History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois, Vol. II.
William Henry Perrin, ed.
(Chicago: O.L. Basking & Co. Historical Publishers)
1883.
John Thomas Cox--Circuit clerk, Robinson, one of the largest, stoutest and handsomest
men in Crawford County, is the good-natured clerk of the Circuit Court whose name stands
at the head of this sketch. He was born in this county April 29, 1843. His educational
facilities were such as the times afforded, being principally confined to the log school
houses, now things of the past. His education was finished up with a term at the public
school in Hutsonville. At the age of eighteen, he entered the ministry, which he followed
about eight years as a preacher of the Christian Church, and during his ministry he proved
himself an able exponent of the doctrines of the renowned Alexander Campbell and Barton W.
Stone. But after serving his church some eight years as a minister, he returned to his
farm (says he reformed) near Hutsonville. He continued on his farm until 1876, when he was
elected Circuit Clerk of Crawford County, and in 1880, he was re-elected to the same
office, which he fills satisfactorily to the people. During his political canvass he
wholly refrained from the pernicious practice of frequenting saloons, and the soliciting
of votes through the influence of whisky. Mr. Cox owns an excellent farm near Hutsonville
of 220 acres, in a
fine state of cultivation. He was married January 16, 1868, to Miss Lucinda J. Buckner, of
Clark County, Ill. They have three children, viz: Hattie L., born November 3, 1868;
Estelle E., born July 6, 1870, Manford E. born March 20, 1880.
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