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Henry B. Cox: Henry B. Cox, a prominent merchant of
Rector, Ark., was born February 13, 1843 in Weakley County, Tenn.
His parents were William A Cox and Hiley Cox, natives, respectively,
of Buckingham County, Va, and Giles County, Tenn. William A Cox, the
father of our subject, was born March 22, 1815. He was of Scotch
Irish descent. Remaining in his native State until twelve years of
age, he emigrated with his parents to Tennessee, which State at that
time was wild and sparsely inhabited, and furnished very limited
means of education. Still, William A Cox, in the face of every
disadvantage, by his own extraordinary efforts, succeeded in
qualifying himself for business affairs, and filled various important
stations. In 1838, he was married to Mrs. Hiley Schofield, widow of
Thomas Schofield, and daughter of Asa and Nancy Magee of Tennessee.
Resulting from this union were six children: Ballard C, Leamma M,
Henry B. (subject of this sketch), William A Jr, Emily S and Amanda
Cox. Ballard C Cox was killed at the battle of Chiekamauga while in
the Confederate service. Amanda and Emily S., late wife of W.S.
Blackshare, are also deceased. In 1857 William A Cox and family
emigrated from Tennessee to Greene County, Ark, and settled three
miles north of the town of Oak Bluff. The woods at that time
abounded in wild animals. School and church privileges were very
limited. During the late war William A Cox remained at home, but he
was a Southern sympathizer. In religion he was a Presbyterian, but
was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at the
time of his death, in 1871. Mrs. Hiley Cox is still living, and is a
resident of Clay County, Ark. (Clay County was formerly a part of
Greene County.) The paternal grandfather, John Cox, was a native of
Virginia, as was also his wife. He was of Scotch descent, and was a
farmer by occupation. The maternal grandparents were of Tennessee.
The grandfather participated in the Indian wars. He was engaged in
the memorable battle of Horseshoe Bend. Henry B Cox was thirteen
years of age when the family removed to Arkansas. He remained at
home on the farm until March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D,
Twenty-fifth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. G.D. Byers,
Confederate army. He was elected third lieutenant at Corinth, Miss.
At Readerville, Tenn., he was promoted to first lieutenant. He was
in the battles at Richmond, Ky, and Murfreesboro Tenn., as well as
numerous smaller engagements. At Murfreesboro he was wounded in the
right foot, which resulted in much suffering and long confinement in
the Medical College Hospital, at Atlanta, Ga, of which Dr. Willis
Westmoreland was chief surgeon. In 1863, near Griffin, Ga, he was
married to Miss Addie E Lavender, daughter of Judge James Lavender, a
native of Georgia. For two years after his marriage, he was engaged
in farming. In 1867, in Carroll County, Ga, he went into the
mercantile business. He emigrated to Greene County, Ark., in 1867
and is still occupied in the same business. By his marriage Mr. Cox
became the father of nine children, as follows: Charles M. B.,
Augusta O, Eugene H, Cora B, Mary F, Annie L, Dreas L, Augustus C,
and Hubert D Cox. Of these there are surviving only Charles M.B.,
Cora B, Mary F, and Dreas L Cox. The wife of Mr. Cox, Mrs. Addie E
Cox, passed from this life into the future on July 9, 1880, at the
age of thirty six years. Mr. Cox, afterward married Miss Laura I
Cox, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Rev. J.W. Cox, of the
Methodist Protestant Church. To this union were born two children:
Addie B and Everett; the last named died at the age of four months.
Mr. Cox established his business in Rector in 1882. He was the
purchaser of the first lot sold in town, and has been quite
successful. Mr. Cox and family are members of the Methodist
Protestant Church. He was ordained a minister in 1872. He has been
a member of the Masonic order since 1866, and took the Chapter and
Council degrees in 1867, at Carrollton, Carroll County, Ga. He is a
Democrat in politics; a stanch advocate of the principles of
prohibition, he supported Gen. Fisk for president in 1888. In
personal appearance Mr. Cox is tall and imposing; is six feet and two
inches, and weighs 200 lbs. He has dark-brown eyes and wears a
heavy, full beard. (From: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of
Northeast Arkansas, p. 209)
John E Cox: John E Cox was born in Chattoga Co, GA Feb 1, 1845, and is a son of Franklin and Mary (Rice) Cox, who were born in South Carolina in 1811 and 1813 respectively. They were married in South Carolina, and afterward removed to Georgia, thence to Alabama where the father died Oct 16, 1861. The mother is still living, and resides with her children in Arkansas. They were farmers and members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in his political views the father was a Douglas Democrat. John E Cox is their seventh child, and the youngest of four sons and six daughters (eight of whom are living). He remained with his mother until Nov 7, 1867, when he was married to Martha J Cunningham, a native of Jacson County, AL born Sept 10, 1849, and by her bacame the father of three children: Mary M, wife of L.A. Stockton; Nancy E and Arminda B. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a member of the FArmers' Alliance, and in his political views is a stanch Republican, and is also strongly in favor of the prohibition of the liquor traffic. He was ordained a deacon of the Missionary Baptist Church in 1869 and began preaching the Gospel in 1887. In 1862, he was conscripted into the Confederate service, serving six weeks, and in November 1863, enlisted in Company H, of the First Alabama Regiment, Independent Vidette Cavalry, United States Army, serving nine months, and was mustered out June 16, 1864. He continued to make this State his home until January 1880 when he came to Franklin Co, AR where he now owns a good farm of 160 acres. What property he has accumulated has been the result of his energy and good management, and the assistance and encouragement of his wife. He at all times supports the cause of education and is ever ready to aid all other worthy enterprises. (From: History of Northwestern Arkansas)