My Genealogy Hound

COL. N. N. COX was born in Bedford County January 6, 1837. C. and N. Cox, his father and mother, moved from North Carolina about 1811 and settled in Bedford. When our subject was about nine months old his father died, leaving thirteen children, our subject being the youngest. The mother, with some of the younger children, moved to Arkansas, and from there to southwestern Texas, in 1847. She located in Seguin, near San Antonio. Her son, N. N., spent his early years on the frontiers of Texas and was in several scouts and fights, protecting the settlers from the Indians. He left Texas, in 1857, to enter the law school at Lebanon, Tenn., and graduated from the law department in June, 1858. He located in Linden, Perry County, and commenced the practice of law. In 1860, being quite young, he was placed on the electoral ticket representing Breckenridge and Lane. He enlisted in the army in 1861 as captain in the cavalry service. At the organization of the battalion to which his company was attached he was elected major, and when the battalion was organized into a regiment, just after the battle of Shiloh, he was ordered to organize another command, which he did. This command was placed under Gen. Forrest. At the battle of Parker’s Cross Roads, in West Tennessee, Maj. Cox was captured, with a number of his men. He was confined in Camp Chase for some time. During his imprisonment his troops were organized into the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, and Maj. Cox, while in prison, upon the recommendation of Gen. Forrest, was appointed colonel of the regiment, by the War Department at Richmond. He continued to command the regiment until the close of the war. He then located in Franklin, Tenn., and resumed the practice of law. In 1872 he was one of the electors of the Democratic party again for his district. In one of the hottest contests ever known in Tennessee for congressional honors he was one of the contestants. He was twice rewarded for gallantry by Gen. Forrest, and was made a full colonel without his knowledge. He has never held a civil office, and at this writing is still engaged in his profession.