William Leland Cox, was born June 22nd 1839 to Edward Cox and Mary Jamieson Leland Cox in Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois. He was enrolled in the 3rd Missouri Cavalry on the 1st of January 1862 in Palmyra, Missouri.  He was discharged in Little Rock Arkansas on the 31st of December 1864 upon the completion of his three years.  His description at his time of enlistment was 5' 11" in height, dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. Upon his discharge he held the rank of Corporal.
     During the Civil War he contracted Scurvy the effects of which remained with him the rest of his life, as evidenced by his pension affidavits which follow.  After the war he returned to Ashmore Township in Coles Co., he then moved in March 1869 to Embarass Township in Edgar County, Illinois, right after his marriage, and resided there for about seven years.  His wife Martha VanSickle was from that area. They then returned to Coles County, Illinois in December of 1876, where he was still living at the time of his death April 4th 1921.
     The above photograph and the accompanying transcribed documents are from a packet of information I received from Steve Woodfall, great-great grandson of William Leland Cox.  The affidavits appear to be incomplete, they all seem to end in the middle of a thought.   First Page