Henderson Cox

Mormon Battalion Company A

Jonathan H. Holmes/Samuel Thompson Company (1848) Age 18

Departure: 2 July 1848 Arrival: 6 September 1848

Find a Grave

Birth: Nov. 6, 1829 Warren County Indiana, USA

Death: Jun. 27, 1848 El Dorado County California, USA

Born near the Wabash River, son of Jehu Sr. Cox and Sarah Riddle Pyle. One of sixteen children, he was unmarried, and as a private, Henderson was only seventeen when he marched with the U.S. Army to the War with Mexico in the Mormon Battalion. He was under the command of Captain James Allen (promoted to Lieutenant Colonel) and Captain Jefferson Hunt in Company A. Pvt. Cox scouted with Company Captain Daniel Browett after they had worked at John Sutter's Mill near Coloma and was among the first to discover gold prior to the gold rush of 1849. He was one of nine pioneers chosen to find a trail over the ridge between the Cosumnes and the American Rivers to Iron Mountain. Finally he was one of two companions who went ahead with Captain Browett to scout the heavy forest in advance of the road crew, which was clearing for the troops, wagons and cattle. He fought and lost a fierce battle for his life alongside the seasoned Captain Browett and their friend, Ezra Heela Allen. Private Henderson Cox is related to this contributor, as is Captain Browette. Henderson was the older brother to Elias Cox (1835-1917) who was my great grandfather through Margaret "Blanche" Cox Black (1892-1991). For details, see bio for Daniel Browett, Sergeant of Company E, and of Ezra Heela Allen, buried in the common grave with his comrades at this same location.

Family links:

Parents:

• Jehu Cox (1803 - 1893)
• Sarah Riddle Pyle Cox (1808 - 1891)

Burial: Tragedy Spring Cemetery El Dorado County California, USA Plot: common grave of three

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees by SmartCopy: May 21 2015, 16:06:58 UTC