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Paris Cox was born near Asheboro, Randolph county, NC, October 17, 1846. He was the son of Gideon and Asenath Cox. He was one of six children, his brothers being, Arlendo, Manley, Oliver and Anson and one sister, Lydia.
As a young man he was conscripted (drafted) by the Confederate States of America to serve in the Civil War. Having been taught Quaker principles concerning peace and not bearing arms, he bought his exemption, which was legal at that time, and migrated north and west to Westfield, Indiana.
While there, he met a young school teacher, Mary C. Ferguson, daughter of Joseph C. and Lena Ferguson, and married her. He shortly went into business at Boxley, Indiana, with his father-in-law and their saw mill soon developed into a thriving lumber business. As the supply of good timber began to dwindle, the business began to slacken and Paris thought of seeking another livelihood.
He started west and joined a group of buffalo hunters and this venture led him to the Stakes Plains area of West Texas. One evening they were camped above the caprock west of Hank Smith´s Rock House, on a hill overlooking the site that would later be his colony of Estacado. He said "Here by the will of God, will be my home."
He went to Austin to check with the General Land Office on the availability of land. There, he learned of the railroad land grants that were readily available and he secured 50,000 acres at 25 cents an acre.
He then returned to Indiana to try to arouse interest in the new colony. It was not his intent to try to avoid religious persecution, but instead a desire to move to a remote area where his Society of Friends, which is the preferred name of Quakers, could worship and live in a society totally of their own making.
It seemed that a major drawback to the success of his new colony, might be the scarcity of an available water supply, so he contracted with Hank Smith to dig a well and to break out and plant crops upon some of the land. Water was discovered by Smith at a depth of about 65 feet and the crops he planted produced a bountiful harvest. Thusly encouraged, Paris Cox was able to convince some of his friends to help him start his new colony in his "promised land."¹
Paris Cox ventured into Crosby County taking a risk and surviving great hardships that first winter. His family and six other families developed Estacado. At the age of 42, Paris Cox died and was buried in Estacado Cemetery.
¹ "Estacado .. Cradle of Culture and Civilization on the Staked Plains of Texas" by John Cooper Jenkins, et al
Researched by Jerry Gentry
Paris COX 17 Oct 1846 - 21 Nov 1888 BIRTH: 17 Oct 1846, Asheboro, Randolph Co., NC DEATH: 21 Nov 1888, Estacado, TX Father: Gideon COX Mother: Huldah MENDENHALL Family 1 : Lydia Ann MILLS MARRIAGE: 7 Nov 1867, Spicewood MM, IN Family 2 : Mary C. FERGUSON MARRIAGE: 21 Dec 1871 Charlie COX +Oscar Larkin COX Bertha COX +Fletcher C. COX Re:Internet Source
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Crosby County TXGenWeb Project
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