WILLIAM COX
bio 1881

 Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES:  HAMMEL BLYTHE, BAGGS, LOYST,

was born in Coshocton, Ohio, January 21, 1827. His father, John Cox, was a native of Virginia, and went to Ohio when about eight years old, where he was married to Mary Hammel, a native of Pennsylvania, who was taken to Ohio also when very young. In 1846 they moved to Lee County, Iowa, where they made their permanent home, residing there until their death. They raised a family of two sons and five daughters. William, the eldest child, lived with his parents till 1852, when he, his father, John Cox, and a sister, Mrs. Serena Blythe, came across the plains, and were about six months making the trip. There were four wagons in the party who came through together to the Santa Clara Valley. Capt. Robert Gruwell commanded the party. William at once hired out as a farm hand, and he and his wife worked at everything they could get to do. The next season he rented a piece of land from his brother-in-law, Samuel A. Blythe, and put in a crop.

        In 1854 he bought his present place (under a Spanish title at that time), consisting of seventy acres. A few years afterward he bought more land, and now owns 315 acres, all of which is under cultivation. He has about fifteen acres in orchard and vineyard, the trees ranging from one to thirty years old. The vineyard is four years old. He has about 100 French prunes from one to four years old; 50 peaches, together with apricots, pears, apples, etc. Mr. Cox is one of the larger growers of grain and hay. The present year he cut his entire crop for hay, and has about 300 tons.

        He was married, August 10, 1848, in Lee County, Iowa, to Dicey Baggs, a native of Champaign County, Ohio. They have five sons and two daughters, viz.: John, who has a ranch adjoining his father's; Jacob M., residing in San Jose; Maria, wife of Andrew Loyst, residing near Saratoga; Mary J. Cox, George W. Cox, residing in San Jose; and Joseph E., at Lafayette. They lost two children: Elmira, who died March 18, 1859, aged two years, and William, who died October 6, 1876, in his eighteenth year.

 Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 618-619

Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: HAMMEL, BLYTHIE, BAGGS, LOYST,

An interesting California pioneer and orchardist, who was an upbuilder of Santa Clara County, was found in William Cox, who came to the Santa Clara valley in 1852.  He was an Ohioan by birth, being born at Coshocton, on January 21, 1827, a son of John and Mary (Hammel) Cox, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania, both parents being taken to Ohio while small children and there grew to young manhood and young womanhood.  In 1846 they removed to Lee County, Iowa, where they made their permanent home, residing there until their death.  They reared a family of wo sons and five daughters.  William, the eldest son, lived with his parents until 1852, when he , his father, John Cox, and a sister Mrs. Serena Blythe, came across the plains, and were about six months making the trip.  There were four wagons in the party who came through together to the Santa Clara Valley, Capt. Robert Gruwell commanding the party.  William at once hired out as farm hand, and he and his wife, for a time, worked at anything they could get to do , and one for the first debts they paid was money borrowed to pay for ferrying across rivers on their way across the plains.  The next season he rented a piece of land from his brother-in-law, Samuel A Blythe, and put in a crop.  In 1874 he bought seventy acres, which was under a Spanish title at that time, and a few years later bought more land, until he owned 315 acres, all under cultivation.  He set a number of acres to vineyard and planted an orchard of French prunes, also peaches, apricots, pears and apples, and was one of the most extensive grain growers in his locality.

The marriage of Mr. Cox occurred on August 10, 1848, in Lee County, Iowa, and united him with Miss Dicey Baggs, a native  of Champaign County, Ohio.  They were the parents of the following children:  John was a rancher and died on his home farm; Jacob M, was also a rancher, as well as office deputy clerk, who passed away in San Jose; Maria was the wife of Andrew Loyst; Mary Jane is Mrs. Henry C Walter, and they own and reside on the old William Cox home place; George W. is an enthusiastic orchardist on a farm of the old Cox ranch; Joseph E and La Fayette are  prominent orchardists on a part of their father's old homestead; Elmira and William are deceased.  The family are deeply attached to their father's old home and have, without exception, retained the portion of the estate they inherited, which they have greatly improved by setting it out to orchrds, now full- bearing.  Even though they have other interests, their sentiments hold them to the old homestead and they cling to and revere their father's memory and are worthy descendents of a worthy sire.  William Cox was a shool trusteee for some years in the early days.  He was a Methodis in religion, and a truly good man.

Transcribed from- Sawyers, History of Santa Clara County, published 1922
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