Biographies
HON. FREDERICK COX
Any narrative of the pioneer experiences
of Mr. Cox in California would present a recapitulation more or less complete
of the hardships and privations endured by all early settlers who, like
himself, had been allured to the west through visions of its unknown
opportunities. In contrast with the majority of the emigrants, he did not seek
the gold mines. Fascinating as seemed the occupation, he did not blind his
judgment to the fact that of the thousands who sought the hidden wealth of the
country few found what they longed for with such a keen anticipation. To him
there seemed more of safety although less of allurement to the old business
regime and he therefore sought employment in town. While at first there seemed
little material return from his efforts, eventually he gained a competency.
Retiring from commercial activities he gave his time to the enjoyment of social
intercourse with his family and friends and to the maintenance of an
intelligent interest in all public affairs. When in 1906 death terminated his
earthly labors, there was brought to an honorable end an association of
considerably more than fifty years with the great state of California and an
intimate identification with many movements for the permanent welfare of the
people. A strong, helpful character passed into eternity, a character that had
irradiated a beneficial influence upon the community and had proved the
governing element of a long career.
Descended from an honorable Anglo-Saxon
ancestry, Frederick Cox
was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1828, and during
boyhood accompanied members of the family to the United States. After six
months in New York City, removal was made to Milwaukee, Wis., where the father
secured work as a buyer and bookkeeper for a wholesale and retail meat firm. As
soon as he heard of the discovery of gold in California the young man desired
to start for the west, but lack of funds deterred him until the spring of 1850.
Meanwhile he had worked regularly and saved his earnings, so that he had ample
for the expenses of the trip. With a party of six he started across the plains
and crossed the Missouri River at the present site of Omaha, then called Winter
Quarters because the Mormons had spent a winter there during their removal to
Utah. The little expedition had the good fortune to secure a guide-book
published by the Mormons, which contained full particulars concerning the
route. It was thus possible for them to reach Salt Lake without any delay or
difficulty, but they were less fortunate from that place to their destination.
The guide-book for that part of the journey was inaccurate and unreliable.
However, they were able to reach Eldorado county in
the autumn of the of the year and at Ringgold they separated, first pitching
their tent in the middle of the street and investing their entire capital, $7,
in a banquet of beefsteak, molasses and bread. The members of the party with
the exception of Mr. Cox had practically exhausted their funds by the time they
left Salt Lake, so he had been forced to pay the expenses of all for a time,
but at the banquet, when called upon for a talk, he delivered the first oration
of his life when he tersely told his comrades it was now "Everyone for
himself and the devil for the hindmost."
It being the desire of all but Mr. Cox to
engage in mining the six men betook themselves to the store of Sargent Bros., and being granted a limited credit procured
the necessary tools and started out in search of gold. Not caring to accompany
them, Mr. Cox hired out to a butcher in Ringgold at $250 per month. After two
months he bought the business, which he conducted for nine months. Upon selling
out he proceeded to the Carson river in Nevada and
with a partner engaged in buying horses and cattle from immigrants. These were
then fattened and brought over the mountains to California, where they were
sold at a fair profit. During the fall of 1851 Mr. Cox started a meat market at
Salmon Falls, Eldorado county,
which at the time was one of the liveliest mining camps in the state. With
Charles Bonstell as a partner he remained there until
the spring of 1852, when he moved to Shingle Springs, in the same county. At
first he conducted a meat market alone, but later he sold an interest to C. W.
Clarke, and they carried on the business for two years, selling out at fairly
profit. Afterward they spent six months in the east buying stock and on their
return in the fall of 1854 they opened a meat market at Grass Valley, Nevada county. Later they sold the business in order to give their
entire attention to the handling of the stock. As their herds increased and
lands became scarce in the vicinity of Sacramento they found themselves obliged
to seek ranges elsewhere. By successive purchases they acquired vast tracts in
the counties of Sutter, Yuba, Tulare, Kern, and San Luis Obispo, and over those
broad acres the cattle roamed in large herds.
While gaining prominence in business and
acquiring a reputation for never having failed in any enterprise, Mr. Cox also
wielded a wide influence in the Democratic party. As
the nominee of his party he was elected state senator in 1882 and served
through two regular and two special sessions, after which he declined further
nomination, although he was the choice of the Democrats of the district. On
three different occasions he was appointed a member of the state board of
agriculture and in that capacity he proved efficient, intelligent and
patriotic, working strenuously and incessantly for the promotion of the farming
interests of the state. During November of 1857 he married Miss Jennie A. Holdridge, of Eldorado county,
who was born in Courtland county, N. Y., and who
survives him, remaining at the family residence, No. 2020 T street, which he
had erected after his retirement from business. They were the parents of two
sons and three daughters, of whom one son and a daughter died in childhood,
while the other son, Crawford, was killed by the explosion of a gas engine. The
surviving members of the family are Mrs. Jennie Peltier
and Mrs. John E. Short, both residents of Sacramento.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 976-978. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.