The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-01-24
For the Palladium.
OLD SETTLERS OF WAYNE co
NO. XVII.

NO. XVII.
However difficult and impossible the task
10 give even brief notice of any consider
.ble number of her first settlers of the county.
yet it may not be uninterestiDg to the reader
10 return again to our first Settler. and his
young wife, whom we left surrounded with
their newly arrived relatives and acquain
tainces from Kentucky. who formed the
first neighborhood in the County.
Every new country has its Boone or its
Kenton, who is first to penetrate the wide
forest, in advance Of his countrymen, aud
build his log cabin in the bosom OF the
wilderness.
We do not pretend to claim for our first
settler, tina, his life was crowded with the
thrilling incidents Of Boone or a Kenton--
that he hung upon the track Of the ruthless
Indian for years, and circumvented him in
his wilderness fastness ere he was aware Of
the white mans presence; yet. we do claim
that he was bold aud determined adven
turer. and that his intrepid young wife was
suitable mpanion for such a pioneer.
Joseph Cox, four first settler,) was born
in -, Virginia. on the Sd day of Nov
ember, 1883. When he was about ten
years of age his father. John Cox, moved
to Redstone Fort, now Brownsville, Penn
sylvania, which wac then quite newly
settled region of country. exposed to frequent
hostile incursions of the Indians, whose
tomahawks were constantly reeking with
the blood Of the frontier settlers along the
Monongahela and the Susqu.hannah. and
their tributaries. Subsequently he remov-
ed to Boone's Station. and afterwards to
Bourbon and Woodiord counties. Kentucky.
John Cox was a blacksmith aud gun smith
very useful and Indispensable trades in a
backwoods country like Kentucky. which
abounded in game, and where the Turk
ing Indian disputed every inch OF territory
invaded by the white man. He also had a
little patch Of cleared land for farm. on
which he occasionally worked with his sons,
six in number. Our first settler being the
eldest, had to superintend the little farm
He embraced every leisure hour to increase
his little stock Of learning; often setting up
late of winter nights to read and study by
freight. New countries generally afforded
but few facilities for education, and intellec-
tual culture; and Kentucky was not an ex-
ception TO the rule. But often the rough
stone, by attrition. emits as bright spark
as the polished steel. and the dry scales OF
the she'll bark hickory, and seasoned clap
boards split fine has often afforded light to
many persevering student in his pursuit OF
knowledge.
Alter he had acquired a sufficient stock o.
learning. he was solicited to teach neigh
borhood school, which he did several quar-
tiers with success, giving general satisfaction
to both pupils and employers. Other neigh
borhOods sought him school teacher;-
and it was while on school teaching excur
sion at New Castle. Henry County. Ken
tcky, that he formd an acquaintan g with
Mary Rue, eldest daughter OF Richard Rue,
Esq. proprietor of the town OF New Castle.
an old Indian fighter, who had been in some
thirteen campaigns against the Indians, and
had, when q young man, suffered long aud
painful captivity among the Indians, as al
luded to in note to iormer chapter OF these
sketches.
After an acquaintance of some two years
our young couple were married at New Cas-
tie, and in few months after their mar.
riage. they started IN lie company TO ex-
plore the Whitewater country, and remained
behind at their camp at Short Creek, with
Holmsn's two boys and Patrick o Harra. a
heretofore related by me.
After the war of 1919, in which our Pic
neer served several 3 month tours. he studied
law with James Noble. then one OF the Uni
ted States Senators from Indiana, but did
not enter into the practice until about the
year 1894; remaining on his farm below
and adjoining Abingdon, and attending 10
his mill some mile and half above that
town, until the fall of 1894, when he remov
ed to the Wabash country. He was engag
ed rs one of the counsel in defence OF Bird ge
and Sawyer, the Indian murderer at the
falls of Fall Creek; but on account of the
postponement Of their trials until after he
had settled his family on the Wabash. he
relinquished the defense to his associate
counsel, and was not present at their trial
and conviction although his eldest son.
Richard Rue Cox-tke first tchtte child born
ia Wayne county, (now residing In Mercer
county, Illinois, was engaged by Mr.. Co
rev. the sheriff of Madison county. to remain
and assist in guarding the prisoners at The
Falls. until after their trial and execution -
His first settlement in Western Indiana. was
in the vicinity of Craw louisville. the County
Seat Of Montgomery county, in October.
1924. Having suffered severely IN his pc
cuniary affairs prior to leaving Wayne
county, he entered actively into the prac-
tee Of the law, when the Judicial Circuit
extended from Terre Hsute nortllward to
the Lakes. Attorneys, who were lew and
far between. were often sent for TO go forty
OF fifty miles through the wilderness coun-
try, TO prosecute or defend, one or more per
sons charged with stealing hogs. bee hives.
or other crimes and misdemeanors. Afer
continuing in the practice few years. he
relinquished profession for which he new
er felt any very great partiality. and applied
his attention exclusively to his farm on the
Wea Plain. which was situated on part of
the ate OF the celebrated Indian town, called
Ouatanon in history.
In the year 1886 he sold his Wea farm
and moved to Rock Island County. Illinois.
whers he settled on the east bank of the
Mississippi river. about three miles below
the head OF the upper rapids. and thirteen
miles above Stevenson. (now Rock Island
City, the County seat OF said county. Here
he built another mill and commenced open
iv>x, e.