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to coax, but to no avail. As they left, F. W. Cox, Sr. said, "Curse you for the authority you have assumed. You may be sure that we will be back, because we are going over your head, straight to President Brigham Young." L.D.S. Church members would be convening in Great Salt Lake City within a few days to attend October Conference. It was decided that we, Joseph Allen, Fred W. Cox, Sr. and Jr. would journey there to present our problem to President Young, and to avail ourselves of the Conference sessions. President Young listened attentively while we explained the situation. If there was anything that needed clarification as the story unfolded, he asked questions. When he had heard all the facts he faced the big grandfather clock in his office with his hands cupped behind his back. In preoccupation he stared at the clock, then he paced the full length of the room, back and forth, seemingly oblivious to our presence. Suddenly he turned, pointed his finger at me and said, "Brother Cox, you are a married man. I would advise you to go home and make the best of it." On our return trip we stopped at Provo to get Lucy Allen Cox to take her to Manti to assume her role as Mrs. Fred W. Cox, Jr. We had been married since April 20 without realizing it. I took her to live in my parent's home. We lived there until 1868, when money became so scarce that I had to go to White Pine, Nevada, for work. When I returned I built a home of oolite stone, at First West on Union Street for my growing family. I cannot say that life was one of complete matrimonial bliss, but we did make the best of it. To Lucy and I were born twelve children, six boys and six girls. On March 3, 1873, I took a plural wife, Alvira Coolidge, and two sons and three daughters were born to us. Mary Ellen Tuttle married Walter Stringham on June 19, 1859. She was the mother of fifteen children. I am sure she lived a life of toil and strife as everyone else did, but one of happiness and fulfillment. It has been said that "It is a good horse that never stumbles." -30- |
