USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 93
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 93
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 93
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 93
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There were eleven children born to this worthy couple, of whom two died in childhood; but the others are still living. Thomas, born December 1, 1829, is a merchant of Osman, Nebraska. He is married and has four children. Elizabeth, born December 13, 1831, is the wife of Robert Bocock, of Wyoming, Illinois, by whom she has six children. Sarah A., born May 12, 1834, is the wife of Louis Fouts, of Jefferson, Iowa, by whom she has five chil- dren. Louisa, born December 22, 1836, died December 20, 1837. James H., born Octo- ber 2, 1838, is a carpenter of Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is married and has seven children. Lucinda M., born March II, 1841, is the wife of A. J. Norman, living near Logan, Iowa, and they have nine children. Jane, born May 10, 1844, makes her home in Bradford, Illi- nois. William I., born February 13, 1847,
died on the 6th of the following October. Robert W., born October 5, 1848, lives near Gold Hill, Oregon. He is inarried and has three children. Elisha J. is next in order of birth. Mary E., born April 1, 1854, is the wife of Albert True, of Saratoga township, Marshall county, Illinois, and they have two children.
As work was plenty upon the home farm during the boyhood of our subject, he had but little opportunity of attending school, and on attaining his majority he began farming on his own account upon land rented from his father, in Milo township, Bureau county, where he continued to live for three years after his mar- riage. He then made his home in Saratoga township, Marshall county, for nine years, and in 1893 purchased his present farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, upon which he has made many good and useful improvements.
On the 28th of October, 1880, Mr. Culton lead to the marriage altar Miss Emily Cain, of Saratoga township, Marshall county. She was born in Chicago, October 1, 1858, and when about five years of age was taken to Marshall county by her parents, William and Jane (Oats) Cain. There she attended the country schools, but at the age of twelve years entered the schools of Chicago, where she pursued her studies for two years. Five children grace this union, namely: Hallis E., born in Milo township, Bureau county, September 25, 1883; Essie J., born in Saratoga township, Marshall county, January 16, 1885; John William, born in the same county, January 27, 1887; Hattie Myrl, born in Marshall county, August 13, 1889; and Latha May, born in Penn township, Stark county, May 30, 1895.
Mr. Culton cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1872, and has since sup- ported the men and measures of the republican party. For nine years he acceptably served
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as school director in Marshall county. He be- came a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at the lodge in Whitefield, Marshall county, later transferring his membership to the Wyoming lodge, and subsequently be- came a charter member of Camp Grove Camp, of which he has since been worthy adviser.
J.' HARVEY COX, an enterprising farmer ยท residing on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 14, Essex township, Stark county, Illinois, was born in Ross county, Ohio, near Gillespie postoffice, May 6, 1833, and is a son of Jesse and Abigail (Waldron) Cox. His father was also born in Ross county, April 27, 1809, and was a son of Nathan and Ann (Dixon) Cox, the former a native of Grayson county, Vir- ginia, of English descent, and the latter of the same county, but of Scotch descent. When a young man Nathan Cox left Grayson county, Virginia, and went to Ross county, Ohio, where he purchased a large tract of land and there lived until 1836, and where his marriage occurred with Ann Dixon. Both were of Quaker stock. Their children were all born in Ross county. In 1836 he sold out and emi- grated to Stark county, Illinois, where he pur- chased a large quantity of land in Essex town- ship. All the family came with him but the oldest son, Enoch, who was married and who concluded to remain in Ohio, but later followed the rest of the family to Stark county. (For a more minute account of the family see sketch of Joseph Cox on another page of this work.)
Jesse Cox, the father of our subject, grew to manhood on the farm in Ross county, Ohio, and there married Abigail Waldron in 1829. He was a self-educated man and quite a fluent reader. Seven years after his marriage he came to Stark county, Illinois, but only re- mained one year, when he returned to Ross county and there lived until 1851, when he
again returned to Illinois. Our subject was but three years old at the time of the first trip to Illinois, and well remembers that there were no bridges across the streams and that fre- quently they would mire in the roads. In 1851 the roads were much better. Of the children of Jesse and Abigail Cox one little girl died on the way to this state. Six of their children, all sons, grew to manhood and five are still living, our subject being the oldest. John was a soldier in Davidson's Light Artillery during the late war, and died in his country's service at Syracuse, Missouri. Politically Jesse Cox was a whig and voted for John Quincy Adams. On the organization of the republican party he became an adherent and voted that ticket until his death in 1888.
The boyhood days of our subject were mostly spent in Ohio, and he is a self-educated man. He began to do for himself when about twenty-three years of age, but made his home at his father's until he was twenty-five years old. When twenty-three he took a trip to Texas to visit an uncle and aunt, and spent about eight or ten months, traveling much of the time. He helped drive cattle, and was with the first herd that was ever driven north to Red Cloud agency and Fort Larned. This was in 1856, at the time of the border troubles in Kansas.
On the 15th of March, 1858, Mr. Cox was married, in Stark county, to Miss Nancy Wil- kinson, of Essex township, but a native of Jackson county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (Ray) Wilkinson, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, but who removed with their parents to Jackson county, Ohio, when they were children. They were married there and removed to Stark coun- ty, Illinois, in 1849, locating in Essex township. Ten children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, one of whom died in childhood
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and four died in mature years. Of the six liv- the parental roof until he had reached the age ing children, Cyrus married and now resides of twenty-six years, but after attaining his ma- jority engaged in farming on his own account. in Harlan county, Nebraska, where he is en- gaged in farming; Celestia married Harry Jar- man and lives in Valley township, Stark coun- ty; John is a farmer of Essex township; Solo- mon, Jesse and Lee H. yet remain under the parental roof.
Soon after his marriage our subject pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of land, where he now lives and which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Like other members of the family he was originally a re- publican, and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and continued to vote the republican ticket until 1880, since which time he has been a populist. He is a dimitted member of the Masonic fraternity.
M YRON R. COX, a prominent and repre- sentative farmer residing on the south- west corner of section 3, Essex township, Stark county, claims Ohio as the state of his nativ- ity, his birth occurring in Ross county on the 28th of January, 1848. His parents, Jesse and Abigail (Waldron) Cox, were natives of Virginia and West Virginia, respectively, the latter born near the Kanawha Salt works. As early as 1836 they came to Stark county, Illi- nois, but subsequently returned to the Buck- eye state, where they remained until 1851, when they again took up their residence in Stark county. They located on the northwest quarter of section 10, Essex township, where the father lived until about three years before his death, which occurred in the village of Wyoming.
Upon the home farm Myron R. Cox was reared to manhood, and obtained his education in the common schools of the neighborhood, which he was only able to attend for about six weeks during the year. He remained under 38
On the 22d of September, 1873, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Cox and Miss Fran- ces L. Graves, a native of Essex township, Stark county, and a daughter of James and Maria (Francis) Graves. During her childhood she received a good common-school education. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Ada died when eighteen months old; Nettie J., born August 6, 1878, will graduate from the Toulon Academy with the class of 1897; and Addie M. was born April 7, 1882.
After his marriage, Mr. Cox purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Essex township, on which he still resides. The good and substan- tial buildings upon the place stand as monu- ments to his thrift and industry, and the well- tilled fields indicate the owner to be a man of progressive ideas, good business qualities and a thorough and skillful agriculturist. Besides general farming, he is a breeder of Aberdeen- Angus cattle, in which he has also been re- markably successful.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Cox has been a stalwart republican. In 1890 he was elected collector of Essex township, which po- sition he acceptably filled for one year, and for two seasons previous to this he had filled the office of road overseer, during which time his labors were very effective in securing better roads in his locality. In 1891 he was elected supervisor of his township, and held that posi- tion for two terms of two years each. He served on various important committees, in- cluding those on the poor, poor farm and build- ings. In 1896 he served as a delegate to the people's county convention. He became a member of the Masonic order in 1873, and now belongs to Wyoming Lodge, No. 479, F. & A. M., and has also taken the degrees of
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the chapter, Royal Arch Mason. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county, and is recognized as one of the leading and valued citizens of his community.
M. COX .- This gentleman is entitled to J. distinction as one of the most progressive and enterprising men of Stark county, and has for many years been identified with the busi- ness interests of Wyoming. Upon the com- mercial activity of a community depends its prosperity and the men who are now recog- nized as leading citizens are those who are at the head of extensive business enterprises. Mr. Cox is a man of broad capabilities who carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes, and as a real-estate, insur- ance and loan agent, he is now doing a profit- able business.
Mr. Cox was born on the 17th of May, 1850, near Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, but in the fall of 1851 was brought to Stark county, Illinois, by his parents, Jesse and Ab- igail (Waldron) Cox. The father was a native of Virginia, where his ancestors had located at an early day. On coming to Stark county he purchased a farm on section 3, Essex town- ship, and met with a well-deserved success in its operation. Although he was only in mod- erate circumstances at the time of his arrival, he became quite well-to-do. Upon the home farm the mother died, after which the father removed to Wyoming, where he lived retired until he, too, was called to his final rest.
Of the nine children born to this worthy couple, seven reached years of maturity, six are still living, and five are residents of Stark county. They are as follows: J. Harvey is a farmer of Stark county. John was a member of Davidson's Peoria Battery during the Civil war, and died after about three months' service. Simon, now living in Wyoming, Illinois, is en-
gaged in farming in Essex township, Stark coun- ty. Elijah B., engaged in farming in Toulon township, was also one of the brave boys in blue, a member of Company E, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry, Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, under Captain Otman. He faithfully served for about three years, never missing a day, and was in many hotly contested engagements. Jesse L. is a farmer living near Essex, Page county, Iowa. Myron R. is an agriculturist of Essex township, Stark county. J. M. com- pletes the family.
Our subject remained upon the home farm until twenty-four years of age, assisting his father in its cultivation and improvement when not attending school. He was for six months a student in Lombard University of Galesburg, Illinois, during which time he met the lady who has since become his wife. On the 31st of January, 1873, he married Miss Emma J. Batchelder, who was born on a farm near Matteson, Cook county, Illinois, and they became the parents of three children: Harry Cartie, born October 8, 1874; Fannie G., who died at the age of nine years; and Nellie L., who died at the age of eight. The son was educated in Wyoming, and there studied telegraphy at the age of nineteen years, after which he attended the Quincy Business College for six months.
In the spring of 1873 Mr. Cox invested in a drug store in Wyoming, with which he was connected for eighteen years, and in 1887 he embarked in the real-estate business. He is also an insurance and loan agent, and is meet- ing with excellent success in these various lines, having built up a good business by fair and honorable dealing. He is also a director of the Inter-State Land Association.
In 1887, while in the drug business, Mr. Cox traveled through this section of the coun-
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try, securing the right of way for the Postal Telegraph Cable Line, and thus became well acquainted with the managers of that enter- prise. When they wanted to put in an office at Wyoming they requested him to assist, and for some time it was located in his store. Afterward it was discontinued on account of the operators leaving, but in 1895 our subject again secured its location here, and it is now in charge of himself and son, who is one of the operators.
Like his father before him, Mr. Cox gives his unswerving support to the men and meas- ures of the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1872. He does all in his power to promote the inter- ests of his party, but is no politician in the sense of office-seeking. At all times he is a courteous, genial gentleman, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
THOMAS J. DRYDEN .- The natural ad- vantages of this section attracted at an early day a superior class of settlers, thrifty, industrious, progressive and law-abiding, whose influence gave permanent direction to the de- velopment of the locality. Among the worthy pioneers of Stark county the Dryden family holds a prominent place. Our subject was born April 26, 1852, in Northumberland coun- ty, England, but in the fall of 1857, when only five years old, was brought to America by his parents, John and Margaret (Renwick) Dry- den. The father, who had engaged in mining from early boyhood, came to the new world two years previous and followed that occupa- tion in Bureau county, Illinois, for a time. In 1857 the family took up their residence in Elmira, Stark county, where he continued to engage in mining for some time, and then pur- chased coal land north of Wyoming, where he
developed mines, continuing their operation until about 1865, when he bought other land in West Jersey, and there opened up mines. A few years later, however, he sold out and purchased the farm upon which he is still re- siding, where he is surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, that have been secured through his own untiring labor.
During his boyhood and youth Thomas J. Dryden was provided with fair school privi- leges, and when not in the school-room aided his father by working in the coal mines. He continued under the parental roof for some time after attaining his majority, but in 1878 purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 18, West Jersey township, Stark coun- ty, upon which he still resides. He is now the owner of another valuable tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, and is accounted one of the most substantial and reliable busi- ness men of that community. The neat and thrifty appearance of his land indicates his progressive spirit, industry and perseverance, which characteristics have been important fac- tors in his success.
In November, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dryden and Miss Martha L. Snare, a native of Penn township, Stark coun- ty, and a daughter of James and Rebecca Snare. Three children bless this union, namely: Cora May, Thomas Leslie and James Victor.
Mr. Dryden was reared in the democratic party, his father being one of its stanch sup- porters. The latter served as school director many years, and also as highway commissioner for six years. True to his father's teaching, our subject cast his first ballot for Peter Cooper, and has since supported Grover Cleve- land, and in the fall of 1896, William J. Bryan. He is a recognized leader in the local
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democratic organization, has been a delegate to numerous county conventions, and has been called upon to serve in several official positions of honor and trust, including those of school director, school trustee and road commissioner, which he filled for six years. Since 1892 he has served continuously as supervisor, and during the entire time has been a member of the committee on the poor farm, serving as its chairman two years. He was also a member of the committee on public buildings during the erection of the new county jail, and was instru- mental in having it built. Public-spirited and progressive, he is identified with every move- ment for the good of the community, or that is calculated to promote the general welfare. In all the relations of life, either public or private, he has been found true to every trust imposed in him, and has thus won the commendation and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
E DWIN HOLMES, a leading and repre- sentative agriculturist, residing on section 12, Penn township, Stark county, four miles from Bradford, is an honored veteran of the Civil war. He comes from across the sea, his birth occurring April 9, 1832, in Hyde, Che- shire, England, near Manchester. His parents were Eli and Maria (Bailey) Holmes. The father, a clothier by occupation, died when our subject was an infant, leaving the family in moderate circumstances. Of the eight children, two brothers also came to America.
In the common schools of his native land Edwin Holmes learned to "read, write and cipher," and when about fifteen years old he bound himself to Captain Jacob Giles, of the merchantman Queen, a sailing vessel, on which he remained for three years. At New York he then shipped as second mate on the L. & W. Armstrong, also a sailing vessel, which took
him to Maricaibo, South America, and while on this trip a mutiny occurred among the hands. It began while our subject was in charge of the deck, by a colored man refusing to do his work; and although the trouble was checked for a time, it arose again, but the fighting was quelled by the aid of some sol- diers. Of the four negroes who caused the disturbance, two of them were brought back in irons to New York, and our subject being summoned as a witness was locked up for twenty-nine days to insure his appearance.
After four years spent as a sailor, Mr. Holmes returned to Liverpool, with the inten- tion of going to the East Indies, but in that city met his mother and sister, who were on their way to America, and he accompanied them, landing at New Orleans in the spring of 1850. Soon afterward he located in Fulton county, Illinois, where he found employment in a brick-yard at fourteen dollars per month, working from two A. M. until after dark. Later he was employed in coal mines near Canton for several years, during which time he was able to save a small portion of his earnings.
While at that place, Mr. Holmes was mar- ried in April, 1855, to Miss Salina Savill, of Canton, who was born at Oldham, England, and when four or five years old was brought to America by her parents, Abraham and Ann (Adee) Savill, who, after one winter spent at Cincinnati, Ohio, located at Canton, Illinois. About a year after his marriage, Mr. Holmes came to Stark county and worked in the coal mines of Toulon township for a year, after which he returned to Canton. Two years later, however, he removed to Marshall county, Illinois, where the following year was spent in farming, and then took up his residence upon a rented place in Penn township, Stark county. At the end of two years he was able to pur- chase forty acres of his present farm, on which
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he erected a small dwelling, and since 1860 has there made his home. Two years later Mr. Holmes entered the Union army, and his war record is best given in his own words :
" Deeming the defense of my country as paramount to all other duties, I determined to leave home, wife and bairns to serve as a soldier. Accordingly, on the 12th day of April, 1862, I entered the service as a volunteer of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment Illinois Vol- unteers, Colonel Thomas J. Henderson. In September we were sworn into the United States service, and in a few days started for Kentucky, where we went into winter quarters. After sharing with my comrades the hardships and danger incident to a soldier's life for about one year, I was detailed as one of a scouting expedition, composed of three companies, one from the Eighth Michigan Cavalry, one from the First East Tennessee, and one from the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois. This scout left Athens on the 14th of September, crossed the Hiawassee river at 5 o'clock P. M., and at 2 A. M. next morning arrived at Cleveland, our destination. Here people gave us a hearty welcome.
"Three days after, on the 18th, we engaged the rebels, near the railroad, and, after a se- vere fight of thirty minutes, against over- whelming numbers, our captain having fallen and no one to command, we were compelled to surrender. I was severely wounded in the leg. Our captured boys were sent to Rich- mond, but as I could not walk I was left at Cleveland. By this I got to see what we had done in the fight. We killed fifteen and wounded so many I could not count them. We lost one killed, the captain, and myself wounded. After two weeks at Cleveland I was sent with a number of other wounded prison- ers to Dalton, Georgia. After remaining at that place eight days I was sent fifty miles
further south, to Cassville. During these re- movals I suffered very much. By exposure and jamming about my wounds became in- flamed, and I came very near losing my leg, owing chiefly to the neglect of the rebel sur- geon; but fortunately I got a new surgeon, who proved to be kind and attentive. I also re- ceived great kindness from my nurse, a rebel soldier, though not rebel in principle. While here I was brought near to the gates of death from the effects of my wounds, but, owing to the good treatment from my nurse and two federal soldiers, I survived. On the 25th of January, 1863, we were again removed to Atlanta, at that time the heart of the southern confederacy. Here, in these dismal prisons, with a large number of our sick and wounded soldiers, did I drag out the weary hours, fed on corn meal, ground with the cob, and a little beef, -hard fodder for a sick man; but, hard as it was, this was only the beginning of sorrow.
"In the last of February we received the good news that we were to be exchanged. Right joyous did we turn our faces northward. Dal- ton was the place appointed for exchange, at which place we in due time arrived and were admitted into the hospital, where I had been before, to await orders. During our stay here we were well fed; but this was of short dura- tion. The day after our arrival twenty-four of our worst cases were exchanged; the balance of us were sent back to Atlanta. This was a bitter disappointment. Here we were placed under strong guard and put upon our former rations,-corn and cob meal. Again, on the 28th of March, did we receive orders for ex- change, but this, too, proved a delusion, for, instead of being exchanged, it proved to be our first step toward prison life in rebeldom. To Andersonville, Georgia, we were next sent. As I entered the prison walls my heart sank within me, yet on my crutches, lame, far from
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home and not a friend to care for me. At this place it seemed as if rebel cruelty had been taxed to the utmost. Such a scene of unmiti- gated misery and suffering as here presented itself cannot be described. Not a tent of any kind to shelter the twenty thousand here con- fined, the weather cold and constantly raining, our brave soldiers who had wintered in the prisons at Richmond were sent down here nearly naked, the rebs having stolen all their clothing when first captured. Filthy with dirt and vermin, not allowed any soap to wash with and withal deliberately and systematically starved to death by inches. Groups here and there over this twenty acres of prison were hov- ering over a little fire of pine knots, trying to keep soul and body together. Others no longer able to endure the inclemency of the weather had dug holes in the earth and crawled in, many of whom were buried by the earth fall- ing in on them and so put an end to their suf- ferings. The dead and dying all over this dreadful place finished the horrors of the scene. My heart sickened: it seemed like hoping against hope. I tried to screw up my courage, thought of home, wife and children. At length weary and faint for food, I wrapped my blanket over my shoulders, set me down upon my crutches to keep if possible out of the mud and tried to get some repose, but I could not sleep, it being so wet. Soon, however, I heard some one say, 'Has any one come in from the One Hundred Twelfth?' Instantly I sprang upon my well leg to reconnoitre, and to my great joy I found it was a soldier from my own regi- ment. Shortly after I found some of the boys of my own company who were captured when I was. So, after our greeting, they invited me to their mess to partake of such as they had, which was a morsel of corn meal; but this with words of kindness was very cheering, for I was much in need of both food and comfort.
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