George L. Cox

COX, TERRILL, CURTIS, STILLWELL, CHARLTON, GREELEY, RYGH

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/22/2010 at 04:57:22

GEORGE L. COX

That Iowa is one of the foremost of the great agricultural states of the Union is due not to the labors of a single individual or to a small group of men but to the combined efforts of many farmers who are alert, enterprising and progressive and who keep in touch with the trend of modern progress along agricultural lines. To this class belongs George L. Cox, living on section 25, Eden township, Winnebago county. He was born in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, January 20, 1863, and is a son of William and Lovina (Terrill) Cox, who were natives of England and were farming people. They had a family of nine children, of whom five are still living: William Henry, residing in North Dakota; Emma, the deceased wife of Chance Curtis, of King township, Winnebago county; George L.; Reuben, living in Forest township, Winnebago county; John, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Elizabeth, the wife of Ira Stillwell, a resident of Minnesota. The other children died in early life and the parents have now passed away. In 187-i they became residents of Winnebago county, settling in Forest township, where the father purchased a farm, upon which they resided until called to the home beyond, when their remains were interred in Oakwood cemetery at Forest City. He was entirely a self-made man, owing his success in the fullest measure to his persistent and earnest efforts. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and his political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party, but he was never an office seeker.

George L. Cox attended the common schools until he reached the age of sixteen years and afterward worked for his father until he attained his majority. He was then employed as a farm hand by others for three years and on the expiration of that period rented a farm in Forest township, Winnebago county, for two years, while for a similar period he cultivated a tract of land in King township, which he leased. While thus engaged he carefully saved his earnings and at length was able to purchase eighty acres of land in Grant township, upon which he lived for one year. He later sold and bought eighty acres of the northwest quarter of section 25, Eden township, and from time to time as his financial resources have increased he has added to his holdings, extending the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises three hundred and twenty acres of rich and valuable land, upon which he has made a number of modern improvements, transforming it into one of the fine farms of this section of the state. He is a stockholder in the Thompson elevator and creamery.
When twenty-three years of age Mr. Cox was married to Miss Jane H. Charlton, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Greeley) Charlton, who were natives of England and Wisconsin respectively. They became residents of Bristol township, Winnebago county, and afterward of Newton township, Worth county, but both have now passed away. The father was laid to rest in Bristol cemetery and the mother was buried in Montana, having during the last few years of her life lived on a claim in that state with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have become the parents of seven children: William, who is living near Lovejoy, Montana; Herbert, who is assisting in the work of the home farm; Lillian, the wife of Lewis Rygh, of Norway township, Winnebago county; George, who is with his brother William on a claim; Walter, of Eden township; and Charles and Emily, both at home.

The family attend the Lutheran church. Mr. Cox gives his political endorsement to the men and measures of the republican party, but he has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. His entire attention has been claimed by his business interests and it has been through his close application and persistent energy that he has won a place among the well-to-do farmers of Winnebago county, being now the possessor of a splendid property, wisely managed and carefully cultivated according to progressive ideas of agriculture.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 520-521.