The Cox Family
Anderson Cox, son of Reuben and Anna Cox, was a small boy when his family joined with 40 or 50 ox teams and wagons. The group departed for the West in May 1864. He has written about their journey as follows: "We crossed the Missouri River at Platt's mouth and over the Oregon Trail."
"Twelve miles east of Boise, a most wonderful panoramic view opened before us--and as far as the vision could reach there was a narrow streak of emerald green...
...which we shortly found to be green balm and willow timber that grew on the bank of the beautiful, clear Boise River."
"After descending from the high hills over several levels of land and lower hills we got to the Boise River where camp was made. The next morning the train crossed the river and proceeded on down the valley..."
"...and passed through the city (Boise City) on September 2, 1864. It gave great pleasure to the worn-out and hungry people to see some vegetable gardens grown by a few folks who had comes the summer before."
"The train reached Dixie the third day from Boise. There we went into camp on account of an epidemic typhoid fever. The trip was at an end. A deep snow fell early and laid on the ground most all winter. We had no house even for the sick and had to remain in covered wagons and tents surrounded by two feet of snow."
"It was a terrible ordeal for my poor mother having to care for the sick family both day and night. Before the weather grew cold, two bachelor friends that lived near us built a small log cabin with a fireplace on which mother could do the cooking and care for two or three of the very sick ones."
"When they got the cabin finished and made as comfortable as possible, they turned it over to mother for as long as she needed it."