Later they went to Taos and Ft. Bent on the Santa Fe trail, living as hunters, trappers, wagoners and mountainmen.  He returned to Texas in 1837 in the company of his great uncle Cull "Kiowa" Owens, according to John Thomas Cox, his son. Later he traveled to New Orleans and took a steamboat up the Mississippi to his old homeland in Illinois and Indiana.  After a short visit with his family who had moved to Missouri in 1835 he returned to the Rocky Mountain fur trade.  He was employed as a keelboat hand, ox wagoner, cobbler, hunter and trapper.  In 1842 he returned to Missouri to settle down with his family and took up the cobbler's trade.

He was married there October 30, 1845 to Martha Jane Bybee who was born in Kentucky November 9, 1827, according to the research of Cora Lee Cox, a great-granddaughter.  A household headed by John Bybee, age 55 and Martha Bybee, age 55, believed to be her parents, was enumerated in the 1850 census of Greene County, Missouri along with a household headed by William W. Bybee, age 32, and Mary A. Bybee, age 28, according to the research of Mary Alnora "Nora" Cox Drennan. These families migrated to Williamson County.  Martha Jane Bybee had brothers by the names of William J. Bybee and Bluford S. Bybee and sisters, Mary Ann Bybee, Elizabeth Bybee and Amanda Bybee.

In 1846, after Texas had become a state, Pleasant C. Cox made a visit to Terreros presidio and decided to move there as soon as the Indian menace would allow.

He was enumerated as the head of Household 248-248 adjoining that of John Smart in the 1850 census of Wright County, Missouri:

 "Cox, Pleasant 22, [?] born in Ia [Indiana or Illinois],        farmer
 Martha   22, born in Kentucky
 John T.   4, born in Missouri
 Bluford   3/12, born in Missouri"

He loaded his household and family on a wagon and joined a 16-wagon train made up of family and friends and arrived in Texas in the latter part of 1851.  The Indian threat prevented them from settling immediately on Lucy Creek so the family members located in adjoining Williamson County.

Hattie Elsie Cox Sherriff in 1960 described the early life of Pleasant C. Cox in Texas:

"Pleasant Cox arrived in Texas in the fall of 1850, settling in Bell County.  In February 1852 he moved his family to Williamson County.  Here he remained until March 1855 when he moved to Lampasas Springs.  At this time there were no residents living at Lampasas Springs, only campers occupied the camp grounds around the springs.

Pleasant Cox contracted to furnish meat to the campers at Lampasas Springs. Venison hams were 75c per pair.  After three or four months there he moved to a new location on Lucy's Creek, some seven miles northeast of Lampasas.  His only neighbors were the Huffman and Dobbins families who lived on upper Lucy Creek, Phillip Smith who lived on School Creek and a Jackson who lived on the Lampasas River.  [Lucy Creek was named for Lucy Clayton Corbin, daughter of a pioneer Ranger captain in Lampasas County.]

School was taught in a log cabin at the back of the Cox farm.  Pleasant Cox tanned hides and made shoes for his family and others.  He dyed the leather with walnut hulls and pecan leaves.  He wove cotton cloth for home use after picking the cottonseed out by hand.  He went to Williamson County for corn and to Austin for other supplies.  He was in Round Rock to get lumber to build a house the day Sam Bass was killed there [July 19, 1878].

When the Civil War came on Indian raids forced Pleasant Cox to move one-half mile farther from the creek in order to be safer from the Comanches.  One day late in the afternoon a band of Indians came to the log cabin and asked for food.  Mrs. Cox cooked a great quantity of shortbread and a roast for them.  The Comanches polished off all the food the Coxes offered, and then went to the watermelon patch and plundered it.  Later they went to the cornfield and filled their blankets with roasting ears.  They broke camp the next morning and went peacefully on their way."

Pleasant C. Cox bought 100 acres at Theon, Texas on Williams Creek, part of the headright of John W. Wilbarger, from John Montgomery for $125 January 12, 1853, according to Williamson County Deed Book 4, page 352.  They sold the property to Robert R. Rollins for $500 September 13, 1855, according to Williamson County Deed Book 6, page 328.

Lampasas County was formed from Bell County in 1856, and Pleasant C. Cox was hired as a deputy sheriff under Sheriff George Scott.  On July 4, 1858 the first rodeo in Lampasas County was held on long meadow on the land of Pleasant C. Cox.  W. F. Armstrong and his brother J. M. Armstrong had gathered a herd of wild cattle to be driven to Green River, Wyoming.  The Armstrong cowboys were holding the cattle near the Terreros presidio when the idea of an Independence Day celebration developed.  Local ranchers joined the Armstrong cowboys in roping and riding.  Pink Higgins, two of the Horrell brothers, John Thomas Cox and Bill Van Winkle, one of the first bounty hunters in Texas, participated in the rodeo. Thus began a tradition of celebrations held at the old presidio.  On the 25th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1861, a victory celebration was held at the "old Brown house" on the site of the old presidio.  It was reported that 35 people participated in the festivities, including athletic events, a calf roast and games.  A Quaker service conducted by Pleasant C. Cox followed the meal.

Twenty-five years later, on the 50th anniversary of the battle, a rodeo sponsored by The Grange, was held in the old stone corral of the Terreros presidio on the property of Pleasant C. Cox.

He appeared in the 1860 federal census as the head of Household No. 93-93, page 14, which was rendered as:

 "Cox, Pleasant 33, born in Illinois, farmer
 Martha   32, born in Kentucky, wife
 John T.   14, born in Missouri, son
 James    12, born in Missouri, son
 Bluford   10, born in Missouri, son
 Amanda   7, born in Texas, daughter
 Isabel    5, born in Texas, daughter
 Anne    4, born in Texas, daughter
 William   2, born in Texas, son
 Jehu    6/12, born in Texas, son"

In 1860 there were few settlers in Lampasas County, and the area was still a wilderness.  William Ernest Cox in 1960 wrote, "One warm day about 1860 the front door to the house was left open.  A large panther entered and attacked the family.  Pleasant Cox had an ox-bow in the house.  He seized it and began to battle with the beast.  The family escaped outside the house and listened to the terrible struggle that raged inside.  After a few minutes Pleasant Cox emerged dragging the body of the panther."

He served as a private in Twenty-seventh Brigade, Texas Military, C.S.A, during the Civil War, according to his tombstone in Rock Church Cemetery.

He received a patent to 80 acres on Lucy Creek June 25, 1862, according to Lampasas County Deed Book 9.  Members of the family recall that in 1867 when the Lipan Apache Indian tribe made heavy raids on the settlers Pleasant Cox buried $600 in gold for its protection.

Pleasant C. Cox reappeared as the head of a household in the 1870 census of Lampasas County.  The family, which was again enumerated in a consecutive entry with the household of James Christopher Cox, his brother, was recorded as:

 "Cox, Pleasant 45, born in Illinois, farmer
 Martha   43, born in Kentucky, wife
 Elizabeth   16, born in Texas, daughter
 Anne    14, born in Texas, daughter
 William   12, born in Texas, son
 Jehu    10, born in Texas, son
 Lucinda   7, born in Texas, daughter
 Mary    5, born in Texas, daughter
 Joseph    3, born in Texas, son"

On September 2, 1871 Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox gave a deed to W. C. Morris for $800, according to Williamson County Deed Book 14, page 573.  The deed was for her inheritance as an "heir of John  Catherine Bybee."  Other heirs mentioned were Seebird Morgan and his wife Amanda Bybee Morgan of Williamson County, William J. Bybee of Williamson County, Buford S. Bybee of Williamson County and Doctor William Smart and Mary A. Bybee Smart of Williamson County.

Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox gave a deed February 1, 1872 to "John Cox, Jr. for 60 acres on Lucy Creek valued at $60 and release of said amount in my estate by Julia Cox," according to Lampasas County Deed Book A, page 497.  Martha Jane Bybee Cox signed the deed with an "X."  [John Cox, Jr. and Julia Cox are unidentified, but it is believed that the deed was made to their son John Thomas Cox and Isabella J(ulia?) Elliott Cox.]

On June 10, 1874 Pleasant C. Cox deeded 80 acres "on Jackson branch of Sulphur Fork of Lampasas River, 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Lampasas patented in the name of P. Cox" to Thomas A. Casbeer for $75, according to Lampasas County Deed Book B, page 674.

On July 8, 1876 Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox joined the other "heirs of John and Catherine Bybee" in deeding 425 acres to Caroline Homeyer of Washington County, Texas, according to Williamson County Deed Book 17, page 363.  She was the wife of W. D. Homeyer.  The land lay 10 miles northeast of Georgetown, Texas in the Lawyer survey.  The other heirs on this occasion were listed as "B. S. Bybee, Williamson County; W. J. Bybee, Williamson County; N. Smart and B. M. Smart, Jr, Williamson County; D. E. Huffman and Elizabeth Huffman, Williamson County and Seebird and Amanda C. Morgan, Hamilton County."

In the 1880 census of Lampasas County Enumeration District 85, page 23, Precinct 1 the household of Pleasant C. Cox, No. 198-207, page 300, was recorded as:

 "Cox, Pleasant 55, scrofula, born in Illinois, father         born in Ohio, mother born in          Kentucky
 Martha J.   53, wife, born in Kentucky, father         born in Kentucky, mother born in         Kentucky
 Jehu    20, working on farm, born in Texas,        father born in Illinois, mother born in       Kentucky
 Lucinda   17, complications of women, born in        Texas, father born in Illinois, mother        born in KY.
 Mary    15, born in Texas, father born in         Illinois, mother born in Kentucky
 Francis M.   8, born in Texas, father born in          Illinois, mother born in Kentucky
 William P.  8, born in Texas, grandson
 Pierce, Richard 21, hired hand, born in Texas, father        born ?, mother born in Missouri."

Scrofula, tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands of the neck, had seized Pleasant C. Cox in his later years, and because of this, descendants reported that he wore a red handkerchief around his neck continually.

On June 21, 1898 Pleasant C. Cox, according to Lampasas County Deed Book 2, page 271, executed the following deed to his wife:

"I, Pleasant Cox of Lampasas County in consideration of the sum of love and affection that I have for my wife Martha Jane Cox and other valuable considerations, do grant, sell and convey unto said Martha Jane Cox of Lampasas County, Texas my right, title and interest in 105 acres of land in Lampasas County, Texas on the waters of Lampasas River about 7 miles N44E from Lampasas, beginning at . . . , patented to Pleasant Cox by the State of Texas by patent dated June 13, 1881 as a preemption survey.  My entire interest is herein conveyed except I shall have the use of 1 acre of cultivated land on the south side of the dwelling house on aforesaid premises and 1 acre of cultivted land on the north side of said dwelling house and also the use of 1 room in said dwelling house on said premises to be selected by me and the use of all outhouses on the aforesaid premises so long as I shall live.

       Pleasant Cox"

On the previous day Martha Jane Bybee Cox had deeded to her son Francis Marion Cox the 124 acres, "reserving the exclusive benefits of rent, revenue and income from 20 acres to be selected by her," according to Lampasas County Deed Book 3, page 49.

Pleasant Cox was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Lampasas County, Enumeration District 106, page 21, Precinct 5, listed as:

 "Cox, Pleasant 79, born August 1820 in Illinois
 Martha J.   72, born Nov. 1827 in Kentucky
 Tolbert, Edna  12, born Dec. 1887 in Texas,           boarder"

While on a visit at the home of his son John Thomas Cox in Taylor County, Texas Pleasant C. Cox died October 6, 1906, according to family members.  However his death "from old age" was recorded in Lampasas County Death Book 1, page 9, suggesting that his death occurred in Lampasas County.  Martha Jane Bybee Cox died February 22, 1912.  He was buried with a Confederate marker in Rock Creek Cemetery near Rumley, Texas.  She was buried in the Cox Cemetery at Terreros presidio at her request.  John T. Cox, grandson of Martha Jane Bybee Cox, erected a fence around the Cox Cemetery about 1983, however the grave of Martha Jane Bybee Cox was not enclosed by the fence, according to Joe Burton Cox, his brother.

Children born to Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox include:

 John Thomas Cox  born Sep. 20, 1846
 James W. Cox    born June 20, 1848
 Bluford S. Cox   born July 10, 1850
 Amanda Cox    born Nov. 10, 1852
 Elizabeth Cox    born Sep. 22, 1854
 Amy Anne Cox   born May 12, 1856
 William Benjamin Cox born April 20, 1858
 Jehu A. Cox    born March 18, 1860
 Lucinda Cox    born June 11, 1862
 Mary Cox     born May 8, 1864
 Joseph "Buck" Cox  born March 12, 1867
 Francis Marion Cox  born August 21, 1871

John Thomas Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born September 20, 1846 in Missouri.  He was brought to Texas by his parents in 1850.  He was too young to serve in the Confederacy, but near the end of the war he enlisted in the Texas Rangers which at that time served as a local militia.  It was recalled that he was a stutterer by family members. He was married October 25, 1866 to Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott, daughter of Richard Elliott and Isabella Smart Elliott, according to Williamson County, Texas Marriage Book 2, page 266.

John Thomas Cox appeared as the head of Household No. 25-25 in the 1870 census of Lampasas County owning $300 in real estate and $350 in personal property. The household was recorded in Precinct 5 as:

 "Cox,  John T. 23, born in Missouri
    Isabella 23, born in Missouri, wife
    Doctor    1, born in Texas, son"

"John Cox" gave a deed to Pleasant C. Cox to 60 acres June 23, 1874 and received a release of "said interest in my estate by Pleasant Cox," according to Lampasas County Deed Book B, page 203.

On September 5, 1876 John Thomas Cox received a patent from the State of Texas to 160 acres which lay astride Lucy Creek located 6.5 miles northeast of Lampasas "adjoining Jasper Owens which was J. W. Harrell's 160-acre tract," according to Lampasas County Deed Book D, page 546.

John Thomas Cox reappeared in the 1880 census of Lampasas County Enumeration District 90, page 17, Precinct in a consecutive entry with that of his uncle James Christopher Cox.  The family was rendered as:

 "Cox,  John T. 27, born in Texas, father born in
       Indiana, mother born in Ken-
       tucky, farmer
   Ellen J. 27, born in Missouri
   Martha   8, born in Texas
   Bluford   7, born in Texas
   Edward   4, born in Texas
   Mary    3, born in Texas
   William   1, born in Texas
 Fox, Joseph  23, born in Tennessee, boarder"

It is believed that Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox reported her name as "Ella" to the censustaker who recorded it as "Ellen."  Both should have reported their ages as 33.]

On February 3, 1880 he received a deed from H. H. Brown to 120 acres in the J. L. Stanley survey for $232, according to Lampasas County Deed Book F, page 163.  On December 21, 1880 he sold the land back to H. H. Brown for $230, according to Lampasas County Deed Book G, page 383.

He sold 160 acres "on the west side of Lucy Creek" which had been patented to him September 5, 1876 to H. Cornet for $200, according to Lampasas County Deed Book I, page 202.  He lost title to his land May 1, 1883 when it was forfeited for delinquent taxes, according to Deed Book K, page 50.  The law gave him two years for redemption.

He sold 120 acres of his patent received in 1976 to R. H. Brown for $1,400 October 13, 1886, "retaining 40 acres on the south side of Lucy Creek," according to Lampasas County Deed Book Q, page 41.  On September 12, 1887 he purchased 100 acres on Bennett's Creek from Jordan Brown for $500, according to Lampasas County Deed Book Q, page 291.

Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox died May 19, 1890 and was buried in Knox Cemetery.  John Thomas Cox moved to Lampasas shortly afterward, purchasing Lot 4, Block 5, Lampasas Old Town Addition from S. Atkinson and his wife R. E. Atkinson for $350, according to Lampasas County Deed Book Q, page 596.

In June 1893 he was in Scurry County, Texas, according to a letter written June 20, 1893 by his daughter Mary Ellen Cox who was 16 years old at that time.

On April 21, 1895 he sold 230 acres lying astride the Lampasas-Hamilton County line to H. E. Arnold for $655, according to Lampasas County Deed Book V, page 605.

In 1906 John Thomas Cox lived in Taylor County, and his father died at his home while on a visit there.

John Thomas Cox died May 20, 1929 and was buried beside his wife in Knox Cemetery.

Children born to John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. Elliott Cox include:

 Doctor Cox   born in 1869
 Martha Mattie Cox born in 1871
 Bluford S. Cox  born August 16, 1872
 Edward Cox   born in 1876
 Mary Ellen Cox  born in 1877
 William Cox   born in 1879
 Lou Cox    born about 1880
 Kate Cox    born Nov. 30, 1882

Doctor Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. Elliott Cox, was born in 1869.  He appeared in the 1870 census of his father's household as "age 1."  Of this individual nothing more is known.

Martha Mattie Cox, daughter of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox, was born in 1872.  She appeared as an eight-year-old in the 1880 census of her father's household.  She was married about 1890, husband's name Knox.  They removed to California.

Children born to them include:

 Martha Knox born about 1892
 Alpha Knox born about 1895

Bluford S. Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. Elliott Cox, was born August 16, 1872 in Lampasas County.  He appeared as a seven-year-old in the 1880 census of his father's household.  He was married about 1895 to Mary Maud Baze.  Later he was a cottonbuyer in Sweetwater, Texas. He died there April 9, 1933.

Four children were born to Bluford S. Cox and Mary Maud Baze Cox:

 Clifton Cox   born January 24, 1906
 Rodney Dell Cox  born September 16, 1911
 Evelyn Virginia Cox born May 11, 1913
 Marshall Cox   born March 18, 1920

Clifton Cox, son of Bluford S. Cox and Mary Maud Baze Cox, was born January 24, 1906.  He became a cottonbuyer in Lubbock, Texas.

Rodney Dell Cox, son of Bluford S. Cox and Mary Maud Baze Cox, was born September 16, 1911.  He moved to Lubbock where he operated a pinball business.  He was married about 1932, wife's name unknown.  In 1978 he lived in Sweetwater.

Children born to Rodney Dell Cox include:

 Virginia Cox born about 1935

Virginia Cox, daughter of Rodney Dell Cox, was born about 1935.  She was later a student at Texas Tech University.

Evelyn Virginia Cox, daughter of Bluford S. Cox and Mary Maud Baze Cox, was born May 11, 1913.

Marshall Cox, son of Bluford S. Cox and Mary Maud Baze Cox, was born March 18, 1920.

Edward Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox, was born in 1876.  He appeared as a four-year-old in the 1880 census of his father's household.

Mary Ellen Cox, daughter of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox, was born in 1877.  She appeared in the 1880 census of her father's household as a three-year-old.  She was married about 1895 to Robert C. Campbell and lived at Evant, Texas.

Children born to them include:

 Eula Pearl Campbell born September 30, 1901

Eula Pearl Campbell, daughter of Robert C. Campbell and Mary Ellen Cox Campbell, was born September 30, 1901.  She was married April 7, 1920 to J. Y. Hamilton.  In 1984 she lived at Evant, Texas.

One son was born to them:

 Robert N. Hamilton born March 31, 1922

Robert Norman Hamilton, son of J. Y. Hamilton and Eula Pearl Campbell Hamilton, was born March 31, 1922.  He was married about 1946 to LaJuan Owens and in 1984 lived in Caldwell, Texas.

Children adopted by them include:

 Pam Hamilton born February 28, 1955

William Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Isabella J. "Belle" Elliott Cox, was born in 1879.  He appeared as a one-year-old in the 1880 census of his father's household.

James W. Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born June 20, 1848 in Missouri.  He was brought to Bell County, Texas in 1850 by his parents.  He appeared in the 1860 census of Lampasas County as a 12-year-old living in his father's household.

He was married about 1869 to Mary Elizabeth Pierce, according to "Our Cox Connections."  He was enumerated in the 1870 census living in his own household and employed as a farm laborer on the farm of Charles Witcher.  His household was listed as:

 "Cox, James 22, born in Missouri, farm laborer
 Issabella  14, born in Texas"

[Apparently Elizabeth Pierce Cox used the Spanish version of her name, in the 1860 census return.]

James W. Cox received a deed to 116 acres of their farm June 28, 1874 for a payment of $232, according to Lampasas County Deed Book B, page 211.  The land was part of the patent issued to Pleasant C.Cox.  He sold the land December 8, 1874 to W. F. Graves for $290, according to Deed Book B, page 368.

He was sued in Travis County Court by C. Aultman Company, and a judgement was rendered against him, J. M. Ruthrauff and W. H. Firebaugh November 29, 1879 for $586 plus 12% interest and attorney's fees in Cause No 386, according to Lampasas County Judgement Book 1, page 2 and Deed of Trust Book 1, page 70.

On October 2, 1886 he deeded 67.5 acres of the patent of Pleasant C. Cox to J. H. Bunch, according to Lampasas County Deed Book Q, page 36.

John Thomas Cox wrote of his uncles in 1960:

"Although Uncle Jim Cox stayed 'inside the law,' his wife was related to Pink Higgins, leader of the Higgins gang, and he felt he had to leave Texas because of all the killing.

It is a known fact that Uncle Jim helped Uncle Blue escape the law after he had killed his 27th man in the late 1870s.  He hauled him out of Texas in a wagon under a load of hides.  They stayed with kin for a while in New Mexico and then went on to Tombstone, Arizona.  Uncle Jim stayed there due to the fact that he was apprehensive of the consequences should it become known that he had assisted a fugitive from justice.  Once he went to Indian Territory to bring the wife of Uncle Bluford Cox to Nevada Territory to meet him.

He did not return to Texas until 1912.  He knew Wyatt Earp and spoke of him often.  I was in Tombstone in the 30s and 40s.  Uncle Jim was still remembered there.  And of course, gentle Bluford.

Uncle Jim spent several years in Tombstone, and Uncle Blue went farther west, but returned to visit him from time to time.  It is believed that Uncle Jim and Uncle Bluford came back to Texas at least once.  In 1938 I visited old Aunt Lizzie Owens at Utopia, Texas.  She told me of a visit that Jim Cox, Bluford Cox and some other men made to her home many years ago, as I recall, before the turn of the century."

One child was born to James W. Cox and Mary Elizabeth Pierce Cox:

 William Postum Cox born in 1870

William Postum Cox, son of James W. Cox and Mary Elizabeth Pierce Cox, was born in 1870 in Lampasas County.  He appeared in the 1880 census of his grandfather's household as a 10-year-old.  He died in 1958 and was buried in the Cox family cemetery.

Bluford S. Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born in Missouri July 10, 1850.  He appeared in the 1860 census of his father's household as a 10-year-old.  Descendants of James Christopher Cox recalled that Bluford Cox did not get along with his uncle and once poisoned his hunting dogs.  It was reported that Bluford S. Cox was enrolled in the University of Texas at Georgetown, Texas, but was expelled for bringing his pistol on the campus.  The school was the result of the consolidation of three academies in the area.  The College of Rutersville established in Bell County May 1, 1841 was the earliest of the three.  In 1875 at the request of the State of Texas the university officials ceded the name to the state for the creation of a new University of Texas at Austin and renamed the school Southwestern College.  Later the name was changed to Southwestern University.

Once Bluford S. Cox killed a man named Doolittle in a pistol fight in Lampasas, but not before the victim had shot his ear off.  In 1873 he killed Thomas Gardner in a gunfight and was arraigned for murder.  John Thomas Cox relates that Bluford S. Cox challenged Gardner after Gardner had abused his handicapped nephew, Willie Bybee, in an Adamsville saloon.  Willie Bybee, son of William Bybee, had a hand eaten off by a hog when he was a baby.  His parents had taken him with them when they went to work in their field and placed his crib in the shade of a tree.  Before they left to begin their work they placed a cookie in the hand of the baby.  A wandering sow was attracted to the cookie in the baby's hand which was extended through the side of the crib and ate the hand off in getting the cookie.

Hearing the baby's screams the parents ran to the crib, but were too late to save the hand.  They applied a tourniquet and save the baby's life.  On his fifteenth birthday Willie Bybee had put on his new hat, chaps and gun and gone to the Adamsville saloon to celebrate his manhood.  Thomas Gardner made fun of the young man and teased him to tears.  Hearing of the abuse Bluford S. Cox followed Gardner and overtook him before he reached his home.  In quickness and accuracy with a pistol Bluford S. Cox had no rival, and Gardner lay dying with the first shot.

Bluford S. Cox went to report the matter to his brother John Thomas Cox, a Texas Ranger, who convinced him to turn himself in.  In jail he learned that he would be tried for murder in Williamson County District Court and that his plea of self-defense would be disallowed.  With the help of family members he posted bond, but shortly afterwards disappeared having been smuggled out of the country to El Paso, Texas in a wagon under a load of buffalo hides by his brother James W. Cox.  The Williamson County District Judge declared the bond forfeited and issued the following judgement:

"The State of Texas

To the Sheriff of Lampasas County, Greeting: Whereas on the 15th day of July, 1873 before the Hon. District Court there in session within and for the county of Williamson and State of Texas at the courthouse in the town of Georgetown the following judgement ni si was entered to wit:

The State of Texas, No. 658   } And now on this
 15th day of July A.D. 1873 this
        vs.                   } cause being regularly reached on the Docket and William Bybee and Bluford Cox } called for trial, came the State of Texas by her District Attorney and the Defendant Bluford Cox comes not, but wholly makes default and it apppearing to the court that said defendant had on the 19th day of June A.D. 1871 made and executed bond for his personal appearance to answer in this behalf and stand trial upon a charge of the murder of one Thomas Gardner in the penal sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) with John Bybee, D. W. Smart, I. J. Barber, W. R. Blevins, W. J. Owens and Pleasant Cox as sureties thereon, which said bond is on file with the papers of this cause and is here shown to the court and said defendant being distinctly called at the courthouse door came not but wholly makes default and said sureties John Bybee, D. W. Smart, I. J. Barber, W. R. Blevins, W. J. Owens and Pleasant Cox, each being distinctly called at the courthouse door, and required to bring into court the body of their said principal Bluford S. Cox as they were bound to do, and they failing so to do within a reasonable time thereafter, on motion of the District Attorney for forfeiture of said appeareance Bond it is considered, ordered and adjudged by the court that said Bond be and is hereby forfeited, and that the State of Texas do have and recover of and from the said Defendant Bluford S. Cox and his sureties John Bybee, D. W.Smart, I. J. Barber, W. R. Blevins, W. J. Owens and Pleasant Cox the said sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) named in said Bond together with all costs of this proceeding, and that this Judgement ni si be made final at the next term of this court unless good cause be shown why the same should be set aside.  It is further ordered that a cine facias issue to said above named sureties requiring them to appear at the next term of this court and show cause if any they have why this Judgement shall not be made final.

Now therefore in the name and by the authority of the State of Texas, These presents are to command you that you summon Pleasant Cox if to be found in your county to be and appear at and before the next term of the District Court to be begun and held within and for the County of Williamson and State of Texas at the Courthouse thereof in the town of Georgetown on Monday the 3rd day of November A.D. 1873 then and there to answer in this behalf and show cause if any he has why said Judgement ni si shall not be made final.  Herein fail not but execute and due return make of this writ as the law directs.

Witness W. T. Dalrymple, Clerk of the District Court of Williamson County.  Given under my hand and seal of said Court at office in the town of Georgetown this 4th day of September A.D. 1873.
       W. T. Dalrymple, Clerk, D.C. W.C.
       by D. G. Smith, Deputy."

The bondsmen came into court in November 1873 and testified that Bluford S. Cox had been killed April 25, 1873 by Ben Harrell et al.  His father produced a bullet-riddled, blood-stained coat and shirt and testified that it was the clothing worn by his son that day.  Harry Clark, brother-in-law to Bluford S. Cox, testified that he was riding with him when they were ambushed by the Harrell gang.  Harry Clark claimed that as he was fleeing for his life he saw Bluford S. Cox shot from his saddle.  John Bybee testified that they had made a diligent, but unsuccessful search for the body of Bluford S. Cox and implied that the Harrell gang had disposed of it.

The court was not convinced and prepared sequestration papers against the bondsmen, but did relent to the defense attorney's insistence that the Harrell gang be called to testify.  The judge prepared interrogatories to be sent to Thomas L. Harrell, Martin E. "Mart" Harrell, Merit Harrell, William Bowen and Rufus Overstreet.

The deposition of Thomas L. Harrell revealed: "I have known Bluford Cox for 12 years and knew him to be a son of Pleas Cox.  I saw him last between April 1 and April 10, 1873 in Coryell County.  I first met Harry Clark in Lampasas County June 15, 1873. Ben Harrell was in Coleman County on April 25, 1873 on the road between Coleman and Lampasas with Thomas L. Harrell, William Bowen, and Merit Harrell.  I know Ben Harrell and William Bowen did not kill Bluford Cox.  I was with them in Coleman County on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th and was with William Bowen throughout the month of April."

The court accepted the depositions and bonafide evidence and proceded to sequestrate property from the bondsmen.  In the November term judgement was rendered against Doctor William Smart, husband of Mary Ann Bybee Smart deceased, and 200 acres of his land on Berry's Creek was taken in an allowance of $2,000.  Joining in the deed by the children of Doctor William Smart: Brice Miller Smart, Robert Sneed and Isabella Smart Sneed, Houston Smart and Braxton Smallwood, surviving husband of Elizabeth Smart Smallwood.

Bluford Cox grew up with the Pink Higgins gang and joined their extermination campaign against the Harrell gang.  William Ernest Cox wrote in 1960:

""He did pretty well as a practicing exterminator.  He killed 25 men during his stay in the Lampasas area.  He killed his 26th man, a U.S. marshall, after he moved to Indian Territory in search of a healthier climate.  Reportedly the marshall had followed him to Lexington, Indian Territory to bring him back to stand trial for a recent killing.  The marshall made a fatal mistake when he attempted to talk Gentle Bluford into returning with persuasive logic rather than more insistent methods."

Bluford came out into his front yard to meet the marshall with a warm, friendly welcome and listened very courteously to what the marshall had to say.  At the end of the visit Bluford requested time to talk the matter over with his wife.  He had become a squawman since coming to Indian Territory, marrying a Miss Traylor.  Since the discussion would require some time Bluford requested the marshall to come back later for his answer.

The marshall consented and returned to town believing that he had convinced Bluford to do the right thing.  Meanwhile, back at he ranch, Bluford oiled up his pistol, and when the marshall returned later in the day, Bluford shot him in the head through a chink in the wall without even inviting him in."

Mary Alnora "Nora" Cox Drennan wrote that Bluford Cox left his wife in Oklahoma and made his way back to Lampasas County taking refuge in the home of his brother James W. Cox

James W. Cox smuggled his brother out of Texas in a wagonload of hides and they hid out in New Mexico and Arizona.  Bluford Cox spent some time in Tombstone, Arizona, and in Nevada.

Once when he appeared in Hylton, Nevada a town which was being promoted by John Dowell Hylton, reported to be a cousin of Pleasant C. Cox, from the Lampasas area.  [He was same man who promoted Hylton, Texas in Nolan County where James Madison Cox operated a butchershop.]  Hylton recognized Bluford Cox by the missing ear, and notified the authorities, but the fast-gun escaped and continued west.  The last communication the family received from him was an unsigned postcard which read "I'm in Walla Walla."

A half-breed son of Bluford S. Cox stated that his father had also lived in Utah and Colorado, according to John Thomas Cox, a nephew.

John Thomas Cox wrote in 1960 "In 1946 while I was working at Ft. Lewis, Washington I visited the Washington State Penal Institution located in Walla Walla.  I had a hunch that the records there might reveal something of Uncle Blue.  I did not get to return to determine the results of the search that I had started."  [A search of the archives of Washington State Department of Corrections was made in 1985 showed no record of the fugitive ever being imprisoned in the Walla Walla penitentiary.  A family report claims that at one time he was a cattle inspector in Idaho and Montana.  He did not appear in the index to the 1880 census of Idaho.]

Children born to Bluford S. Cox include:

 Mattie Cox   born about 1877

Mattie Cox, daughter of Bluford S. Cox, was born about 1877, place unknown.  She was married about 1897 to J. W. Meeks.  Mattie Cox Meeks had a photograph of her daughter and herself made by a Lexington, Oklahoma photographer about 1900.  She sent a copy of the photograph to her mother-in-law Martha Bybee Cox.  The photograph has been retained by descendants.

In 1912 they operated C.O.D. Grocery at 3218 Arch Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mattie Cox Meeks corresponded with cousins in Lampasas, Texas until about 1919, and her letters suddenly ceased.  Children born to them include:

 Lee Meeks  born about 1900
 Beatrice Meeks born about 1902

Amanda Cox, daughter of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born November 10, 1852 in Bell County, Texas.  She appeared as a seven-year-old in the 1860 census of Lampasas County in her father's household.  She did not reappear in the 1870 census of her parents household.  She was married December 21, 1873 to Harden Cornett.  She died September 16, 1916 near Bandera, Texas.

Children born to Harden Cornett and Amanda Cox Cornett include:

 Rachel Cornett born about 1875
 Lottie Cornett  born about 1877
 Polly Cornett  born about 1880

Rachel Cornett, daughter of Harden Cornett and Amanda Cox Cornett, was born about 1875.  She was married to Troy Leakey about 1893.

Lottie Cornett, daughter of Harden Cornett and Amanda Cox Cornett, was born about 1877.  She was married about 1897 to O. L. Pearce.

Polly Cornett, daughter of Harden Cornett and Amanda Cox Cornett, was born about 1880.  She was married about 1900, husband's name Barnes.

Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born September 22, 1854 in Bell County.  She appeared as "Isabel Cox," a five-year-old in her father's household in the 1860 census and again as 16-year-old "Elizabeth Cox" in 1870.  She was married May 27, 1876 to William Cleve Hicks, according to Lampasas County Marriage Book A, page 103.  She died October 20, 1890 near Goldthwaite, Texas and was buried at Lampasas.

Children born to William Cleve Hicks and Elizabeth Cox Hicks include:

 Pleasant Hicks  born June 10, 1876
 Jehu Hicks   born about 1879
 Lewis William Hicks born about 1881

Lewis William Hicks, son of William Cleve Hicks and Elizabeth Cox Hicks, was born about 1881.  Children born to him include:

 Bruce Hicks born about 1904

Bruce Hicks, son of Lewis William Hicks, was born about 1904.  He was married about 1925, wife's name Diane.

Amy Anne Cox, daughter of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born May 12, 1856 in Lampasas County.  She appeared as a four-year-old in the household of her father in the 1860 census and as a 14-year-old there in the 1870 return.  She was married April 20, 1871 to Alexander G. "Harry" Clark who was born March 28, 1847, according to family members.  He testified [falsely] that he was riding with his brother-in-law Bluford S. Cox when he was ambushed and killed April 25, 1873.  At that time he was shown as a resident of Hamilton County, Texas.  They returned to Lampasas County shortly afterward.  He, a master of the Lampasas Grange, was a descendant of George Rogers Clark, according to John Thomas Cox.  Lampasas County Marriage Book A, page 17 records the marriage of "Emma Cox" to Harry A. Clark July 16, 1874.  He died November 6, 1925. She died October 11, 1933 and was buried in Rock Church Cemetery in Lampasas County. Iva Rue Jackson, a descendant, lived in Lampasas in 1985.

Children born to Alexander G. "Harry" Clark and Amy Anne Cox include:

 Louis Napoleon Clark born about 1875
 Lucinda Clark    born about 1876
 Lurinda Clark    born about 1877
 Sandarcus "Jack" Clark born about 1878
 Winnie Clark    born about 1879
 Noah E. "Monk" Clark born about 1881
 Etta Clark     born about 1883
 John Clark    born about 1885
 Bessie Clark    born about 1887
 Martha Clark    born about 1889
 Ellen Clark    born about 1891 m.             Jolly,Austin
 Ina Clark     born about 1893

William Benjamin Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born April 20, 1858 in Lampasas County.  He appeared as a two-year-old in the 1860 census and as a 12-year-old in the 1870 return of his father's household.  He was married May 4, 1884 to Lena Brown, according to Lampasas County Marriage Book C, page 50.

He was a farmer in Lampasas County in 1904.  He died July 20, 1926 at Matador, Texas and was buried there, according to "Our Cox Connections."

At least eight children were born to William Benjamin Cox and Lena Brown Cox.  Included was:

 Violet Louise Cox born July 16, 1904

Violet Louise Cox, daughter of William Benjamin Cox and Lena Brown Cox, was born July 16, 1904, according to Lampasas Probate Birth Book 4, page 39.  Her birth certificate reveals that her father was 45 and her mother 34 at the time of her birth.  Her father was "born in Alabama" and her mother was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas.  She was the eighth child of this union of which six were still living at that time.  Mrs. Sophronia Cowan, Pampa, Texas attested with an affidavit dated July 8, 1942.  W. R. Cammack, Motley County, Texas, also attested with an affidavit dated July 20, 1942.

Jehu A. Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born March 18, 1860 in Lampasas County.  He appeared at age six months in the 1860 census of his father's household and at age 10 in the 1870 return.  He appeared as a 20-year-old farm worker in his parents' household in the 1880 census. He was married April 20, 1888 to Mary Bell Whitt who was born in Virginia June 12, 1869, according to Cora Lee Cox, a great-granddaughter.  He died December 16, 1932 in Kempner, and she died August 5, 1943 in San Saba, Texas.  She was born in Texas, according to her death certificate.

Children born to Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox include:

 Marion Ezra Cox born about 1889
 George W. Cox born May 27, 1890
 Emma Cox  born about 1894
 Pearl Cox   born about 1895
 Ollie D. Cox  born about 1896
 Rita Cox   born about 1898
 Walter W. Cox born October 10, 1901
 Viola Cox   born about 1904
 Addie Cox  born about 1907

Marion Ezra Cox, son of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1889.  He died in July 1966.

George Washington Cox, son of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born May 27, 1890.  He was their second child, according to Lampasas County Birth Book P8, page 507.  Mrs. J. E. Webb attested to the birth certificate May 4, 1955.  He died in 1965.

Emma Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1894.  She died about 1973.

Pearl Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1895.  She was married about 1915, husband's name Neal.  In 1978 she lived at Kempner, Texas with Allen Jackson.

Ollie Dorothy Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1896.  She died about 1905.

Rita Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1898.  She died in 1974.

Walter William Cox, son of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born October 10, 1901 "on the farm of James Christopher Cox at Baby Head, Texas [Llano County]", according to his granddaughter Cora Lee Cox.  He was married May 22, 1921 to Mary Ethel Elizabeth Jackson, according to Lampasas County Marriage Book J, page 96.  She was born to James Andrew Jackson and Rachael Caroline McCullough Jackson June 2, 1875 at Manchester, Tennessee.

Children born to Walter William Cox and Mary Ethel Elizabeth Jackson Cox include:

 (infant)   born about 1924
 Virgil Edell Cox born July 26, 1925

An infant was born to Walter William Cox and Mary Ethel Elizabeth Jackson Cox about 1924 and died shortly thereafter.

Virgil Edell Cox, son of Walter William Cox and Mary Ethel Jackson Cox, was born July 26, 1925, according to Lampasas County Probate Birth Book 2, page 329.

He was married January 23, 1948 to Corine Roden who was born January 14, 1924 in Cameron, Texas to Alfred Alonzo Roden and Hariett Permelia Myers Roden.

Children born to Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox include:

 James Clinton Cox born June 30, 1949
 Cora Lee Cox   born May 12, 1951
 Virginia Ann Cox born October 29, 1953
 Robert Franklin Cox born June 24, 1956
 Jackie Dean Cox  born July 7, 1958
 Shirley Marie Cox born December 11, 1960

James Clinton Cox, son of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born June 30, 1949 in Lampasas.  He was married December 25, 1972 in Kempner, Texas to Linda Sue Culver who was born in Florida May 12, 1953. In 1978 they continued to live in Lampasas.

Children born to James Clinton Cox and Linda Sue Culver Cox include:

 Tonya Monique Cox born October 11, 1973
 James W. V. L. Cox born September 29, 1974

Cora Lee Cox, daughter of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born August 7, 1951.  She was married June 26, 1976 in Kempner to Michael L. R. Weaver who was born July 9, 1951 in Hutchinson, Kansas.  They were separated June 16, 1978.  In 1983 Cora Lee Cox, a nurse and a family historian, lived in Lampasas.  She has done extensive research on the Cox family history.

Virginia Ann Cox, daughter of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born October 29, 1953 in Lampasas.  In 1978 she was a registered nurse employed by Sheppherd Hospital, Burnet, Texas.

Robert Franklin Cox, son of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born June 24, 1956 in Lampasas.  He was married April 1, 1977 in Burnet to Carlalyn Michael who was born September 25, 1956.  Children born to Robert Franklin Cox and Carlalyn Michael Cox are unknown.

Jackie Dean Cox, son of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born July 7, 1958.  In 1978 he lived in Lampasas.

Shirley Marie Cox, daughter of Virgil Edell Cox and Corine Roden Cox, was born December 11, 1960 in Lampasas.  In 1978 she lived in Lampasas.

Viola Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1904.  She was married about 1923 to Veldon Turner.  In 1978 they lived in Killeen, Texas.

Addie Cox, daughter of Jehu A. Cox and Mary Bell Whitt Cox, was born about 1907.  She was married about 1926 to Clifton Stevenson.  In 1978 they lived at San Saba, Texas.

Lucinda Cox, daughter of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, "a sickly child," was born June 11, 1862 in Lampasas County.  She appeared in the 1870 census of her father's household as a seven-year-old.  She died November 12, 1870 and was buried in Cox Cemetery at Terreros presidio.

Mary Cox, daughter of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born May 8, 1864 in Lampasas County.  She appeared in the 1870 census of her father's household as a five-year-old.  She was married March 22, 1884 to John Charles Whitt, believed to be a brother to Mary Whitt.  She died August 24, 1938 at Van Alstyne, Texas and was buried at Goldthwaite, Texas.  No children were born to them.

Joseph "Buck" Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born August 6, 1868 in Lampasas County.  He appeared in the 1870 census of his father's household as a three-year-old.  He died May 5, 1872 "as the result of a concussion received by butting his head against a wall in a temper tantrum," according to John Thomas Cox.  He was buried in Cox Cemetery at Terreros presidio.

Francis Marion Cox, son of Pleasant C. Cox and Martha Jane Bybee Cox, was born August 21, 1871 in Lampasas County.  William Ernest Cox stated his father was named for General Francis Marion, "the swamp fox," and added that an ancestor had served under the Revolutionary War general.  He received a deed from his parents May 17, 1898 to their 124-acre farm, according to Lampasas County Deed Book 3, page 39.

Francis Marion Cox was married August 9, 1902 to Iola Pearl Sims, according to Lampasas County Marriage Book F, page 246.  He died October 10, 1947 of stomach cancer at Lometa, Texas at age 76, according to Lampasas County Death Book 6, page 9.  He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Children born to Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox include:

 William Ernest Cox born August 25, 1903
 Joe Burton Cox  born July 8, 1905
 John Thomas Cox born April 15, 1907
 Hazel Pauline Cox born March 10, 1912
 Louine Oleta Cox  born October 26, 1914
 Hattie Elsie Cox  born November 19, 1916

William Ernest Cox, son of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born August 25, 1903 at Grundyville, Texas,  according to Lampasas County Birth Book 1, page 2 and Lampasas County Probate Birth Book 3, page 117.  He was a schoolteacher and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  When visited by Arlee Claud Gowen in 1960 he was living alone on the farm formerly operated by his parents.  He did not marry.  He continued to live in Lampasas County in 1985.

Joe Burton Cox, son of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born July 8, 1905 in Lampasas County.  His birth certificate recorded in Lampasas County Birth Book 1, page 20 shows July 6, 1905 as his date of birth.  He was married September 20, 1928 to Delma Mae Poe, according to Lampasas County Marriage Book K, page 213.  She was born in 1906 in Hamilton County, Texas.  In 1931 he was a farmer at Moline, Texas and in 1933 was shown as a teacher.  In 1939 he was shown as an unemployed schoolteacher.  In 1947 he lived at Oakalla, Texas.  In 1983 he was an accountant.  He died November 5, 1996 at San Marcos at age 91.  He was buried in San Marcos City Cemetery.

Children born to Joe Burton Cox and Delma Mae Poe Cox include:

 Dorothy Lee Cox  born April 1, 1931
 Joe Burton Cox, Jr. born October 6, 1933
 Peggy Nell Cox  born September 11, 1939

Dorothy Lee Cox, daughter of Joe Burton Cox and Delma Mae Poe Cox, was born April 1, 1931, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 3, page 70. She died June 3, 1932.

Joe Burton Cox, Jr. son of Joe Burton Cox and Delma Mae Poe Cox, was born October 6, 1933, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 3, page 76.  He was married December 18, 1954 to Helen Marie Hooten at Copperas Cove, Texas.

Children born to Joe Burton Cox, Jr. and Helen Marie Hooten Cox include:

 Debbie Cox born about 1956
 Scott Cox  born about 1958
 Stewart Cox born about 1961

Peggy Nell Cox, daughter of Joe Burton Cox and Delma Mae Poe Cox, was born September 11, 1939, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 5, page 102.  In 1983 she remained unmarried.

John Thomas Cox, son of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born April 15, 1907, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 1, page 63.   He enrolled in Texas Technological College in 1927.  In 1930 he attended John Tarleton College in Stephenville, Texas.  He was married July 30, 1931 at Lometa, Texas to Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy.  She was born May 17, 1911 in Palo Pinto County, Texas to John Y. Dendy and Nancy O'Neal "Bloxie" Dendy.  She was graduated in 1929 from high school in Breckenridge, Texas and enrolled in John Tarleton College.  In 1930 they taught school at Lucille, Texas and it was here that Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox started an experiment which developed into a nationwide school lunch program.

In 1935 they lived in Mineral Wells, Texas, and in 1936 near Childress, Texas.  He was graduated in 1937 from Texas Technological College.  From 1938 to 1960 they lived in San Marcos, Texas.  In 1942 she opened Seven Oaks Day Care Center there which she operated until 1967.  She died in 1974.  In 1983 he was employed by National Grange and lived at Shive, Texas in Hamilton County.  He announced his retirement in 1984.

Children born to John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox include:

 John O'Neal Cox  born April 4, 1935
 Lem Lawson Cox  born November 14, 1937
 Virginia Lavon Cox born October 13, 1938
 Carol Jean Cox  born August 6, 1944
 Julia Ann Cox  born October 14, 1953

John O'Neal Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox, was born April 4, 1935 in Mineral Wells.  He was graduated from high school in 1953 at San Marcos.  He attend Southwest Texas University for two years and was graduated in 1956 from Texas AM University as an engineer.  He was employed by Nix Construction Company of Houston.  He was married January 1, 1957 to Marjorie Nix, daughter of Russell W. Nix and Elizabeth Lord Nix, who owned the construction company.  In 1983 John O'Neal Cox was retired and living in Austin, Texas.

Children born to John O'Neal Cox and Marjorie Nix Cox include:

 Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Cox  born in 1958
 John O'Neal "Kippy" Cox, Jr. born in 1960
 Russell Thomas "Rusty" Cox born in 1962

Cinthia Ann "Cindy" Cox, daughter of John O'Neal Cox and Marjorie Nix Cox, was born in 1958 in Houston. In 1983 she lived in Flagstaff, Arizona.

John O'Neal "Kippy" Cox, Jr., son of John O'Neal Cox and Marjorie Nix Cox, was born in 1960 in Houston.  He attended Andover Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.

Russell Thomas "Rusty" Cox, son of John O'Neal Cox and Marjorie Nix Cox, was born in 1962 in Houston.

Lem Lawson Cox, son of John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox, was born November 14, 1937 at Childress, Texas.   He was graduated from high school in San Marcos and enrolled in Southwest Texas University in 1955.  In 1958 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Green Beret in the Eighty-First Airborne Division.  He was married September 29, 1962 to Linda Jane Plimper, daughter of Leon C. Plimper and Eryn M. Plimper of Corpus Chrisi, Texas.  She was born December 29, 1939.

Children born to Lem Lawson Cox and Linda Jane Plimper Cox include:

 Gretchen Jane Cox born September 7, 1968
 Fritz Clinton Cox  born May 23, 1970

Virginia Lavon Cox, daughter of John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox, was born October 13, 1938 at San Marcos.  Following graduation from San Marcos High School she enrolled in 1957 at Southwest Texas University.  She was married March 1, 1958 to Chester Leon Witte, son of Carl Y. Witte and Annie Bromar Witte.

Children born to them include:

 Kathy LaVonne Witte born February 12, 1957
 Kelly Lynn Witte   born December 9, 1958
 Mark Steven Witte  born December 3, 1959
 Lee An Witte    born December 26, 1960

Carol Jean Cox, daughter of John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox, was born August 6, 1944 in San Marcos and was graduated from high school there in 1962.  She attended Southwest State University and was married January 16, 1963 to Patrick O. Reardon.  In 1966 they lived in Sonora, Texas.

Children born to them include:

 Amy Elizabeth Reardon born January 18, 1966
 Wendy Reardon   born February 23, 1970

Julia Ann Cox, daughter of John Thomas Cox and Virginia Ann "Ginger" Dendy Cox, was born October 14, 1953 in San Marcos.  She was married about 1973 to Robert Bowden.

Hazel Pauline Cox, daugter of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born March 10, 1912 in Lampasas County.  She was married May 30, 1931 in Lometa to Joe T. Tarry and lived in Lovington, New Mexico where he was a farmer and concrete contractor.  She died in October, 1942.

Children born to Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry include:

 William Esteen Tarry born March 5, 1932
 Helen Pauline Tarry born July 14, 1933
 Joe Ellis Tarry  born August 3, 1935
 Margaret Lee Tarry born January 20, 1937
 Thomas Edgar Tarry born April 2, 1942

William Esteen Tarry, son of Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry, was born March 5, 1932 in Lovington, New Mexico.  He was married there December 19, 1958 to Muriel Hopkins who was born August 22, 1933 in Chickasha, Oklahoma.  In 1983 he, a university professor, lived in Silver City, New Mexico.

Helen Pauline Terry, daughter of Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry, was born July 14, 1933 in Lovington, New Mexico.  She was married August 11, 1955 to Tommy Hare at Lubbock, Texas.  In 1983 they lived in Barstow, Arizona.

Joe Ellis Tarry, son of Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry, was born August 3, 1935 at Lovington, New Mexico.  He was married April 19, 1957 at Portales, New Mexico to Leona May Isbell.  In 1960 they lived at Mill Valley, California.  In 1983 they lived in Belo Horizonte, Brazil where he was a missionary.

Children born to them include:

 Carl Anthony Tarry  born April 23, 1960
 Jonathan Eugene Tarry born about 1962
 Charlotte Mae Tarry  born about 1965

Margaret Lee Tarry, daughter of Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry, was born January 20, 1937 in Lovington, New Mexico.  She was married September 5, 1958 to Kenneth Omer Livingston.  In 1959 they lived in Lovington and in 1983 at Kermit, Texas.

Thomas Edgar Tarry, son of Joe T. Tarry and Hazel Pauline Cox Tarry, was born April 4, 1942.  He was married August 3, 1962 to Joycie Mae Blackledge, daughter of James Calvin Blackledge and Annie Mae Irby Blackledge.  She was born August 12, 1941 at Bastrop, Louisiana.  In 1983 they lived at Glenrock, Wyoming.

Louine Oleta Cox, daughter of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born October 21, 1914, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 3, page 5.  She was married August 8, 1936 in Goldthwaite, Texas to O. K. Berry.

Hattie Elsie Cox, daughter of Francis Marion Cox and Iola Pearl Sims Cox, was born November 19, 1916, according to Lampasas County Birth Book 3, page 11 and Lampasas County Birth Book 6, page 190.  She was married in Lampasas January 1, 1944 to John P. Sheriff.  He, a soldier stationed at Ft. Hood, was formerly an employee of the "Boston Herald."

Following World War II he returned to the newspaper, and they lived in Boston and Waltham, Massachusetts.  They lived in Massachusetts from December 1945 until January 1977 when they returned to Lampasas.  Hattie Elsie Cox Sheriff, a genealogist, has done extensive research on the history of the Cox family.

Jehu A. Cox, son of Solomon Cox and Elizabeth Johnston Cox, was born about 1821, probably in Monroe County, Indiana.  He moved to the Springfield, Missouri area about 1836 with his widowed mother and family, perhaps to join his grandfather there.

Apparently he continued to make his home near Springfield where he was a breeder of fine horses.  It was reported by the family that he occasionally made trips by horseback to Lampasas County riding "the finest horse you ever saw."  On one trip in the late 1880's he rode a fine stallion to make a visit to Lampasas County.  His nephew Francis Marion Cox so admired the horse that Jehu Cox sold the stallion to him and caught the train for the return trip.  The family did not see him again, according to "Our Cox Connections."