Jehu Cox pioneer of Fairview

Life of Jehu Cox - taken from "Ancestors and Descendants of Jehu Cox"

LIFE OF JEHU COX

Taken from Ancestors and Descendants of Jehu Cox by Wayne D. Stout

Published in 1957

The St. George Temple was dedicated in 1877. This event had a profound effect on Jehu. He experienced a spiritual revolution in his life. The Spirit of Elijah took possession of him. This endowment broadened Jehu's concept of his life's mission. Its first affect was to impel him to write his life story. The journal he wrote is disappointingly brief but extremely valuable for what it is. It is a thousand times better than no journal. In writing up his life's experiences he depended wholly on his memory. A man 74 years old cannot be expected to remember dates and events accurately — but in general he was accurate. A few inconsistencies are allowable. From these precious writings enough facts are discovered to make a biography possible.
September 5, 1803 is a historical date in Cox history. Cox history begins in Knox County, Kentucky. if we tie the date to the place the sum adds up to Jehu Cox. The area in Knox County was all rural in 1803. The county had been organized 4 years earlier. Located in the southeast part of the state, Knox was still an Indian hunting ground where white men feared to travel alone. In this wilderness Jehu first saw the light of day. On arrival Jehu did not know that Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States. Neither did Jefferson know the purchase of Louisiana would benefit Jehu. That same year John Marshall handed down his famous decision in the Marbury case. In Europe the mad Napoleon was attempting to invade England which ended like another Waterloo.  George III was the King of England (1760-1820). His autocratic rule ended the very year that superstition was replaced by a true concept of God. Truly Jehu was born during an age of revolution — mechanical as well as spiritual.

Let us now return to the infant – Jehu Cox – in the wilderness country — Knox County Kentucky. He had no memories of that beautiful country since his family moved away when he was three weeks old. The journey carried them about 190 miles northwest to the banks of the Green River which is probably in McLean County. This river empties into the Ohio above Henderson. The location of their new home can only be approximated. Here the family lived till Jehu was six years old. . In 1809 the family journeyed 265 miles to Salt Creek, Vinton County, Ohio. Jehu says the new home was 24 miles east of Chillicothe. The map shows a town named Cox on the banks of Salt Creek which may have been named for Thomas Cox. The family lived in that community 9 years or until Jehu was 15 years old.

During the period of Salt Creek, Jehu says he went to live with his grandfather, Solomon Cox. The years in question were 1814-1817 or when Jehu was 11 to 14. This is very interesting to us for it proves that Solomon was still alive in 1817. It also indicates that Solomon lived somewhere near Salt Creek. The famil moved again in 1818 “ , 205 miles to Monroe County, Indiana. (Is it possible to believe the 73 year old Solomon accompanied the family?) The family first lived in Bloomington, the County seat for about two years then moved out into the country, 12 miles from town. It seems the home was located near the banks of another Salt Creek.  If he had any educational opportunities they are not mentioned. Since his father was a farmer we can easily believe Jehu was, too.

It seems providence was shaping the destiny of Jehu. The Cox family were Quakers as we have seen. One of the Cox neighbors belonged to the Episcopal Church. The two churches have little in common. In spite of this social barrier the families became friends. This fact leads to the belief that the two families lived very close together. Some of the members from each group became more than friendly. Jehu was not romantic when he related his courtship. He simply says: “I got acquainted with Sarah Pyle and we was married January 13, 1824”.

Before we continue with Jehu's story we might take a look at Thomas Cox. We have no record of Thomas following his son Jehu to Warren County. Instead, Thomas and wife Rachel seem to have remained in Salt Creek, Indiana. We have a record of Thomas' death in 1845 but we do not know where he died. We assume he died in Salt Creek, but this is only speculation. We do have a record of Rachel's death on October 5, 1857 at Salt Creek. We might conclude from this fact that Thomas died there too.

Jehu and Sarah made their first home at Salt Creek. Four seasons were spent in that community – occupation, farming. During that period 3 children came to bless their home, unfortunately, two of them died in infancy. The health of the family at Salt Creek was not satisfactory so they decided to find a more healthy country. From Salt Creek their destination was Warren County, 110 miles northwest of Salt Creek. They rented a farm near the Wabash River (December 1827) where they remained two seasons. While there Henderson Cox joined the clan, November 6, 1829.

After the second season near the Wabash, Jehu mentions his father-in-law for the first time. He writes that he accompanied Edward G. Pyle and family across the state line into Illinois. The two families settled at Vermillion River, in Vermillion County, We might be safe in speculating that the Pyle family had been living in Salt Creek too. It may be unwise to suggest the presence of Solomon Cox in this group. In 1829 he was 84 years old — not impossible.

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 Sarah's sacrifice

On June 15 Jehu and Sarah's daughter 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.

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.

Jehu Cox Blackhawk War Memorial

Jehu Cox

Jehu Cox

Jehu Cox and Sarah Riddle Pyle Headstone

Jehu Cox and Sarah Riddle Pyle