Pioneer Families of Daviess County: The Coxes

It was Dec. 16, 1828, when our next Daviess County pioneer subject was born. Samuel Porter Cox was born in Williamsburg, Whitney County, Ky., the son of Levi and Cynthia Cox. In September 1839, his parents and siblings came to Daviess County and settled in Jackson Township in the eastern part of the county. His siblings were Daniel [born 1826]; Thomas J. [born 1831]; Mary, [born 1833; married a G. W. Lytton]; James W. [born 1835]; Lucinda [born 1838]; Joseph [born 1841]; and Josephine [born 1849; married Lucius Anderson].

Growing up on the farm, Samuel longed for excitement. When the war with Mexico began, Samuel wanted to become a soldier, but since he was just a little over 16, his father vetoed the idea. As time went by, there came an opportunity to take his uncle’s cattle to market at Fort Leavenworth. It was there that he was recruited by Capt. Rodgers. The war with Mexico was nearly over and he didn’t see any action. The next two years he spent in the saddle, scouting and chasing Indians anywhere from Texas to the headwaters of the Missouri River. During his first year of service, the command to which he belonged built Fort Kearney. It was here that he first met Kit Carson. Carson was carrying dispatches from Santa Fe to Leavenworth.

When his term of service ended, Samuel came back to Daviess County and married Mary Ballinger, daughter of Gabriel L. Ballinger, on July 7, 1850. They had six children: Gabriel W. [married Nancy C. Stone, buried in California]; Mary C. [married William M. Flint, died in Colorado]; Samuel P. Jr. [married De Etta “Arietta” Stout, buried in Kansas City]; Josephine “Josie” Julia [married Kenneth M. Irving, buried in Gallatin‘s Lile Family Cemetery]; Franklin L., and Bertha B. 

They lived in Gallatin, and after a few years of being in partnership with George Pogue in the merchandising business, Samuel left for California only to return to Missouri by 1858. In that year, he became a wagon master for the firm of overland freighters, Russell, Majors & Waddell. [The reader may recall that it was Russell, Majors & Waddell who were instrumental in forming the Pony Express].

A wagon train consisted of 26 huge freight wagons each drawn by six yoke of cattle. A train crew consisted of 32 men. This included teamsters and night herders. When the train went into camp at night the cattle were unyoked and turned loose to graze, the teamsters were relieved and the night herders took charge. The next morning the cattle would be brought in, when each teamster would have to go into the herd, find his cattle, yoke and hitch to his wagon, and the train would pull out. It usually took six months to make the trip from Missouri River points to Salt Lake. 

On one occasion, when some freight trains belonging to the firm were overdue, Mr. Majors insisted on sending Samuel Cox because he was one that “if anyone could get through alive, it was Cox.” Because he considered Mr. Majors a good friend, Samuel agreed. It was very long and hazardous duty going through Indian Territory, making the distance of over 1200 miles. Cox succeeded in making the trip in 30 days riding a mule while pulling a pack mule. He met the delayed trains at Sweet Water, delivered his message and came on. These and the soldiers stationed at the forts along his route were the only white men that he saw on that long ride. He resigned from that hazardous occupation the following year.

In 1857, he was appointed deputy sheriff. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, he assisted in organizing the 2nd Battalion of Enrolled Missouri Militia. It was at this time, he was commissioned as “major.” As this battalion was composed of “six months men,” their time expired the following March, at which time Maj. Cox assisted in recruiting the First Regiment of Missouri State Militia, under command of Col. James H. B. McFerran. He was commissioned major of that regiment March 12, 1862, and was ordered on detail duty, as assistant inspector general to muster in troops for the Northwest Missouri service. He served in this capacity until 1863, when he resigned his commission because of failing health. Returning to Gallatin, he went back to his job as circuit clerk of Daviess County to which he had been elected earlier.

Toward the latter part of October in 1864, word was brought to Gallatin that Capt. William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, the noted guerilla confederate leader, had crossed the Missouri River and was coming north under orders from General Sterling Price to tear up the track and burn bridges along the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Major Cox, upon hearing his information, took up his sword once again, and started toward the seat of war. At Hamilton, Missouri, he met Major McDonald with about 200 men. Major McDonald insisted upon Major Cox going to St. Joseph to report the situation and get assistance if possible to meet Anderson. Cox went to St. Joseph, saw General Craig, and informed Craig of the situation. Craig at once requested Cox to take command of the forces available and go in pursuit of Anderson. “But I am no longer an officer,” said Cox. “I resigned some time ago, and am now a civilian.” “Then I will make you an officer,” said Craig, and in about two hours Cox was handed a Lieutenant-Colonel’s commission and ordered to take command at once. Returning to Hamilton that night, he at once began preparations for a forced march, and before noon the next day was on his way south. His command reached Knoxville the first day and on the next evening were in Richmond. This was on the Oct. 26, 1864. 

The following morning, Oct. 27, Cox’s command was on the road leading west from Richmond in the direction of Old Albany. They had not gone far when they were met by a woman on horseback. Her horse was in a lather of sweat and had evidently been ridden long and hard. She rode directly up to Col. Cox and began to tell in an excited manner that she had passed Anderson‘s camp, told where it was located, the approximate number of his men, and other information. Once convinced that this woman could be trusted, Col. Cox directed his men in forming their attack. The command moved forward until it was within about a half mile of the place where Anderson was camped. He halted his men and prepared for the attack. 

The road they were traveling led along an open timbered bottom. Col. Cox dismounted his men with the exception of a small squad which he ordered to go forward under command of Lieut. Baker and bring on the attack. Cox, in the meantime, had ordered his men to deploy upon each side of the road and this arrangement had barely been completed when the sharp firing began up the bottom, which told them that Baker had flushed the quarry and the fight was on. As soon as the firing began, Baker retreated and was soon seen coming down the road full tilt, with Anderson and his men in close pursuit. Anderson was about fifty yards in advance of his men, his bridle rein in his teeth and a pistol in each hand. It was a wild charge. On they came, every fellow for himself, riding like the wind and yelling like demons, all the while keeping up an incessant fire from their revolvers. It was a situation to try the nerves of veterans, but the thin line of raw recruits scattered among the trees on each side of the road never wavered. They waited quietly until Anderson‘s men were well within range and opened fire. Anderson probably realized at the last moment that he had fallen into a trap, but if he did, he did not hesitate for a moment to take the desperate chance of cutting his way out. It looked at one time as though he would succeed, when he reached a point about 40 feet  from where Col. Cox was standing beside the road when suddenly, Anderson threw up his hands and fell backwards from his horse. A pistol ball had struck him just above the ear, killing him instantly. It will probably never be known as to who killed Anderson. The feat has been accredited to several men, but Col. Cox when asked about this, said: “I don’t know who killed him. Several of us were shooting at him, but it is impossible to tell who hit him.” 

Col. Cox was warmly congratulated by General Craig, and also by General Rosecrans upon his success in riding the country of this band of guerillas. He was awarded several of “Bloody Bill” Anderson’s possessions, including his horse. The letters of commendations were treasured by Col. Cox, but unfortunately were destroyed by fire along with many other valued mementos of the war, when his house burned.

Not the bragging sort of man, this brave, generous, kind hearted, humble man went in and out among the people of this county. One didn’t need to tell them of his virtues. They knew him. They honored him with their confidence and respect because of his honesty and integrity. In 1882, the whole Cox family was described as being among the most highly respected citizens of Gallatin.

Col. Samuel P. Cox died Aug. 15, 1913, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Gallatin.