USA > Iowa > Jackson County > Annals of Jackson county, Iowa, Vol 1-2 > Part 9
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It would be a great pleasure to be present on that occasion to join in pay- ing tribute to the memory of the dis- tingnished pioneer in whose honor the monument has been erected, and to meet my long time friends who are to participate in this memorable event.
I retain a deep interest in Iowa and in anything connected with its early set- tlement, being something of a pioneer, having arrived at Davenport, lowa, with my father's family, May 5, 1844, and am also a pioneer in California, crossed the plains with an ox team from De Witt Iowa, to California in 1849, and on the journey became acquainted with many citizens of Maquoketa and vicin- ity
Wishing all a happy reunion on the Fourth.
Truly yours,
AYLETT R. COTTON
From Hon. S. S. Farwell, State Seu- ator, 1866-68; M. C. 1881-83; Major 31st Iowa.
Monticello, Iowa, June 22, 1905.
I thank you most sincerely for your invitation to attend the public exercises attending tho unveiling of a monument to the Ifon. Thomas Cox, July 4th next.
It would afford me great pleasure to accept your invitation, but I fear the state of my health will prevent my be- iug with you I have made arrange- ments to go to a hospital to undergo an operation next Saturday, and can hardly expect to be in condition to be with you in so short a time. I formerly had a great many warm friends in Maquoke- ta and it would be a delight to meet those who are living again The last to pass away, I believe, is Mrs. Julia Dun- ham.
Thanking you again I remain.
Sincerely yours, S. S FARWELL.
From Hon. John Russell, speaker Iowa House 1868; Auditor of State 1871- 85 ; oldest surviving ex-speaker.
Onslow, Iowa, July 1st, 1905.
Some time ago I received with pleas- ure your kind invitation to join the Jackson County Historical Society and the Maquoketa Valley Pioneer aud Old Settlers Society in doing hhnor to the Hon. Thomas Cox I am still in hopes of being able to attend the unveileng cermony, but am in fear that the infirm- ities of age may prevent my doing so. I take this means of expressing to you my apreciation of your courtesy and also to express the fullness of my sympathy in the proposed gathering
It is a common thing to errect moun- ments to the memory of heroes who have served their country on the field of battle and in the halls of our national capitol, but it is fit and proper that fu- ture generations should learn that the heroic pioneers, who by their energy and ability, enduring, rugged, and all sufficient, have hown out of the rough and have determined the destiny of our beloved Jowa, should learn that their worth and greatness have been appre- ciated by their own people in their own community.
The Hon. Thos. Cox was a worthy representative of the men to whom we owe our present peace, prosperity and
happiness May the monument, erect - ed in his honor, inspire maus another cit zen to give as he gave of his strength, his e, ergy and his brain in the service of his country, his state and his com- munity
. Should the flesh prove weak, and the weight of increasing years prevent my being with you b- assured the spirit joins you on that date, with hearty sym- pathy and wishing you every success.
Yours very truly, JOHN RUSSELL,
From Gen. Grenville M. Dodge. M. C., 1867-69; last surviving Corps Com- mander of the Civil war :
No. 1, Broadway, New York.
July 1, 1905.
I am in receipt of your invitation to the unveiling of the monument to Hon. Thomas Cox on July 4th, and regret to say that it will be impossible for me 10 be present Thanking you for the in- v tation, I am, Yours tru y,
G. M DODGE
From Hon Jobn Wilson, member of the Iowa House from Jackson county in 1866 Mr. Wilson found hims. If able to be present, but we quote from his letter his beautiful tribute to Col Cox's unigne monument
"Walker, Liun Co., Iowa June 28, 1905
I think it very appropriate that you vary the patriotic proceedings generally indulged in on the ever memorable 4th of July with the interesting and impos- ing ceremony of displaying to your citi- zens of Jackson county a memorial stone erected to one of the county's earliest servants. It would seem that the mon- ument is composed of one large granite boulder-a monolith carried by Nature's icy river thousands of years ago from distant mountain ranges and laid down on a spot bear to where it could be raised as a characteristic monument to one of Jackson county's pioneer noblemen. It seems unnecessary for the artistic hand
of the sculptor to put many finishing touches to the stone. The rubbing, grinding, dressing, sawing, planing, hav- ing been many years ago slowly and pa- tiently executed in Mother Nature's great geological workshop It was left where you found it so artistically pre- pared for your purpose by the icy hand of one of the earliest glaciers that slow- ly slid over the surface of our now far famed state
"We think you are paying worthy tribute to Hon. Thomas Cox in thus raising this monument to his memory It may not have the imposing appear- ance and fine finish of some monuments that are raised to add beanty to the pub- lic parks of some of our large cities, but it has the merit of serving the same pur- pose-that of honoring the memory of him to whom it is dedicated, and re- minding future generations of the es- teem in which he was held by the peo- ple who knew and recognized his worth as a man. We know not what the in- scription is that you have chiseled upon this stone, but even if there should not be one, its conspicuous appearance where it is raised, will draw attention to its presence, and like the twelve stones brought up from the bed to the banks of the river Jordan by represeu- tatives of the twelve tribes of Israel, the question will be asked by succeeding generations, 'What meaneth this Stone?' Then the story of Thomas Cox will be repeated and reiterated from year to year until the far off limit of recorded time
. "As long time friends of Jackson county, we take pride in thus doing honor to the memory of the Honorable Thomas Cos, a man, who as your com- mittee says, was a pioneer of pioneers, and who in the territorial days of Jach - son county did so much to give it high prestige in the legislative counsels of our embryo-state, and otherwise help to give it a start in the right direction All hopor to his memory.
Your friend. JOHN WILSON "
The Elhis Mus. um.
While at Maquokets attending the ceremony of unveiling the monument of Col. Thos. Cox. my old-time friend, Juho Wright, took me to see the El- leonian Institute
Going into the office I was introduced to Mr. J. W. Ellis. "When I took his hand, I had no idea that Isbook the hand of, to my mind, one of Jackson county's most. industrious men. I won- der if the general public know what I mein when I say so? I am certain you will say so too if you step with him back of his office desk and examine the immense variety of exceedingly inter- interesting articles, which by long, persistent and industrious application, he has gathered togetber. Ir no doubt came by patient labor and the expen- diture of hundreds of dollars-it may be thousands of dollars. Hundreds of rare and valuable articles are exposed to view on the walls, on shelves, on ta- bles, on the floor, many of them to near your feet for long and safe keeping. Others again stored away in boxes and drawers out of view and yet intended to be seep.
Many articles of historical interest to Jackson county that should never be allowed to go elsewhere. Others again of state and world wide importance that should be of interest to every man or woman, boy or girl, not only in Maquoketa, bu in the county. The wonder is that one man with compar- atively moderate means could possibly accura alate so many objects of difficult access and all of them of rare value. To enumerate all of these things Mr Ellis has brought together is hopeless. They are there by the thousands and almost every article has a history of which Mr. Fllis is the especial historian. It ix much to be hoped that the know. lodge be bas of each thing will not die with him. He is, in his line, what Mr. Chas. Aldrich has been to the Histor- lent association of the state of Iowa, or
Mr. Thomas S. Parvin to the Masonic library and museum, an industrious collector of rare value and importance and often of difficult attainment
Mr. Ellis has brought together & number of articles belonging to the few murder cases that have occurred in Jackson county. £ Articles belong- ing to Cronk 'and the Cronk murder are in bis bossession, and other articles be- longing to Jackson county of more pleasant memory are shown. Guns from many countries, guos used in In- dian warfare, guns used at Waterloo and through Napolean's campaigns. Old flint lock guns, our civil war guns, even guns used in ancient times in China are exposed. Samples of some of bis guns, not worth one dollar for use, Mr. Ellis has been offered 850 for, but his peculiar love for such articles prevent their sale at any price though thus temptingly approached.
He has a fine collection of mortar shells some loaded ready for their dis- tructive use. Swords of different makes and shapes, Bolos from the Philippine Island, spears manufactured for John Brown of Ossiwattom fame and many articles of warfare are there. all of instructive value. Many samples of mineral, specimens from Iowa mines and other states and countries. Shells and other sea relics in great variety. Many household articles of the carly days, Indian relics and one of the finest displays of arrow heads in existence, some of them the finest that have ever been found are there. A large variety of stuffed birds and animals, a son' of Mr. Ellis being a taxidermist. Quite a Jarze show of Confederate script is- sued by the millions of dollars by the Confederacy to help sever the bonds that bound our country together in the carly sixties. Many old coins from many old countries. Sowie fine sam- ples of teeth bod bones of extinct ante. diluvian animals and rare peclogical specimens in great varity. I cease to
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SECTION IN ELLISONIAN INSTITUTE MAQUOKETA, IOWA.
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JOHN WILSON PIONEER LAW MAKER OF JACKSON COUNTY.
enumerate You must see for yourself to have any conception of the number- less articles he has gathered for your inspection. Do call and see them.They contain lessons of much educational usefulness and will well repay you for time spent there.
Why should the people of Maquo- keta and of the county too for that mat- ter, suffer such an immense, rare and valuable museum to be stuffed and hidden away in such crowded quarters. They are worthy of a place in a build- ing erected for their especial safety and exposure. Let the board of Su- pervisors of the county visit the mu- seum and find out what they can rec- ommend in this matter. Let the cit- izens of Maquoketa look after it to. It is all together to valuable to be ne- glected. In the mean time could not floor room be given to it in your li- brary building. Good space might be profitably spared there for many years yet. Why not aitend to it now? Un- less something can be done soon to give better encouragement to Mr. Ellis in bis splendid effort I fear he may find some other city who would be glad to bargain with him for its pos- session. Yours,
JOHN WILSON, FRIEND OF JACKSON COUNTY.
From Col Samuel Wallace Durham of Marion( who was present).
Marion, Iowa, July 1, 1905.
I met, Col Cox at Iowa City while he was Speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives Like him, I was of Kentucky stock, and an early Iowa pio neer and was acquainted with a good many of the Jackson county people m the early forties, and surveyed two ter- ritorial roads there. I was United States deputy surveyor, having in the capacity of a contractor from the Sur- veyor General, surveyed contracts in 15 different counties in the territory and state, including the district where the city of Des Moines is now situated, Sur-
vered also a large district bordering on Lake Prpio aud Chippewa river Ī served as a member of the First Iowa Territorial Constitution Convention in 1844, and am the only one of that body now left.
SAMUEL W. DURHAM
From Col Coxs' ouly surviving daugh- ter:
Hollywood, Calf .. June 27, 1905.
T'am the recipient of your most es- tepined letter and hasten to acknow- ledge t esame You may perhaps real ize the great satisfaction and pleasure it would give me to be present at the un- veiling of my father's monument, July 4th, 1905. It will be the regret of uns life that owing to the uncertain cond . tion of my health I will be unable to undertake the long journey. But I wish you to understand how sincerely I ap- preciate all your kindness, even though I cannot see you to thank you in person.
Trusting that you will favor us with full particulars of the ceremony at a later date, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
PHOEBE Cox.
From Thomas E. Nichols, grandson of Col. Cox :
Los Angeles, Calf .. June 28, 1903.
Your favor with enclosed invitations to be distributed duly received, and im- mediately attended to.
My uncle, S B Cox, is at present suf . fering from an acute attack of lumbago. He desires meto express to you his thanks for what is being done in honor of his father, and to say that he will write you as soon as he recovers.
It is unfortunate that the short notice we have had prevents any of the grand- children, living here, from accepting your invitation My two brothers are living in Mexico, and my two sisters in San Francisco
For myself; I wish to thank you for your interests and efforts, and would ask that you please convey to all those assisting in the ceremonies my deep ap- preciation of the honor shown the mien .
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ory of my grand ather. Col. Thes. Cox, and that I regret exceedingly my ina- bility to accept the invitation to be with you. Houor shown the memory of a worthy citizen not only redounds to the credit of those showing that honor, but also serves as an example for the young of succeding generations to so live and act as to merit the approbation of their fellow citizens.
Cordially yours, T. E NICHOLS.
From Jonathan R. Scott, grandson of Col. Cox:
Los Angeles, Calf., June 28, 1905.
Mr. Nichols has handed me your letter to him of the 20th inst., together with the printed invitation to me to attend the exercises on the unveiling of a mon- umeut to my grandfather, Col Thomas Cox, on the 4th of July, next.
I would gladly be present on the oc- casion if circumstances permitted it, but I am afraid that it will be impossible for me to indulge my earnest and sincere desire in regard to this matter
I, and the other members of my fam- ily, who live in California, are under great obligations to you for your active efforts in bringing about the removal of his remains to a permanent resting place, as well as the erection of the mon- ument to commemorate his life; and I thank you very much for what you. have done.
It had long been a wish of mine to se- cure title to the farm on which my grandfather was buried, and of which 1 had heard my mother speak from my early boyhood, and I had intended going back to the place with a view of making inquiries and seeing whether something could be done to preserve the grave, but the opportunity never arrived, You, however, have done about the best thing that could be done; for, had the farm,or some land on which the grave was lo- cated, been bought and held by the fam. ily there might have been considerable inconvenience occasioned by reason of
the sale of the property for taxes in case the parties int rested did not look after that matt r, and with regard to keeping the grave in proper condition. All of this trouble is avoided by making the interment in a public comete y, and it seems to me that thisis the best thing under the circumstances
My sisters, Mrs. Harriet Taney, Mrs. Emily Smith and Mrs. Rowen. Mic- Ewen, will also be unable to attend, al- though I know thw they would like very. much to be there
Again thanking you for your kindly inretest and efforts, I am,
Very truly yours, J. R. SCOTT.
From a grand daughter of Col. Cox:
Los Angeles, Calt , June 29, 1905.
Your invitation to the unveiling of a monument to my grandfather, Colonel Thomas Cox. is at hand.
In expressing my sincerest regrets at not being able to be present. I wish to say that I feel myself under obligations to the Jackson County Historical Socie- ty, and the Maquoketa Valley Pioneers' and Old Settlers' Society, for the honors to be paid to my grandfather's memory I am the widow of Col I. R Daukle- berger, U. S army (retired) and the eldest daughter of the late Joseph Still- man Mallard and Cordelia Cox Mall ird. I was born in Andrew, Jackson county. Iowa, and am proud to be a native of a state where mer are of such stability that they remember the virtues of a man after he has been dead 61 years.
Very sincerely yours, MARY M DUNKELPERGER.
From Hon. Rodney A. Smith, nem- ber of General Assembly IsCs, Vice Pres- ident Iowa Pioneer Lawmakers associa- tion. Mr. Smith was one of the party who rescued the survivors of the Spirit Lake massacre in ISiii.
Okobop. la., June 25, 1905
Dear Sir: Your invitation to mert with the Jackson County Historical So-
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cites and Pioneers' and Old Settlers' as- sociation on the occasion of the unveil- ing of the mo ument to Hon Thos. Cox received and I much regret that I can not comply with it. Among other things it brings vividly to my mind a bright October morning in the Fall of 1856 when on foot and alone, friendless and almost per niless. I started from Du- buque to Cedar Rapids in search of. I hardly knew what. I imagine that in those early days many another traveled the same road in the same aimless, list- less way.
You are to be congratulated on the fact that you live in a community where the people feel enough interest in their pioneer history to organize and main- tain a society, having for its object, the preservation of this history and its trans- mission to future generations All hon- or to the early pioneers of Iowa, the dangers they braved, the hardships they endured, the privations they suffered and the obstacles surmounted form a chapter in the history of our noble state, both unique and interesting, and one which may well tempt the busy throng of today to drop for the titue being their ordinary vocations, be they what they may, and to call up the pleasant mem- ories of the past, to live over again in imagination the many varying vicissi- tudes of the pioneer days.
But pioneering as exemplified in the .early history of Iowa is a thing of the past. The covered wagon known as the "prairie schooner," drawn by three or four yoke of slow plodding oxen and followed by a drove of loose cattle more or less numerous according to the means of the owner, and bearing the family and household goods of some hardy ad- venturer to somne favored grove, lake or stream that he has seen, or of which he has heard, there to build a home and await developments, is now only a mom- or'S
The loug tedious drives by day and the jolly campfire by night around
which gathered the sturdy boys and buxom girls of the early pioneers, are but a pleasant recollection. The old or- der of things has passed away and with the in : uguration of the new, the Amer- ican pioneer is passing down and out. For near three hundred years he has oc- cupied a prominent place in the forefront of American history. But his days are numbered. As we look away to the west, we are forcibly reminded that there is no longer an American frontier and when the frontier shall have faded away the pioneer will only live in his- tory.
Wishing you a most interesting oces- .sion, a most prosperous careor for your Historical Society, I remain,
Yours truly, RODNEY A. SMITH. Member 12th G. A. 1865,
Vice Pres. Pioneer Lawmakers Associa- tion, for 11th Cong. Dist.
( Mr. Smith has been so generous as to present to the Historical Society a copy of his excellent "History of Dickinson County, Iowa," which contains a very full account of the Spirit Lake Indian massacre, and of the unparalled suffer- ings of the rescuing party from Fort Dodge and Webster City. The volume has been placed among the loanable books in the Boardman Library and will well repay perusal.)
From Mrs. A. D . Robertson :
Washta, la., June 27, 1905
My Dear Sir: Your invitation to at - tend the exercises of the unveiling of the monunient of Hon. Thos. Cox. is ro- ceived. Pormit me to thank you for this invitation, and I may assure you, I greatly appreciate the honor conferred by your kindly remembrance, but which at this time, I must decline and forego the pleasure it would give me to le present and participate in the exercises of this memorable occasion.
I shall be with you in spirit, for wwe can do no better than to com.mont the deed of great men, and I wish for
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you all the success in connection with the celebration, that you most ardently hoped for. I have the honor to be
Very truly yours. MRS. ALEX D. ROBERTSON, Daughter of John S. Briggs, grand- daughter Gov. Ansel Briggs.
From Hon. John Hilsinger. State Sen- ator from Jackson county 1864 to 1866. Judge Hilsinger's legistive service ante- dates any other surviving ex-member from Jackson county.
Sabula, Iowa, July 3, 1905.
Dear Sirs: I received your kind in- vitation to be present at a meeting of the Pioneers' and Settlers' association, and the unveiling of the monument to Col. Thos. Cox, one of the ancient law- makers from Jackson county, on July 4th, 1905. at Maquoketa. Iowa, in due time, and permit me to extend you and the other members of the invitation committee and the association, my grate- ful thanks for the same, and I regret very much that circumstances were such that it was impossible for me to be pres- ont, but not being sure whether I could or not, I delayed answering until now.
It is a great honor to any man to have so faithfully and ably discharged his duties as a legislator, conferred upon him by the people of Jackson county, as to merit their commendation, as pro- posed to be expressed on July 4th, 1905, by the erection and unveiling of a mon- ument erected to the name and honor of Col. Thomas Cos. after so many years.
I became a resident of Jackson county in July, 1858, and was elected by the good people of Jackson county to the Iowa Senate_at the general election in 1863, and I served in the Iowa Senate as Senator from Jackson county in the two sessions of 1861 and 1866, and I knew I fried to discharge the duties of that hon- orable position, conscientiously and to the best of iny ability, if not to the on- tire satisfaction of the people.
I feel very grateful to the people of Jackson county for the many positions
of honor and trust they h ve conferred upon me, unsolicited on my pa t. since I have been a resident of the county. for I never was a politician in the sense of seeking office.
My chief desire so far as being a citi- zen of the county is to conduct myself, for the few remaining years I may be permitted to live. that when the end shall come, I will merit the confidence and good will of all the good peo le of the county : for I do not expect and have no desire to change my residence Jack- sou county and its people are good enough for me and as good as I desire for the remainder of my life.
And again thanking you and those who are associated with you in the Pio- neer association for your kind invitatian, I am,
Very respectfully yours, J HILSINGER
From Prof. L. F'. Parker, professor of History in Iowa college, author of writ- ings on Iowa history.
Grinnell, Ia., June 26+h, 1905. My Dear Sir : Thanks for the honor conferred on me by your invitation to he present at the unveiling of the mont- ment to the Hon. Thos. Cox. pioneer legislator of Illinois and Iowa. It was a happy thought that blended this exer- cise with the celebration of our national independence.
May the wise men who founded our states be honored evermore as partners in the foundation of our nation. Iowa is more influential in the nation than Thos. Cox ever thought it would be. The nation is indinoucing internatioral policies more beneficently than George Washington ever thought would be eith- er wise or possible. Cox and Washing. ton built state and ration more glorinos ly thay they know. Heirs of their Fril- liant, patriotic service, we shall never forget how much we owe them.
I regret that Jam unable to jam you actively in the loed honors which you pay to Thomas Cox and to the founder of our republic on July 1th.
Yours cordially.
From Hon. Martin J. Wade, ex-M. C. Second District.
Iowa City. Ia , June 21, 1905
My Dear Sir: I would be delighted to be present at the exercises, unveiling the monument to Hon. Thomas Cox on July 4th, if it were possible, but I am engaged for a lecture at the Chautauqua at Tama ou that das, so that it will not be possible for me to attend.
With highest personal regards, I am, Very truly yours.
M. J WADE.
From Mrs. John S Briggs, daughter- in-law of Gov. Ausel Briggs.
Omaha, Neb , June 27, 1905
My Dear Sir: I acknowledge with gratitude the kind invitation to attend the unveiling exereises of a monument to Hon. Thomas Cox.
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