cox and Mary Elvira Sherman Cox Family

Elias Cox headstone marker

Elias Cox military headstone

The courtship of Elias Cox and Mary Elvira Sherman

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.

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.

Jehu and Elias Cox at the transfiguration of Brigham Young

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. 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.

Elias Cox cattle brand

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Division of Animal Industry's Brand books, 1849-1930

Utah State digital archives

Elias Cox herds the cattle

One day, en route to Utah, the company stopped for their noon meal and to rest and feed their weary animals. Elias, with a group of boys, was watching the cows a short distance from the camp. They began playing and forgot the cows for a short time; when they finally thought about them, they were nowhere to be seen. All the other boys ran back to the wagons and told the men the Indians had driven them off. But Elias went looking for them and found the cows quietly feeding in a bunch of willows.


When the other boys were making their report, the men said, "Where is the black eyed Cox boy?" They said he was lost too. But the men were not so easily fooled; they said "We'll wait for him to come in." A little later he came, driving the herd ahead of him

Elias Cox

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.

Elias Cox by James Albert Jones

Elias Cox

from: "Some Early Pioneers of Huntington Utah and Surrounding Area"

by James Albert Jones

Elias Cox, 7th child of Jehu and Sarah Riddle Pyle Cox, was born 15 Jan 1835, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, about 35 miles west of Indianapolis. Rosannah, the oldest child in his father's family, was a strong and healthy child, but their next two children were boys who died shortly after birth. The next oldest brother was named Henderson, the next child was a girl named Sarah, and after her Mary Jane.


Their mother was in poor health, so the family moved about in search of a climate where her health would improve. Elias was 1 year old when his father moved the family to Crawford County, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. The climate was much better and the entire family began to enjoy better health. Their mother improved and soon became strong again.