My Genealogy Hound

William Cox is a well-known planter and saw mill owner of Ouachita County, but his birth occurred on November 8, 1828, in Hempstead County, Ark., he being a son of Abner and Polly A. (Rice) Cox, who were born, reared and married in Missouri. They came to this State at an early day, and settled on a woodland farm, where they spent the rest of their days, the father dying in 1850, and the mother in 1846, she being an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of sixteen children—fourteen sons and two daughters—William being the only one of the family now living. The latter was married April 29, 1855, to Miss Harriet E. Haze, but he was called upon to mourn her death April 28, 1887, she having borne him the following children: Nancy E. (wife of Joseph Prizzell, residents of this county), and Mollie M. (wife of I. A. Benson, also of this county). In 1880 Mr. Cox took for his second wife Miss Hildah A. Jones. Mr. Cox has been successful in his business enterprises, and is now the owner of 300 acres of good farming land, on which is a cotton-gin, grist and saw mill, and a store. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Arkansas Confederate Infantry, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Mansfield, Jenkins’ Ferry, and several skirmishes. Upon the cessation of hostilities he returned home and resumed his farming operations. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he is a minister. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and in his political views he is a Democrat.