The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-07-15
sz-ss'e Fort the Palladium.
An Old Veteran in Town.


Jeremiah Cox, one of our oldest
pioneer citizens, was in town few
days last week on visit He is per-
haps the only person living on White
water that has resided here as long,
having come with his parents in the
year 1906; consequently has lived here
seventy eight years, being sixteen year
old when he came, making him now
in his eighty fourth year.
Friend Cox is in the enjoyment Of
good health and mental faculties but
of late has been afflicted in his lower
cxtremities, that prevents his walking
with his former sprightlincss. His
recollections of half century ago are
quite vivid-has many incidents and
recollections of those early days to re-
late, when the grounds that Richmond
stands on was dense wilderness.
Has written sketch in his own Ian
guage, of his being sent on pilgrim
age to mill to the Miamies, was read
at an old settlers meeting some years
ago. was full of interest.
The writer spent an hour in COM
pany with this aged pioneer while in
the city. He said he wanted to look
over the town to IS see how nature had
been deformed," on land where he
used to hunt the cows and kill snakes,
catch rabbits, and tree coons with his
dogs. In going into the post Office,
he remarked, is this the Richmond
post Office and said he recollected
that his uncle Morrison had the first
post Office in Richmond. That the
first quarters receipts were but two
dollars and seventy five cents!
In passing to Front street, he said
it was more familiar to him; said his
father did not agree with his neigabor
John Smith. in laying out a town,
knowing if there was town that would
beget tavern signs, and he would pre-
fer seeing bucks tail than one of
them. Subsequently, he reluctantly
submitted to accept the situation, see
ing Smith was bent on starting town.
Though, Salisbury was deemed the
Moscow Of Wayne county. Mr. z.
said his father concluded if Smith was
| 10 ell 1a4. s. l,+4Ios
horse town. he would be annoyed by
it anyhow hence he concluded lie
would lay out some lots on the only
county road then laid outgoing BY
his mill on Whitewater. Forty feet
was allowed for county road; his
father thought that width was stuff
Client for street, not anticipating to
have any more on his side. His father
let his uncle Morrison have, in 1911
a swampy piece Of land on Front st.
where he built a small house and liv-
ed, and soon after bought some store
goods and had little store. About
the same time Ezra Boswell bought &
lot and built house near, and started
a beer and ginger bread shop: conse
quently on John Smiths side, was :
tavern, and all the carly settlers tha
lived north Of Richmond, came down
Front street. The friends mostly pat
ronized Ezra.
After showing him the Court house
etc, he said he wanted to 90 home
He had seen a jury sitting on log
short distance south of this city, ant
afterwards the first Court house il
Salisbury, in subsequent years witness
cd its removal to Centreville. Nov
he had lived to see the county sea
here, and said he didn't think h
would live to see it moved away from
Richmond.
With much persuasion of his friend
he was induced to take his seat in
street car, where he had never bee1
before, and was conveyed the lengtl
of the road to Linden Hill where h.
was stopping. For the information o
those who may not already know, tn
subject of this sketch, resides on tn
Middle Fork of Whitewater, wher
the village of Middleboro now is. an,
where lie has lived for about sixty
three years. In early days he built
little log mill, and made -four for til
early settlers for many miles around
having for his first mill stones tn
gray native rock taken ont Of the mid
die fork. The writer broke the frs
bread he ever ate made from fou
ground by these mill stones, an
thought it exceedingly fine compare
to the pounded hominy.