John Thomas Coxhead Biography


	This biography appears on pages 504, 507 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN THOMAS COXHEAD. 

	John Thomas Coxhead, engaged in the manufacture of special 
furniture, particularly church and bank fixtures, at Yankton, has 
developed a trade which covers one-half of the country. He started in 
that line of business in May, 1875, and has been thus connected with 
industrial activity in Dakota since 1881. His advance since that time 
has been continuous and the results achieved justify the methods which 
he has ever followed. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, July 8, 
1852, and is a descendant in the ninth generation of the Rev. Peter 
Prudden, the first minister and leader of the colony that left 
Hertfordshire, England, and settled in Milford, Connecticut, in the 
year 1639. His father, John Frederick Coxhead, was born in Oxford, 
England, January 25, 1822. He came to this country in 1830 and married 
Delia Maria Davis, who was born in Derby, Connecticut, 

	In the public and private schools of Poughkeepsie, New York. John 
Thomas Coxhead pursued his education and after acquainting himself with 
the prominent features of the trade engaged in the furniture business 
and woodworking at Hyde Park, New York, in May, 1875. There he remained 
for about six years and on the 4th of November, 1881, arrived in 
Yankton, Dakota territory. There he continued the business of 
woodworking and manufacturing special furniture and has since carried 
on a growing and successful business along that line, making a 
specialty of the manufacture of church furniture and bank fixtures. His 
trade in the former has been particularly large and he has made 
shipments to at least one-half of the states of the Union. His factory 
is well appointed and equipped and employment is furnished to a large 
force of workmen. He has ever recognized the feet that satisfied 
customers are the best advertisement and, striving earnestly to please 
his patrons, has built up a business of gratifying proportions.

	Mr. Coxhead has been twice married. He first wedded Eugenie A. 
Dady, who died on the 1st of February, 1905. On the 12th of August, 
1908, at St. Paul, Minnesota, he was united in marriage to Miss Grace 
Bryant, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Collingwood) Bryant. Their 
children are: Dorothy Elizabeth, born May 29, 1910; and Robert Homer, 
born August 18, 1912. Mr. Coxhead is a republican in his political 
views. He has an interesting military chapter in his life record, for 
in early manhood he became a member of the New York National Guard, 
with which he served from 1878 until 1881. Following his arrival in the 
northwest he enlisted on the 15th of March, 1885, as a member of 
Company E, First Regiment, Dakota National Guard, and was appointed 
sergeant major on the 15th of August of the same year. On the 20th of 
February, 1889, he was elected captain of Company E and was 
commissioned major of the Third Battalion, S. D. N. G., September 15, 
1893, retaining that rank until he retired in August, 1899. He is an 
Episcopalian in religious faith and has been warden and vestryman of 
Christ church of Yankton, of which he has been a communicant for many 
years. His life, honorable in its purposes and fruitful in its 
beneficent results, has made him one of the leading and valued citizens 
of Yankton.