Theodore Cox (1891)
COX, JONES, ZELLER
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 8/4/2016 at 07:45:28
The Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, July 17, 1891
Page 2Death of an Old Settler
Theodore Cox, one of the oldest and best known of the pioneers of Madison county, died last Sunday, the 12th inst., at 3 p.m., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. W. Jones, in Winterset. Mr. Cox’s health had been failing for some years, but his death was sudden and unexpected. On the evening of Saturday, the day before he died, he was about town, conversing with acquaintances, and apparently feeling as well as he had done for some time, so that the sad news of his death, which occurred at about 3 o’clock p.m., was a surprise to most.
Theodore Cox was born in Talbot county, Maryland, September 23, 1817. When fifteen years old he went to Baltimore where he served an apprenticeship as machinist. While working at his trade in Baltimore, he assisted in building the first locomotive constructed in this country. When his health failed in 1844 he went to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he remained one year and then emigrated to Iowa, first settling in Keokuk county, where he was married in 1846. Finding that pioneer life was restoring his health and congenial, he kept up with the frontier line as it receded westward, having been a pioneer of Mahaska county as well as Keokuk. In 1854 he settled on a claim one and a half mile east of Winterset which continued to be his home till a few years ago, when owing to failing health and the loss of his companion he removed to Winterset and made his home with his oldest daughter, Mrs. E. W. Jones. Possessed of an indomitable will, energetic, public spirited and scrupulously honorable in all his dealings, he died at a ripe age undoubtedly one of the most pronounced of a type which is fast disappearing.
The funeral exercises were held last Tuesday, at the home of his daughter, and were attended by a large assemblage of relatives and friends, as the deceased was almost universally known, and his death a matter of sincere public sorrow.
________________________The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, July 16, 1891
Page 4, Column 4OBITUARY
Theodore Cox died at the residence of E. W. Jones, Sunday, July 12, at 4 p. m. Funeral was held Tuesday morning, Rev. Majors, of the Church of Christ, preaching the funeral sermon.
Theodore Cox was born in Tabott county, Maryland, September 23, 1817. His father died when he was quite a young lad and until he was fifteen years old he lived with uncle. When between fifteen and sixteen years old he went to Baltimore and became an apprentice to a machinist. He learned the trade of a machinist thoroughly and health held the first locomotive ever built in America.
His health failed him in 1844 he was compelled to give up his trade and for one year he was a citizen of Lafayette, Indiana. The following year he came west and settled on the frontier, buying a claim near Sigourney, Keokuk county, Iowa. The following year, in 1846, he was married to Miss Sarah Johnston, daughter of a Kentuckian, who was one of his neighbors, and who represented Keokuk county in the state legislature.
Theodore Cox spent nearly ten years as a pioneer in Keokuk county and was an honored and respected citizen. More than once he was honored with a public office and when he removed to Mahaska county in 1853 there was great regret among his neighbors and friends all over the county. Mahaska county had few attractions for him however, and the following year he came to Madison County and purchased a claim in Scott Township two miles east of the city where he continuously lived until his wife died a year or two ago. After the death of his wife he made his home in Winterset with his daughter, Mrs. E. W. Jones.
Coming to the county in 1854 Theodore Cox was, of course, one of the pioneers of Madison county. The always took a leading part in any enterprise that was for its advancement. He opened up the farm which he owned at the day of his death and as the years rolled by he had added to it until over six hundred acres within side of the city were his.
He commenced to buy stock at an early day and his energy, and his good business sagacity, combined with his well-known integrity soon gained him a modest fortune. He shipped his stock to Baltimore, driving them overland to Eddyville, the nearest railroad point, or to Marshalltown. When the railroad was proposed Theodore Cox was one of its first champions and probably gave more money to the enterprise than any man in the county. In all his business dealings he was scrupulously honest and the man does not live who can say that Theodore Cox ever gained a cent dishonestly.
His wife died nearly two years ago and three sons, Walter, George and Theodore, and two daughters, Mrs. E. R. Zeller and Mrs. P. W. Jones, survive him.
In religion he was a Universalist though he belongs to know church, and in politics he was always a Democrat, taking a leading part in the council of the party. He was always an honored man in the party and for many years was one of the leaders in it. Even when enfeebled by old age he took a lively interest in his party’s welfare. He was consistent and broad in his political views and always admired those traits in an opponent.
He was strong and vigorous in both body and mind until attacked by the grip from which he never recovered. Death came to him easily and almost without warning. Hundreds of friends testified their friendship by following the body to its resting place Tuesday morning.
Of the old pioneers whose deaths we are compelled to chronicle from time to time there is none more honored or whose face will be missed more than that of Theodore Cox.
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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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