LIEUT. COL. SAMUEL P. COX.
The subject of this sketch was born in Williamsburg, Whitley county, Kentucky, December 16th, 1828. In September, 1839, he moved with his father, Levi Cox, to this county and settled on what is now known as the Joshua Tye place in the eastern part of the county. Here he spent his youth, assisting his father in farm work, attending school, and whatever his hand found to do he did it with all his might. When the war with Mexico came on the boy was seized with a desire to become a soldier, but as he was but little over 16 years old his father promptly vetoed the proposition. But his ambition was not quenched. He waited and grew in stature, and patiently nursed the bud of hope In 1847 his opportunity came. His uncle, Nathan Cox, had some cattle ready for market and as Fort Leavenworth was the nearest point where fair prices could be obtained he decided to drive to that point. As he would need assistance he asked young Cox how he would like to help make the drive. The boy was anxious to go, but would have to see his father before giving a final answer. The father was consulted, gave his consent, and in due course of time the boy found himself in Fort Leavenworth. Capt. Rodgers wis recruiting a (Company of volunteers at
Leavenworth at the time, and upon his arrival there young Cox naturally gravitated towards this center of attraction. He learned that Capt. Rodgers still needed twelve men and the lad eagerly offered his services, and to his great delight they were accepted as the war with Mexico was practically over by this time Cox saw no active service in Mexico, but his longing for excitement and adventure was fully gratified during the next two years which were principally 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 commnnd 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. He had been provided with an escort, as the Indians were verv troublesome at the time, but at Trinidad Carson requested the escort to return, saying that he could get along very well alone. Col. Cox describes Carson as a man of medium height, wiry rather than muscular, quick in his movements his demeanor quiet and reserved; he talked but little spoke in a low tone, but answered all questions fully and in a verv pleasant manner. A man of strong will and great determination, and one who was continually weighing probabilities and ever ready for action. Besides Kit Carson our subject came in contact with Jim Bridger the famous scout and Indian fighter, and many other noted plainsmen of the time. Upon one occasion while stationed at Nebraska City they were ordered out to quell a Sioux uprising and for two months they chased and fought the wily savages, finally driving them far up and beyond the Missouri river at some point which the Colonel thinks must have been near where Yankton, S Dakota now stands. On this trip provisions ran low, and for a month one biscuit, a rasher of bacon, and a cup of coffee was their daily ration. At last even this meager fare was exhausted, and for three days they rode without focd, tightening their belts occasionally to stifle the gnawing pains of hunger. On the evening of the third day they were approaching a body of timber that bordered a stream of water aud were crossing a bottom prairie where the tall grass suggested the possibility of a hidden foe lying in ambush. The captain ordered his men to deploy, and gave strict orders that none were to shoot except at an Indian. Moving forward the command had nearly reached the timber when, as Col. Cox tells the story, "A little deer jumped up and came running towards me, and I shot it. Some of the boys dismounted and threw the deer up in front of me and I carried it into camp. I rode up to the captain and threw the deer down. He looked at it a moment and said: 'Build a fire, boys. I want some of that meat ' ' Six more deer were killed that evening and the famished men feasted upon rare venison without salt. It was getting late in the season and a cold spell accompanied with snow set in, which added to the sufferings of the men upon their return trip. Col. Cox tells an incident that occurred on one of their scouting expeditions which illustrates the old saying that necessity knows no law. They had reached old Fort Vermillion and found there a few French traders who were decidedly unfriendly. One day Cox came across an old Frenchman's cabin some three miles from the fort and as he rode along noticed a very fine patch of potatoes. He stopped and tried to buy some of the potatoes, but the Frenchman replied in a very insulting manner and refused to sell the coveted tubers. Cox finally offered five dollars in gold for a bushel, but as this offer was refused he was compelled to go on to camp without them. At camp he mentioned the matter to his messmates and that night Cox and two others returned to the patch and the next morning their mess had potatoes for breakfast. The captain belonged to this particular mess and he ate potatoes with a relish and wisely asked no questions. About ten o'clock there was a mad Frenchman in camp demanding to see the captain. He poured out his tale of woe in broken English interlarded with foreign and domestic profanity and when he finally ran down and stopped the Captain quietly told him to just point out the man who had stolen his potatoes and he should be punished. The impossibility of doing this started the Frenchman to swearing again, but that was the only satisfaction he ever received for his lost potatoes. Upon another occasion when out of provisions one of the men killed a badger and they took turns sitting up and kept the pot boiling all night trying to cook the animal to a degree of tenderness that would fit it for food. But the badger defied all their efforts to overcome its toughness and they had to go hungry. For two years our subject led this life of hardship, subject to cold, hunger, weariness, and often in danger. Here in this school of experience the boy developed into the man. And when his term of service ended he returned once more to his old home. July 7th, 1850, he was united by marriage with Mary, daughter of Gabriel L. Ballinger. The fruits of this union were six children, viz., Gabriel W., born July 13th, 1852; Mary C, born April 4th, 1854; Samuel P., born March 15th, 1864; Josie J., born April 10th, 1866; Frank L , born May 8th, 1869 ; and Bertha B., born Dec. 16th, 1873. Of these all are living except Bertha, who died several years ago. In the spring of 1851 Col. Cox located in Gallatin and in partnership with George Pogue engaged in merchandising. He followed this business for two years. He then sold out, and in the spring of 1854 started overland for California. The trip consumed about four months. He engaged in dairying at Oraville and Grass Valley for the next two years, and
then returned to Missouri. In 1858 he went back to the old life on the plains, this time as wagon master for the great firm of overland freighters, Russell, Majors & Waddell. A wagon train consisted of twenty-six huge freight wagons each drawn by six yoke of cattle. A train crew consisted of thirty-two 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. It was while he was in the employ of this firm that Cox made the trip from Salt Lake City to Gallatin alone. The circumstances prompting this long, lonely, and dangerous
journey were as follows: Some freight trains belonging to the firm were overdue and Majors, one of the firm, who was in Salt Lake City at the time, came to Cox and requested him to go in search of them. Cox reminded Majors that such a trip was rather hazardous and Majors said that he knew it was, and for that reason had selected Cox as the only man in his employment who would be likely to get through alive. Cox considered the matter briefly. Majors was his friend, had been good to him, and for friendship sake he would make the effort. If he succeeded his friend would appreciate the service. If he failed—but he did not expect to fail—he was not that sort of a man. Cox told Majors that he would go. "Take two of the best mules in the corral and start ae soon as possible." In two hours Cox was on the road, riding one mule and leading the other, upon which was packed his provision and blankets. He left Salt Lake by way of Emigrant valley, crossed Big mountain and Little mountain, and headed northeast for Fort Bridger. From Fort Bridger on to Green River, thence across a dreary stretch of alkali plains to the North Platte, following the overland wagon road through Wyoming, over South Pass and on to Fort Laramie. Here after resting one day he pushed on to Fort Kearney, thence to Nebraska City, and then by easy stages to his home in Gallatin. He had made the entire distance of over twelve hundred miles in thirty days, and slept in a house one night during the trip. 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. One evening as he came over a ridge near where Deer Creek empties into the North Platte he suddenly discovered a large band of Indians. Satisfied that the Indians had seen him and realizing that retreat was out of the question, he rode on leisurely and soon came up with them. He recognized them at once as Sioux, and knowing something of their language he addressed an occasional remark to them as they rode along, but his remarks were either received in silence or responded to in such a surly manner as to convince him that the noble red men were not in a very amiable frame of mind. However as he came up with the chief he was greatly relieved at finding Red Cloud in command. He had befriended Red Cloud on various occasions, giving him provisions and other needful things, and the Chief recognized his benefactor and received him with genuine friendship. They journeyed along together until camping time and Red Cloud invited Cox to eat with him. (Cox however made some excuse and going as far from the Indians as he could without exciting their suspicions, he proceeded to make his preparations for the night in the usual way, unpacking and picketing his mules and preparing his supper. After supper he rolled up in his blankets, but not to sleep. He realized that while Red Cloud was friendly, there were a lot of young bucks with him who had cast longing glances at his mules as they rode along that afternoon, and while he did not apprehend any personal danger he thought that if he remained where he was the chances were good that he would have to continue his journey on foot. As soon as everything was quiet in the Indian camp Cox arose, caught his mules, packed one and saddled the other and before morning had put many miles between the Indians and his mules. Perhaps some of my readers have made the trip from Omaha to Salt Lake over the Union Pacific railroad and have viewed from the car windows the dreary stretches of alkali plains, sage brush, cactus, and barren mountains over which passed the old North Platte emigrant trail. If so they are in a position to appreciate the amount of patience, courage, and fortitude necessary to make such a trip as I have just described. Leaving the employ of Russell, Majors & Waddell in 1859 Maj. Cox was not engaged in any regular business during the year 1860, But when the Civil war broke out in 1861 he assisted in organizing the Second Battalion of enrolled Missouri Militia. This organization was perfected at Cameron, Missouri, September 18th, 1861, at which time he was elected and commissioned 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, and was commissioned Major of that regiment March 12th, 1862. He was ordered on detail duty, as assistant inspector general to muster in troops for the Northwest Missouri service, and served in this capacity until 1863, when, on account of failing health, he resigned his commission, returned to Gallatin and entered upon the duties of circuit clerk of Daviess county, having been elected to that position during his absence in 1862.
Towards the latter part of October, 1864, word was brought to Gallatin that Capt. William Anderson, the noted guerilla chief, had crossed the Missouri river and was coming north under orders from Gen. Price to tear up the track and burn bridges along the Missouri Pacific railroad. Maj. Cox, upon receipt of this information, laid aside the pen for the sword and started toward the seat of war. At Hamilton, Missouri, he met Maj. McDonald with about two hundred men. Maj. McDonald insisted upon Maj. Cox going to St. Joseph to report the situation and get assistance if possible to meet Anderson. Cox went to St. Joseph, saw Gen. Craig, and laid the matter before him. 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 ard ordered to take command at once. Returning to Hamilton that night he at once began preparations for a forced march, aud before noonthe next day was on his way South. His command reached Knoxville the first day and on the next evening were in Richmond, Mo. This was on the 26th of October, 1864. That night he wrote the following note to Col. Pace, who was stationed with his command at Liberty,Mo.
"Richmond, Mo., Oct. 26, 1864."
"Col. Pace, Liberty, Mo."
"I am here with my command. I am going West tomorrow. I must hear from you." "S. P. Cox "
Col. Cox then conferred with Maj. Grimes, who was in Richmond with a small detachment. Grimes counseled delay, pointed out that their men were raw militia while Anderson's men were experieuced fighters, and to meet Anderson under such circumstances was to invite defeat. Cox told Grimes that if he felt that way about the matter that he would better remain in Richmond, but that he intended to go forward the next morning. The following morning, October 27, found Cox's command 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, aud other information. Col. Cox at once suspected a ruse and called up Lieut. Baker and asked him if he knew the woman. Baker replied that he did, and that any information given by her could be relied on. Col. Cox then invited the woman to ride along with him for a short distance and from her learned much that he wanted to know. The command moved forward until within about a half mile of the place where Anderson was camped, when he halted his men and made preparations 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 meanwhile had ordered his men to deploy upon each side of the road and this arrangement had scarcely 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 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 centaurs and yelling like demons, they all the while kept 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, with the reckless daring that characterized the man, 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, for he had reached a point about forty feet distant from where Col. Cox was standing beside the road when he suddenly 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 seveial 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." The statement that Anderson had several human scalps in his possession when he was killed has been so often denied by his friends and affirmed by others that I have taken some pains to get the truth of the matter. Col. Cox says that he remembers distinctly of cutting two scalps from the head stall of Anderson's bridle. That one of these scalps was dark hair and the other light. Adolph Vogel, who lives near Coffeyburg in this county, and a man of unquestioned veracity, was questioned by the writer concerning this statement, and said that he was a bugler in Col. Cox's command, that he was the first man to reach Anderson after he was shot; that he was ordered to take charge of Anderons's effects and keep them safely, which he did; that as he now recollects there were several human scalps tied to Anderson's bridle—does not remember how many, but knows there were some; that he took charge of Anderson's effects, and as he now recollects there was some $600 in money. six pistols, a small silk flag with the words, "Presented to Capt Anderson by his friend, F. N. R." upon it. There was also two dispatches from Gen. Price and the letter written by Col. Cox to Col. Pace the day before in his pocket. Anderson's command had robbed the mail and having secured Cox's letter was doubtless on the lookout for him when he arrived. The fight lasted about ten minutes, for when Anderson's men saw their leader fall they retreated. Col. Cox had six men wounded in this engagement. James Milligan, who was a member of Capt. N. B. Brown's company, died the following day at Richmond. Clel Miller, one of Anderson's men, was wounded, and captured. This put an end to Anderson's career, and his band ceased to terrorize the people of the north part of the state. Col Cox was warmly congratulated by Gen. Craig, and also by Gen. Rosecrans upon his success in ridding the country of this band of guerillas. These letters 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 long ago. And so for sixty-five years this brave, generous, kindly hearted man has gone in and out among the people of this county. It is useless to tell them of his virtues. They know him. They have honored him with their confidence and respect, and have found him worthy. They have trusted in his honesty and integrity, and have always found him true. He has lived a clean, honest, useful life, and when the summons comes for him to cross the frontier into that unknown country it will find him ready.

From: Memories by J F Jordin
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Suggested edit:
Marriage #1 7 Jul 1850 • Gallatin Daviess County, Missouri TO Mary Ballinger (1831–1881) Daughter of Gabriel Louis Ballinger (1802 KY–1851 KY)

Marriage #2 1882 to Amanda W. Thornhill Enyart (1844–1920)∼The adventures of Major S.P. Cox (1828-1913) reads like a history of his time including the westerward movement, the Mexican War, the west's early Indian wars, the California gold rush, the Civil War, and the James Gang.

Samuel Cox was born o­n Dec. 16, 1828, at Williamsburg in Whitley County, KY. He moved to Daviess County, MO, in 1839 with his father, Franklin Cox. The family settled in the southeastern part of the county near the old Ames Saw Mill and Trosper Lake.At age 19 Samuel enlisted at St. Joseph in the spring of 1847. He served under Capt. William H. Rogers in Company D of the Oregon Battalion. Cox was ordered down the Santa Fe trail. But order changes took him and other Missouri volunteers to develop the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, and to protect the Santa Fe Trail from waring Sioux as far north as Yankaton, S.D., where the unit was delayed by bad weather and low provisions.In 1848 Cox helped complete Fort Kearny in south central Nebraska. The fort was built o­n the south bank of the Platte River where the Oregon Trail first came to the river from the southeast. The fort was named for General Stephen Watts Kearny soon after his death.California Gold RushCox moved to Gallatin where in 1850 he married and entered into the mercantile business with George Poage. In 1854 Cox and family, with oxen and cattle, moved to Oroville, CA. There he worked as a teamster for the gold diggers and later as a dairyman.The family was soon prosperous but longed again for home. Cox sold out and with the family went to San Francisco and embarked with them by steamer. They returned by way of Nicaraugua and Baltimore. They were shipwrecked near Key West, adding another adventure to their lives.During the Mexican War, the western forces were not well supplied by the army's system of wagon trains. The army contracted the supply of western forts to private companies. The largest of these contractors in the west was the company of Russell, Majors and Waddell, delivering north and west out of Fort Leavenworth. Samuel Cox joined this firm in 1856 as a wagon master.In 1859 Cox carried important dispatches to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston near Salt Lake City. Cox made the trip by himself, 1200 miles by mule. He claimed to have befriended Red Cloud, chief of the Oglala Sioux, having seen him several times in the 1847 to 1860 period.The Civil WarCox was o­ne of the few county people that declared openly in favor of the Union side after the start of the war in 1861. He had been serving for some time as a Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff James T. Minor.In September 1861, Cox formed the Cox Battalion and commanded Company A and Company B of that unit for six months. Major Cox then joined the First Missouri State Militia under Col. McNeil. They entered the Battle of Kirksville o­n Aug. 6, 1862, under Col. McFarran. A few days later Cox again bottled Porter's forces at Lee's Ford o­n the Chariton River.In 1864 the country was overrun by guerilla bands and Major Cox was given command of some militia troops because guerillas udner Thrailkill and Thornton ahd pillaged Kingston and Mirabile. They were threatening Plattsburg where a Capt. Turner had been killed. Major Cox overtook them at Union Mills in Platte County, and "dispersed them after a sharp fight.""Bloody Bill" AndersonProbably the greatest service rendered by Major Cox during his active service in the Civil War which gained him the greatest fame was the killing of Bill Anderson o­n Oct. 27, 1864. Anderson was a notorious guerilla chief who claimed he had killed 54 men. Major Cox gave the following account in his own words:"When I left my home in Gallatin, I learned that Price's men had crossed the river (Missouri River at Lexington), I got to Hamilton and met Major McDonald retreating with his cavalry. He sent me to St. Joseph to see General Craig as to what to do, but when I reached there McDonald had telegraphed for me to be sent back to take charge of the men."I was not a member of that company, but Gen. James Craig telegraphed Gov. Hall to commision me a Lt. Colonel of the 33rd M.E.M.; this he did and I went back to Hamilton and took charge of the men."Anderson and his gang had been terrorizing north Missouri for some time, and the people lived in perfect awe of them. o­nly a few days before they had visited Glasgow, took o­ne of its wealthy citizens (Ben Lewis) a prisoner, and placed a price of $5,000 as a bounty for his release. This the women of Glasgow raised and paid to save Lewis' life."I decided to hunt down Anderson, known then to be somewhere in north central Missouri, and put a stop to his depredations."The next day I took my command to Knoxville, MO. I heard next morning of rebels at Millville having horses shod, I went after them but they had gone. I took the blacksmith back to Richmond and obtained some information from him."That day Bill Anderson and his guerillas killed old man Elliott within three miles of Richmond. So terrorized were the people that they would give no information of the movements of the band for fear they would meet death if they did."But o­ne brave woman, whose name I do not remember, came to me with the information as to where the guerrilla chieftain and his gang were in camp and what they would be found doing and directed me as to the best way to reach them. She said we would know the place by a deep ravine crossed o­nly by a wooden bridge."I found things just as she had told me and decided to bring o­n the fight in the timber near this bridge. I had o­nly about 300 men under my command and gave the the word to stand their ground -- this fight must be victory or death -- and not a man faltered. We dismounted at the wooden bridge leaving our horses in charge of the men with the commissary wagons."Crossing the bridge I stationed my men in the timber and gave explicit instructions not to begin shooting until I gave the command. Lt. Baker was sent ahead to reconnoiter and bring o­n the fight with instructions to retreat through our line."Cas. Morton, now a retired brigadier general, of Washington, D.C., was sent to Baker with the word to start the fight. Baker dashed up to where Anderson and his men were having meal ground and getting provisions, and opened fire. Instantly Anderson and his men were in their saddles and gave chase to Baker, who retreated under instructions and came dashing through our line. Anderson and some 20 of his men came in their historic manner, with their bridle reins in their teeth and revolver in each hand."When my men opened fire, many of Anderson's command went down. Others turned and fled, but the grim old chieftain and two of his men went right through the line, shooting and yelling, and it was as Anderson and o­ne of his men turned and came back that both of them were killed."The celebrated (Capt.) Arch Clemens, who had gone through our line with Anderson, kept right o­n across the bridge and stampeded my wagon train and its guards boy yelling to them to fly as the command was cut to pieces, and thinking it was o­ne of their men, they ran and kept it up until I was a day or two getting them together again. In the hubbub, Clemens escaped."Clell Miller, afterwards a noted bank robber and a desperate character, was wounded in this fight and taken prisoner. It was with difficulty I restrained my men and the citizens from lynching him. Miller was afterwards kiled in a bank robbery in Northfield, MN."When Bill Anderson fell from his horse, took o­ne of his pistols and Adolph Vogel, now living near Jameson, who was a bugler of my command, I took a brace of six pistols from around his body. We also took $600 in money, o­ne gold and o­ne silver watch from his clothing, and o­ne of these watches, two of the pistols and the fine gray mare Anderson rode were afterwards given me by the Brigadier Gen. James Craig."A letter I had written to Col. Pace at Liberty, to meet me the next day with what men he could muster, was also found o­n Anderson's body, showing that he had captured and rifled the mail."Anderson's body was taken to Richmopnd and buried in the cemetery north of town. A guard had to be placed over the body to keep the enraged citizens from tearing it to pieces."The place where Major Cox killed Anderson was near a small town in Ray County called Albany, but since merged into Orrick.Capt. N.B. Brown of Gallatin and Marion Township was with Major Cox in the fight and Corp'l James Mulican of Salem Township was killed in the fight. Mulican was wounded in 13 places, most of which were inflicted by Anderson himself. Lt. Baker was from Knoxville, MO.In 1862 Major Cox served the county as recorder and circuit clerk. In 1874 he was collector for Union Township. He died o­n Aug. 21, 1913 and is bured at Brown Cemetery at Gallatin.