The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-03-19
Hancnck Oonnfr.


We have been shown a mnauscrip-
embracing an account of the first white
inhabitant of Hancock county. 1t j,
Iron the pen Of Joseph Cox, Of Woo
e sounty, who says his father, Benjamin
Cox, was bornlin Virginia in December,
Q 0i17F3. His early life was spent in pur-
suing troublesome Indians on the from
eier. After getting married, being very
d much opposed to slavery, he resolved to
leave his native State and settle where
freedom and equal rights were enjoyed.
Consequently, in 1904, removed to this
State, settling in Greene county. In
1907 he removed to Logan county,
where be remained until after the war
s. of 1912. Immediately after the decla-
ration Of war he Joined an independent
cavalry company, although free from
military duty, having lost his right eye
bioy gunsh6t in early life. While in
the service he visited what in now Han
oOckcounty and was so well pleased with
The appearance of the country that he
removed in February, 1918, to Fort
hFiDdlay, on the south bank of the Blan-
chard fork of the AugIaize river. At
this time be had eight children, three
boys and five gihs-Thomas, Joseph,
John, Deborah, Mary, Elizabeth, Rosan-
,ns, and Jemima. In July, 1918, Lydia
was born, being the first white child
born IN Hancock county. '"o' 'a
0 There was some travel through to De-
troit, and Benjamin Cox was persuaded
to keep a public house. The great dis
tauce from mills and the lack Of facilities
for getting groceries of any kind made
it very difficult for him to provide even
the piainest food for such guests as
chanced to stop with him. At that
time there was an Indian village at the
Fort. OF course the family of Mr.. Cox
end the Indians became quite intimate.
A few days after landing at the Fort,
Mr. Cox killed hog and took pains to
sead piece of the pork to each of the
Indian families at that point This
pleased the Indians very much and
made them his friends at once Ever
after that when the Indians killed any
thing large enough to divide, Cox was
certain to get a portion of it They
pcoyed excellent neighbors. If they
borrowed anything, it was sure to be
returned in due time, and if any of them
saw anything wrong about the stock or
premises of Mr.. Cox, they would make
haste to inform him of the fact They
we're very temperate and opposed drunk
enness most earnestly. The next Spring
after Mr.. Cox settled in Findlay, he and
his sons undertook to clear off piece
of ground for corn. In consequence of
their having TO 60 to Urbans for most
of their provisions, they were delayed
IN their work and the season for plant
ing was likely to pass before their work |
would be finished. The Indians saw
how matters stood and the Chief went
to Mr.. Cox and proposed to assist him,
remarking that before he could burn of |
the brush and plow, it would be very
Iste, as the Indians were already done |
planting. Mr.. Cox gladly accepted the |
pFofered aid and the next morning the
Chief mounted a stump and called upon
the whole village to turn out and help
Watermelon flor that was what they
called Mr. Cox plant his corn. All re-
sponded, men and women, and soon.
they were on the premises of Mr.. Cox,
armed with hoes and planting bags, and
they went to work with great cheerful
ness The writer saysi was one of the
most pleasant 'sbees" he ever saw.
In 1928 Mr.. Cox moved into Wood
county, and from thence to Elkhart,
Ind, where be died, near Goshen, in
Is46, in the 73d year of his age.