McNAIRY COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - ANDERSON COX ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping, with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic Pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Douglas H. Prather douglas-memphis@worldnet.att.net =============================================================== McNairy County Independent April 4, 1924 Anderson Cox Away back yonder, when Tennessee was only 12 years of age, and 14 years before the establishment of McNairy county, there was born in a settlement in Western North Carolina, in the county of Randopph a child who, when grown up, came th this county and became one of the early settlers and substantial citizens. This was Anderson Cox, born in 1808. His parents died when he was but a child and he was bound out, his master being Uncle Amer Davis, at that time one of the leading farmers of that county in North Carolina. He stayed with him a year after attaining his majority, that he might secure the coveted horse, bridle and saddle. In the same neighborhood there lived another substantial farmer, his name being McGee. He had a daughter and her name was Rebecca. Anderson and Rebecca McGee were married in Randolph county, and the first child born of that union was a girl, whom they named Rozetta. When this girl was but an infant her parents started on that westward journey which has been made by so many thousands of North Carolinians during the more than 100 years in the past. This yong couple, with this child, crossed mountains and rivers. They come into Tenneasee, and for seven long weeks, living in a covered wagon, they traveled, loking for that section in this good state of which they had heard so much. They reached their destination about 1830, locating a little north of the old stage road, on Snake creek, in what is known as the Bolton Settlement, about where George Surratt lives. The forests had to be cleared and houses had to be built. Anderson Cox went about the great work ahead of him with spirit and determination. He stayed there only a short time and then went to the town of Adamsville settling what is called the Ab Scott place, just east of thle Baptist church. It was there that the mother of the writer of this article was born, in November, 1848, she being the youngest in the family. The other children were Rozetta, who married James Jones, and aftearwards James Surratt; two boys who died when they were little fellows; George, who married Christiana Stanley; Frances who married Z. T. Tate; Terry B., who married Elizabeth Whitesides; Mary, who married T. Wash Scott and Rachel, Who married M. R. Abernathy. After staying in Adamsbille, where the subject of this sketch was engaged in merchandising with his son, he removed to the old home place, two miles north west of Adamsville, and there cleared the land and built one of the first homes in that section. He purchased the lands from a man named Hanks, and a certain ten acres from a man named Bomand, and that field was ever known in the olden times as the Bomand field. He planted an orchard, set out trees, and in many ways beautified this country place to such an extent that it was one of most attractive in the settlement. He was a good farmer and a most progressive citizen. He gave liberally of this time and means to the support of the schools and churches in that community, and his home was the gathering place frequently for the young people of that section. The schools in that day were known as Pleasant and Winding Ridge, and the churches by the same, with the additijonal name of Old Ebenezer. The old teachers in that day and who taught these schools were Professors Speed, Fitzgerald and Yancy. As was stated in a recent article, M. R. Abernathy, a young teacher from Alabama, came to that community just, after the Civil War and taught. The old preachers were Revs. Frankie Beard, Washburn and Robert Young. Anderson Cox was greatly aided in all his efforts by his faithful wife, who shared with him the joys and sorrows of life, and helped him in all ways to carry the burdens of cares and responsibilities. She had a sister, Rachel, who married one of the old settlers of the county, Laney Moore. This old home is now situated some miles west of Bethel Springs, and these families made frequent visits to one another, traveling the old stage road. Among the old people who lived in the different neighborhoods and settlements where lived Anderson Cox were Jesse Merrell, Howell Sewell, Tom Combs, Mack Surratt, Bill Buratt, the Mortons, Gib Combs, Billy Rogers, Quimby Rogers, Monte Rogers, Maury Jim Scott, Jim Scott, Billy Mills, Bob and Cal Wilson, Clem Carroll, John and Hugh Farris, Jimmie Wolverton, Wm. McFalls and Luther Littlefield, Gren Stanley, Tom Stanley, John Helbert, Jack Lindsay, Wm Cleary, Carroll Hailev, Tom Pearson, Uncle George Wilson, Palmer Pearson, Si Hardin, Levi Bathoon, Rev. Dancer, Neil Gilchrist, Buck Sanders the Brackens, Uncle Jimmie Hooker and others. Anderson Cox was reared by a Quaker in his North Carolina home, and while this may not have influenced him altogether, yet he was of a quiet, reserved nature, possessing in a large degree native wit and humor. He was familiar with the Bible, and his great delight was in his daily readings of the Book. He was a Union man in war times, but his conduct during the whole of that terrible war was such that soldiers in both armies respected him. Before and right after the war he was a visitor to old Purdy, where he was well and favorably known, on nearly all of his visits taking something from his farm to dispose of on the market there. It is said that in his day he was the greatest producer of old-fashioned "yellow yam" potatoes of any farmer in the whole country. On an occasion of one of his visits to old Purdy the question of the character of ground best suiteed for raising potatoes came up. Some had said that poor land, and some rich land, would be better. J. M. Harris, and old friend, asked Mr. Cox about it, and he remarked that he had never seen anything that would not grow better on rich land than on poor land. But then there were no specialists to advise and they just let "nature take its course." Fifty years ago,in the south room of the old house, he gave up life's struggle and all that was mortal of him was laid to rest in the old graveyard at Adamsville. His devotedd wife and helpmeet survived him twenty years when, on a quiet day in 1893, just across the way from where she live so happily in the town of Adamsville in the latter forties and early fifties, she brdeathed her last. She was in the 86 year of her life and far removed from the scenes of their earlier days and their birthplace in old North Carolina these two good old people, Anderson and Rebecca Cox, sleep side by side. Old friends of their younger days and maturer life, children and grandchildren, sleep their last in this same old burying ground. Descendants of both, here and elsewhere over this land, rdejoice that there lived such charactders in the history of this county. The sole surviving member of this large and happy family is Mrs. Rachel Abernathy, who is spending the evening of her life in Selmer, where all of her childrden save two, Mrs. Florence Hockaday and Pearl Lett, live. She was Married to M. R. Abernathy in 1868, and is the mother of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. George, in infant, died in Adamsville in 1883, and Wisdom, in Selmer in1919. The sole surviving member of this large and happy family is Mrs. Rachel Abernathy, who is spending the evening o her life in Selmer, where all of her childrden save two, Mrs Florence Hockaday and Pearl Lett, live. She was Married to M. R. Abernathy in 1868, and is the mother of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. George, in infant, died in Adamsville in 1883, and Wisdom, in Selmer in 1919.