In Memory of......

Drusilla Cox & Jonathon Wilson: Jonathon Wilson was born in Westchester Co, Pennsylvania, in 1809 and was married in 1833 at Friends Church, Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, to Drusilla Cox, who was born in Belmont County, Ohio, May 3, 1815. Her grandfather was born in Scotland and came to North Carolina prior to the War of the Revolution. Drusilla had ten brothers and sisters, all of whom lived to maturity and became heads of families. Jonathon Wilson died in July 1886, at the home of his brother-in-law Pleasant Bond, in his seventy-seventh year. Jonathan and Drusilla Wilson were pioneers of three states: Ohio, Indiana and Kansas, and history does not record any examples of persons doing more good than they. Their lives appeared to be filled with a desire to uplift and do good to others. In all the communities inwhich they lived in their long and eventful lives they were leaders. Before the Civil War, they were champions of anti-slavery, and when that question had been settled a cause equally great and important had arisen to be solved, and prohibition became the war cry. They, with their friends, worked indefatigably to have the law written upon the statute books of the State of Kansas, and when this purpose was accomplished they were close watchers to see that the law was not broken. They always took a foremost part in such matters, and in their communities were held in the highest esteem. They felt always that something was yet undone, and the early Women's Christian Temperane Union and kindred organizations and movements owed them a great debt of gratitude. Bio: (From "Kansas and Kansans" Volume 3, p. 1688)

H.L. Cox:For some of it's best citizenship, Southeastern Kansas is indebted to the New England states. The men who have made their way from the states bordering on the Atlantic Coast who have journeyed across the country to the land of the sunflower, have displayed in their citizenship and their characters the same sterling qualities of their sturdy forbears, who like them, braved a new and untried section, and planted the seeds that brought forth a fine civilization. Of the men of Chautauqua County who lay claim to New England birth, one who has gained success in this section is H.L. Cox, of Cedar Vale, merchant and oil producer and one of this community's energetic and progressive citizens. While born in New England, he is essentially a Kansan, as he was but one and one-half years old when he came with his parents to this state, but his long line of New England ancestry is typical of the stock that has given to the West some of its best men. Mr. Cox was born at Manchester, New Hampshire, May 12, 1869, and is a son of L.M. and Abbie M. (Andrews) Cox. The family traces its ancestry back to early colonial times, when the first emigrant came from England and settled in Massachusetts, in which state was born the grandfather of H.L. Cox, Mason Cox, who passed his entire life in the Bay State and died before the birth of his grandson. L.M. Cox was born in 1836 in New Hampshire and received his education in the country schools. His father had been a farmer, but the youth did not fancy that vocation as it was carried on in his native state, and instead turned his attention to learning the trade of cabinet maker, an occupation which he mastered and which he followed for some years at Manchester. In that city, also, he was married, and after the birth of one son, came to Kansas, in the fall of 1870, and drove overland from Emporia, a distance of ninety miles, to his farm seven miles north of Cedar Vale, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land. After nine years of experience as an agriculturist, Mr. Cox again resumed the vocation of his youth, moving his residence to Cedar Vale, where he followed carpentry and cabinet-making until his death in 1913. He was a republican in his political tendencies, and served as township trustee of Jefferson Township for several years. In 1861, Mr. Cox enlisted in the Third Regiment, New Hamphire Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and three months, and took part in a number of hard-fought and important engagements, among them Bull Run and Gettysburg. His record was that of a good and faithful soldier, whose services upheld the military prestige of his state. He married Miss Abbie M Andrews, who was born in 1850, at Great Falls, New Hampshire, and died at Cedar Vale, Kansas in 1912, and they were the parents of two children:H.L. and Fred E who resided at Cedar Vale until 1916 and is now a resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he is engaged in business as an insurance agent. H.L. Cox was educated in the rural schools of Chautauqua County, Kansas, and resided at his father's home until he was twenty-two years of age. He was herding sheep and working on a farm, but subsequently turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. He was only sixteen years of age when he first became identified with commercial affairs, at that time becoming employed by the firm of Adam Brothers & Dale, a young and promising concern. Throughout his career, Mr. Cox has been connected with this business, now known as the L.C. Adam Mercantile Company, of which he has been president since 1912. Mr. Cox's rise in this business has been steady and consistent. He has worked his way up through the various branches of the enterprise, and is thoroughly familiar with every detail of this incorporated business. The business conducted is a department store, handling all kinds of merchandise except lumber and drugs, and also buying cattle, grain, etc.,. Mr. Cox is also interested in various other enterprises and is a director in the Dosbaugh National Bank. As an agriculturist, he is the owner of an Upland stock farm, located 2 1/2 miles south of Cedar Vale, a tract of 280 acres. He has also oil interests and is a producer in the vicinity of Elgin, Kansas. His residence is located on Caney Street. In politics, a republican, he has not been too busy to take an interest in the success of his party, and on a number of occasions has been called upon for public service, always responding cheerfully to these calls to discharge the duties of citizenship. He has been city clerk and city treasurer, and for four years was a member of the board of county commissioners. His only fraternal connection is with Chautauqua Lodge No. 355, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. (From Kansas and Kansans: Volume 5)

(Capt) Joseph Cox: Will of Joseph Cox, Union Twp. Butler Co, OH. My funeral expenses and all my just debts to be fully paid. To my beloved wife ANN COX-the farm on which we now reside with all our household and kitchen furniture during her natural life and one good horse, saddle and bridle to be selected by her and after her death the farm on which we now live I bequeath to my son JOHN COX. To my son JOHN COX=also the farm where Charles Condon now resides to him and his heirs forever to pass at his death to his heirs. To my son BENJAMIN COX-the farm where he now resides and also the farm that James Majors did improve to him and his heirs forever to pass at his death to his heirs. To my daughter ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON=the farm where Jarred Parrish now resides and also the farm where Colter did reside to her and her heirs forever to pass at her death to the benefit of her heirs. To my daughter MARY AYRES-the farm where John Sentena did reside and also the farm where Thomas Gilles did reside to her and her heirs forever, to pass at her death to the benefit of her heirs. To my daughter JULIANN MCMAKEN-the farm where B.B. Bell now resides and also the farm where Frederick Dively did improve in Lemon Twp to her and her heirs forever, to pass at her death to the benefit of her heirs. To my grandaughter ELIZABETH ABBER CRUMM-five hundred dollars to be paid to her when she comes of age. To my granddaughter GITTEE ANN CONOVER-two hundred dollars, one good bed and bedding and one good cow for her use and benefit when she comes of age. To the heirs of BETHANA FARMER-one hundred dollars to be equally divided between her heirs. I reserve one half acres of ground on the farm where we now reside for the purpose of a family burying ground to be kept forever for that purpose where it has been already laid off for that purpose. Remainder of personal estate, after death of wife ANN COX and paying of the three legacies mentioned, to be divided between my five children: BENJAMIN COX, JOHN COX, ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON, MARY AYRES, and JULIANN MCMAKEN. I appoint my son JOHN COX and J. Davis as executors. Signed: Joseph Cox, Witness: John Avey, Thomas Shaff, David Shaff, David S Irwin, James Van Hise. Date: May 20, 1837. CODICIL: I appoint my son JOHN COX my sole and only executor hereby revoking the appointment of John Davis. Signed: Joseph Cox. Date: Feb 22, 1841, Witness: David S Irwin, James Van Hise. Proven in Common Pleas Court: Feb 15, 1842. Donated by:Margaret Van Ness Nelson

Mary (Evans) Cox: Mary Evans Cox, d/o Elijah Evans of Iowa, w/o William E Cox: On March 17, 1875, William E Cox married Mary Evans. They were married at Wellington, KS, where Mrs. Cox still resides with her two daughters. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are still living. Mrs. Mary E Cox performed a service worth mentioning in any history of Kansas in setting up the Home Valley District near Belle Plaine, Kansas. She personally induced some twenty-five families to locate there. That was in the spring of 1872. She was also one of the first primary teachers in Sumner County, and conducted the first millinery store at Bell Plaine in Sumner County. Bio: (From "Kansas and Kansans" Volume 4)

William Edgar Cox: William Edgar Cox was a Kentuckian by birth. He first came out to Kansas from Frankfort in 1859. He remained only a short time, and on returning to Kentucky during the Civil War peiod gave offense because of his pronounced Union sentiments to his father, who was a wealthy planter and slave holder. William E Cox again came to Kansas in 1871 and in 1872 located at Wellington. He was a strong and active opponent of the liquor interests, and a devout Methodist. He had studied law during his early career and for many years served as justice of the peace. He was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Wellington, where he died June 8, 1902, at the age of sixty. Bio: (From "Kansas and Kansans" Volume 4)

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