Sacramento
County
Biographies
FREDERICK
COX
FREDERICK COX,
of the widely known firm of Clark & Cox, extensive ranchers, capitalists,
etc., was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1828, and was only a boy when the
family emigrated to the United States. After spending about six months in New York
city they removed to Milwaukee,Wisconsin,
where the father was a book-keeper and buyer for a firm carrying on a wholesale
and retail meat business. In 1849
Frederick was seized the California fever, but owing to lack of means was
unable to start until the following year, when he joined a party of six to
cross the plains. Crossing the Missouri
River about the present site of Omaha,--they called Winter Quarter because the
Mormons had spent a winter there on their way to Utah,--they obtained there
guide-books published by the Mormons, which contained full particulars as to
the route and camping grounds, and which was found reliable. They arrived at Salt Lake without having
encountered any difficulties. At that
point they procured another book which was to guide them to California, but
this publication led them into many troubles.
In spite of these, however, the party arrived at Ringgold, El Dorado
County, in the fall of the year. Soon
after leaving Salt Lake the funds of the party, with the exception of Mr. Cox,
became exhausted, so that from that time until they reach Ringgold he footed
all the bills. Pitching their tent in
the middle of the street, the entire capital of the company, $7, was invested
in beefsteak, molasses and flour. After
regaling themselves with this sumptuous fare, Mr. Cox made his first attempt as
an orator and addressed his comrades very briefly but to the point, saying that
it was now “Every one for himself and the devil for the hindmost.” In the fall of 1850 he met Lloyd Tevis in Ringgold, of the firm of Haggin
& Tevis, trading in horses and buying immigrant
stock; and ever since then they have been firm friends. Six of the party 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. Mr. Cox, however, hired himself out to a
butcher in the town, for whom he worked two months, receiving for his services
$250 per month. His employer being
desirous of going away, Mr. Cox purchased the business and conducted it for
about nine months, when he sold out, went to Carson River, Nevada, in company
with a young man named Frakes, and engaged in the
purchase of horses and cattle from immigrants.
After fattening them, they drove them over the mountains into
California, and disposed of them at a good profit. In the fall of 1851 Mr. Cox started a
butcher’s shop at Salmon Falls, El Dorado County, which at that time was one of
the liveliest mining camps in the State.
He formed a partnership with Charles Bonstell,
which lasted until the spring of 1852, when Mr. Cox moved to Shingle Springs,
same county, and purchased an already established meat market. After continuing alone for a short time he
sold an interest to C. W. Clarke. This
partnership still exists, and nothing has yet occurred to disturb their
amicable relations. At the end of two
years the business was disposed of, and both partners made a trip to the
Eastern States, where they spent about six months. Returning in the fall of 1854, they opened a
butcher’s shop in Grass Valley, Nevada County, where, besides carrying on the
retail trade, they engaged largely in the buying and selling of cattle, Finding the latter
business uery profitable and growing to large
proportions, they sold out the meat market, and, removing to Sacramento,
confined themselves to the cattle trade.
As their bands increased and lands in the neighborhood of Sacramento
became scarce they found themselves compelled to seek locations elsewhere, and
bought extensive cattle ranges in the counties of Sutter, Yuba, Tulare, Kern
and San Luis Obispo, which they still hold for their large herds. Mr. Cox is a self-made man. As a business manager he is very clear headed
and persevering, never having failed in any venture he has made, and
consequently has amassed a sufficiency for the autumn of his life, which he is
enjoying to the fullest extent. His home
he has made for himself, where he intends to spend the remainder of his days,
and where his friends are welcomed with unlimited hospitality. In politics he is a Democrat. He was elected State Senator in 1882, and
served through two regular and two extra sessions. He was the choice of his party again in 1886,
but he declined to run. He has been
appointed on three occasions by the Governor of the State as a member of the
State Board of Agriculture, the last being in 1887, which term is
unexpired. In November, 1857, he married
Miss Jennie A. Holdridge, of El Dorado County, and
they have had two sons and three daughters, one son and two daughters are
living.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 575-576. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2006
Karen Pratt.