Cox, Christopher

COX, COCHRAN, FARMER, WHERRY, HUFFMAN, MORGAN, ROSECRANS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/29/2009 at 13:04:22

History of Poweshiek Co. Iowa (1880)
Deep River Township. Page 720-21

COX, CHRISTOPHER--Section 22, P.O. Deep River. His grandfather Cox was probably of German descent, but born in America, and was a farmer. His mother's father was a Scotchman, and came from his native country to this to fight in the Revolutionary War. His father's name was Ephraim, and he was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 25th of July, 1802. He was a prosperous farmer in his native State, and emigrated with his family to this State, in October, 1854. His family consisted of Mary J. (afterward Mrs. Cochran), Robert, Samuel F., Christopher, Sarah A. (afterward Mrs. Farmer, now living in Iowa county), Margaret (afterward Mrs. John Wherry) and George. Besides these one daughter, Nancy (who married George Huffman and settled in Delaware county, Indiana). The spring before his emigration the father visited this county and took up 400 acres of land from the government, and subsequently purchased 140 acres from Albert Morgan, just east of Dresden, where he lived until his death, which occurred on the 13th of March, 1862. His large estate was equally divided among his children. In 1855 this old settler built one of the first mills in the county, and run it successfully two or three years, when he sold it and farmed for the remainder of his life. His son Samuel was instantly killed by the explosion of the boiler belonging to this mill, on the 13th of August, 1856. The subject of this sketch, Christopher, was born on the 13th of June, 1832, in Ohio, and was educated in his native State. He chose for his first wife Miss Mary E. Morgan, who was a native of Ogle county, Illinois. His children by this lady are as follows: Samuel (born May 6, 1859, and died June 4, 1864), William E. (born February 18, 1861), Margaret E. (born May 17, 1862), Mary (born in May of 1864, and died the following January). Mrs. Cox died the 16th of May, 1864, and Mr. Cox re-married the 10th of May, 1866. Miss Mary E. Rosecrans became his second wife, and she was also a native of Ogle county, Illinois, and was born the 7th of September, 1842. The fruits of this union were: George E. (born April 15, 1867), Clement L. (born January 19, 1869), Lela E. (born March 1, 1873), Emma J. (born May 12, 1874), Roy A. (born August 3, 1877) and Inez L. (born March 14, 1879). Mr. Cox owns 690 acres of good farming land. He is an extensive dealer in lumber and grain in the village of Thornburg; has dealt largely in stock, and still pays some attention to that business. He is free from debt.