The Old Cox Home

THE OLD COX HOME

OR THE "BIG HOUSE" AS IT WAS CALLED

Written by Norma Wanlass in 1971

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Frederick Walter Cox and his family arrived in Manti on October 4, 1852. That first winter we lived in a little log cabin owned by Sylvester Hulet, situated on the corner lot on 2nd North and 1st West, now owned by Dean Lund. The next year we moved into what was called the Little Stone Fort, and here we lived for nine years in two sixteen foot rooms in the Southwest corner, a family of four wives and nineteen children. In the spring of 1853 the Old Cox Barn, situated approximately where the Twin Pines Apartments now stand, was purchased from a Mr. Lawson. It was used by the Cox family for sleeping quarters while they were living in the Little Stone Fort. During warm weather it was good to sleep in the Old Barn, using straw spread on the ground for their spring mattress, and it was enjoyed very much, as bed bugs had invaded the Fort. Fred Jr. married Lucy Allen in April 1857, which added another member to the Cox family, making 25 that used the Old Barn for sleeping quarters.

Father Cox realized the need of more house-room and began to plan a bigger and better home . During seven of those nine years, a house was being built inside the Big Fort on what is now the corner of 1st West on Depot Street. Work on the house had to be done after the day's work in the field was accomplished. Father Cox and his sons put all their available time in cutting stone from the stone quarry, and hauling timber from the mountains. William Arthur Cox tells that he and his brother Fred would work hard all day in the field clearing land and plowing, and when they returned at night they would carry enough rock to supply the masons for the next day. The girls worked as hard as their brothers. It was their job to haul the mud and rock up the walls to the men working above. They built twelve rooms with one large room on the third floor, which they used for a schoolroom and dance hall. The house was quartered like a pie and each of the four wives lived in a section. A fireplace was in each section on the north and south walls.

One day as Father Cox came out of their home in the Fort, he looked up to see Sarah Ann just leaving the south chimney of the Big House, sweeping along from rafter to rafter, where they came to a point, on what was to be the roof. To slip would mean a fall clear to the basement three stories below. Father Cox dared not call. He feared it would distract her attention and make her lose her footing. When she got to the middle rafter he started walking toward her. By the time he got there she was over to the North chimney. As he walked up to her he said, "Now Sary Ann, don't ever do that again. You've done it this time, but don't ever do it again."

After seven years of hard work, in April 1861, just 100 years ago, their new home was ready, and they moved into it: four wives, seven sons and sixteen daughters, and Fred's wife. They numbered 29 now. The women folk vacated the Old Barn, but the Cox boys still remained and added to what became known as the "Barn Crowd".

William Arthur Cox tells of the constant effort that was required of every member of the large family. All who were old enough had to work. They all shared alike in everything that was earned or brought into the house. William Arthur also tells how the boys had to get the wood in for the winter. At one time he hauled twenty-one loads of wood from the hills alone in twenty days. There were five fires to keep going all winter, so in the summer they were obliged to haul their wood from the hills.

Their amusements were mostly in some part of the large Cox house or outside in the yard in summer time. They had games, singing and dancing, but mostly singing. All the wives and children would be together on evenings and would have glorious times. The music seemed to cement them together. All evil influences would vanish under the spell of music. They were so united that the people outside the family circle could hardly tell which mother the children belonged to. Father Cox was quite a musician. He played the flute beautifully. He was also a good singer and sang in the choir in the Old Council House. Often at public gatherings five of the Cox girls sang together: Lucia, Alice, Arletta, Amanda, and Eleanor. Sometimes their brother Sylvester sang with them. At one time a salesman tried to sell Father Cox a sewing machine, but he could not see the point. Finally in exasperation the salesman said, "But Brother Cox, this is a Singer," to which Father Cox replied, "That's nothing, I have a houseful of Singers."

Father Cox put President Young's advice into practice when he said, "It is better to feed the Indians, than to fight them." Often he would kill a beef and give them a feast. He always kept his word with them. They knew that he did not talk with a "forked tongue". Often he would go with them for two or three days at a time. Father Cox spoke three different Indian dialects, Blackfeet, Navajo, and Ute. Will Cox, Jr., remembers when he was just a young boy of seeing Frederick Walter Cox standing on the Northwest steps of the Big House preaching to between 1,000 and 1,200 Indians on horseback. They were around him on all sides – north past Ned Armstrong's home, west past Brigham McAllister's home, and south to Halbert Keller's home. William Arthur Cox states that he often saw the Indians standing around the Big House in Great crowds with Father Cox standing on the West steps preaching to them and reasoning with them. The Indians came to Father with many of their troubles.

On 2 June 1879 Father Cox and some older boys of the family were unloading logs down by the sawmill behind the house where Emma lived. Belle age 7, May not yet 3, and Lee age 1, were watching them. Belle had hold of the hand of each of the younger girls. She said, "Pa, be careful." Pa said, "You children move back." They stepped back out of the way. The logs were on a wagon, the boys on one end and Pa on the other. He called "Hold on a minute," but the boys didn't hear him, and pitting their strength against the log, rolled their end off the wagon. This forced the other end to smack against the log lying next to it, pinning Pa's head between the two, where he dangled until the boys could move the logs to release him. They took him to the Big House, where he died 4 June 1879, never gaining consciousness.

The Cox family lived in the house for 21 years, although it wasn't deeded by Manti City to Frederick Walter Cox until 1872. After Father Cox's death, Emeline and Jemima went to live with their married daughters. Cordelia and Lydia moved to homes of their own.

The Estate of F. W. Cox deeded the Big House to Gustav E. Carlson 8 Aug 1882. On 19 Mar 1883 he deeded it to Lars C. Kjar for the sum of $500. On 26 Mar 1887 it was deeded back to Gustav E. Carlson for $500. On 2 Sep 1887 he deeded it to Neils J. Provstgaard for $500. A daughter, Florence Provstgaard Larsen now resides in the home.

Source: http://oscox.org/fwcox/theoldcoxhome.html

Submitted by Ruth H. Barker

Uploaded by Emily Barker Farrer, 2010