by Clesta Worthen Adams
I was around ten years old when Grandpa Cox and Aunt Anna moved to St. George. They had been living in the Moapa Valley, Nevada. I recall him talking about raising cantaloupes. He said the ground got so it didn't produce well - got too hard - so he had the bright idea of plowing straw into the ground, and it produced much better.
He and Aunt Anna built a new home in St. George, in the northwest part of town, and my father and mother built next door to them. Grandpa had an old threshing machine in his yard. He puttered around it a lot, hoping to invent something better. He had a large Asparagus patch in his yard, and walked with his crop to Warren Cox's hotel. He liked to sit on his front porch and read the scriptures. While married to his first wife, Abigail McMullin, he was called on a mission to the Southern states, and his family had a real struggle while he was away. My mother told me how little food they had. She was the oldest girl. He got sick and had to return home.
I remember when Mt. Pleasant had some big celebration, they asked him to come because he was the first white child born in that town. I have the large photograph that was taken of him at that time.
Grandpa was a tall slender man with dark hair (originally). I thought he was very nice looking. He had a hearty laugh, and I loved him. Apparently he was quite a step dancer in his day. Once in a while we could talk him into dancing a bit for us. He danced only with his feet - no arm movements at all - and he sort of stayed more or less int he same spot. We liked to watch him.
He live long enough to have a five generation picture taken.
[Sorry this is so messy, Isabel. I'm just trying to hurry it off to you. I wish I could remember more. I only knew him after his retirement. You probably have the following, but i'll include it just in case you don't.
Isaiah Cox, Jr. born 5 June 1859 at Mount Pleasant, Sanpete Co. Utah
blessed 29 Apr 1860 by James N. Jones
Baptized 3 Oct 1867 by Daniel D. McArthur, Confirmed by the same man
Endowed 15 Mar 1877
Ordained and elder 15 Mar 1877 by his father
Married 15 Nov 1882 to Abigail McMullin in St. George Temple (She died 28 Mar 1904)
Married Anna Elizabeth Middleton 8 Feb 1912