LEGRAND M. COX, a pioneer of Northern Illinois of 1839, and a veteran of two wars, first opened his eyes to the light in Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1829. His father, William P., and his mother, Phila (Goss) Cox, were natives respectively of Washington and Oneida Counties, N. Y., and when their son was but a few months old removed from Genesee to Chautauqua County, where they remained residents for over eight years. William P. Cox then decided to seek the Western country, and gathering together his family and his household effects, started for this county. LeGrand was then a boy of ten years, and completed his education in the pioneer schools taught on the subscription plan. His studies were carried on principally in the winter season, while in the summer he soon made almost a “full hand” in the operations of the farm.

Our subject remained a member of the parental household until the breaking out of the Mexican War, and then, fired with ambition to become a soldier and to see something of a new and strange country, went to St. Louis and enlisted in a Missouri battalion of infantry, and followed a soldier’s life for nineteen months. He started with his comrades in the month of May to Ft. Leavenworth, and was there mustered into service, whence they proceeded on the long march, 800 miles across the plains to Santa Fe, remaining in that locality until November following, when the regiment was detailed to go down the Rio Grande, stopping at different points along the route and wintering at Nimetar. In February, they pushed on to Chihuahua, 700 miles distant from Santa Fe, where our subject with the rest of his comrades did garrison duty until July following. The war being now practically at an end they marched back over a distance of nearly 1,500 miles to Independence, Mo., where they mustered out in October, 1848.

Mr. Cox after becoming transformed from a soldier to a civilian made his way to Quincy, Ill., where he remained until March following, then proceeded down the river by steamer to New Orleans, where he intended to become a sailor. After a week, however, he decided to return, and coming to Calhoun County, Ill., worked on a farm a year, then took up his abode in Stephenson County. Here he worked out by the month, and having received a land warrant for 160 acres from the Government, located on the farm which he now owns and occupies. Being still unmarried he continued his work by the month until February, 1854, and then decided upon a trip to California by way of the Isthmus. Sailing from New York he landed at San Francisco four weeks later, and going into Downieville, engaged in mining. He thus occupied himself until Sept., 1855, when he returned, via Central America to New York, whence he proceeded to this county, arriving here in October following.

Mr. Cox now decided to make Northern Illinois his permanent home. He was married, April 23, 1856, to Miss Eveline, daughter of Josiah Talmadge, of New York, and settled upon the land before mentioned. Mrs. Cox was born in Huron County, Ohio. Her father was a native of New York State, from which he removed first to Ohio and then to Illinois, afterward going to Racine, Wis., where he spent the last years of his life. Mr. Cox continued farming until 1862, but after the outbreak of the Civil War could not content himself with standing idly by and witnessing the struggle to preserve the Union. He accordingly, in August, 1862, enlisted in Co. A, 92d Ill. Vol. Inf., serving until January, 1865. He was present at many of the important battles, and in the siege of Chickamauga was severely wounded and unfitted for duty. After his discharge he returned to his home and resumed his farm life, where he has since been contented to remain. The home is now one of the pleasantest (sic) features in the landscape of Winslow Township. The farm is provided with good buildings and first-class grades of live-stock, including more than ordinarily fine horses, of which Mr. Cox is remarkably fond. His pleasant face long ago became familiar to the residents of this section, where he has rounded up a worthy life rich in experience and of value to his community.

Contributed by Carol Parrish Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 510