Fifth Generation

150. John Anderson Franklin Cox^{1,36,73,87,91,92,93} was born on 27 December 1888 in Jefferson City, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^73,91 Most sources list his name as John F. Cox or as John Franklin Cox. But his WWI draft registration card lists his name as John Anderson F. Cox, and his draft registration is the only known source for his complete name.

He appeared in the census in 1900 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. John F. 11 son m s w Dec 1888 farm laborer TN TN TN.

He appeared in the census in 1910 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 4 May 1910 by W.T. Cox; p.27b, dwelling number 246, family number 253; Cox John Franklin 21 head m m1-4 w farmer TN TN TN; Mary 23 wife f m1-4 w TN TN TN 1 child, 1 living; Mildred 2 son m s s TN TN TN.

John registered for the draft in Jefferson County, Tennessee on 5 June 1917.⁹¹

1. Name - John Anderson F. Cox, age 26
2. Address - Dandridge, Tenn
3. Date of birth - Dec 27, 1888
4. Citizenship - natural born
5. Birth Place - Jefferson Co., Tenn, USA
7. Occupation - farming
8. Employer - self; location - near Dandridge
9. Dependents - wife & 4 children
10. Status - married; race - Caucasian
11. Previous military experience - none
12. Claim exemption - no
Signed - J. F. Cox
1. Height - medium; build - medium
2. Eyes - brown; hair - dark
3. R. C. McAndrews, Registrar, Precinct 1, Jefferson Co, Tenn, June 5, 1917

He appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 14 Jan 1920, enumerated by Herbert F. Bible; p.11b, Goose Creek Road, dwelling number 213, family number 213; Cox John F. 31 head m m w farmer TN TN TN can R/W; Mary 33 wife f m w TN NC TN can R/W; Mildred 12 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school, can R/W; Hazel 9 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school, can R/W; Anna 6 dau f s w TN TN TN; Dorthy 3 1/12 dau f s w TN TN TN; Marion 7/12 son m s w TN TN TN; Slaton Mary 67 motherL f w w TN TN TN can R/W; They owned the house and it was mortgaged.

He appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 28 Apr 1930, p.82a, Goose Creek Road, family number 52, family number 53, Cox John F. 42 head m m@17 w TN TN TN farmer, Mary 43 wife f m@18 w TN TN NC, Hazel 19 dau f s w TN TN TN, Dortha 13 dau f s w TN TN TN, Ethel 8 dau f s w TN TN TN, Vern 3 3/12 son m s w TN TN TN, Fern 3 3/12 dau f s w TN TN TN; Rickard Samuel 18 boarder m s w farm laborer TN TN TN.

John died on 4 July 1961 in [Jefferson County, Tennessee].⁷³

Obituary, Knoxville Journal, 5 Jul 1961.
Cox, John F. - 72, passed away suddenly at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. He was a member of Green Hill Baptist Church, a retired farmer of the Mt. Zion community, Jefferson County. Survivors: wife, Mrs. Mary Slaton Cox; daughters, Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Mrs. Lynn Blackburn, Miss Hazel Cox, all of Dandridge, Mrs. James DeLozier, Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Victor Sherrod, Knoxville; son, Vern Cox, Dandridge; 20 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sisters, Mrs. Minnie Slaton, Dandridge, Mrs. Ethel Harrison, Morristown. Funeral 2 p.m. Friday, Mr. Zion Methodist Church, Rev. Herman Helton, Rev. D.A. Swafford, Rev. Charles Whetsel officiating. Body remains at Farrar Funeral Home, Dandridge, where family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. Thursday, and will be moved to the church one hour before services.

He was buried on 7 July 1961.⁷³ His funeral was at Mt. Zion Methodist Church, but I do not yet have confirmation of whether he was buried at Mt. Zion or not.

The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.

John Cox, oldest son of George and Loretta, is quite a fellow and a real farmer. I could write a book about this fellow and still not tell half the story. Of all my male cousins he is no doubt my favorite. When I go back to Tennessee each year I usually spend much of my time with him and his family. There are so many things that I could write about him I scarcely know where to start. He has always been full of energetic know-how and was always the first of the farmers in the community to get modern machinery and other up-to-date implements for farm use. In speaking of him most reverently many times he and I would sit up until way late in the night and discuss some of the things that we did in our younger days getting much laughter out of it. I do particularly want to speak of his horse-trading back in the horse and buggy days in which he was a wizard. I think he beat everybody in that country in trading horses.

He probably inherited that technique from our grandfather, John Nichols, who was a fine horse trader as you no doubt have learned in my writing of him. I do want to reveal some of the trades that John and I have talked and laughed about many times. One in particular, our grandfather gave him an old mule that was probably about 20 or 25 years old. John brought him home and fattened him up real good and got on a trade with Charles Roberts for the mule, and in fact he probably skinned this man in more horse trades than any other individual in Jefferson County. They finally traded, John getting $15.00 for the mule and Charles boasting that he had got $35.00 for worse mules than that. Some time later when Charles couldn't trade the mule or hardly give him away, he was back after John to make a trade. This trade included the same mule plus another horse and after the deal was made John told Charles Roberts just to make the check out for $5.00 more and take the mule back. On another occasion John didn't admit it, but there is some evidence that he used a little brown paint brush to paint up the grey hairs around the old mule's eyes and it made a pretty good trade for him. On another occasion I recall he bought a little mule up at Morristown, Tennessee, brought him home, cleaned him up in good shape and he looked like a fine mule. This same Charles Roberts came around and wanted to trade and told John that was a fine looking mule, what would he take for it. John gave him a price and a good one and after the deal was made John told Charley how to keep him good and click and fat.

On another occasion which I always got a big kick out of, he had bought a sileage chopper and it was one of the first of its kind in the community. A big farmer from White Pine, Tennessee, a few miles from his home, whom he knew well, made a contract with John to chop and fill the silos with the new equipment. This man was one of the wealthy farmers and his wife of Jefferson County, was just a little upish. When John took his machinery up to their home, they asked him what time he wanted breakfast, as they were going to stay at a little hotel in White Pine. John answered about 5 a.m. The next morning at 5 a.m. they came in, sat down at the table, and the farmer's wife said to John, how would you like your eggs, Mr. Cox? John says never mind the eggs, I'll just take the gravy. Well, the lady flustered around a little and hadn't made any but she went ahead and made gravy for John. Years after that, every time I would go home, I would call John and tell him I would just take my bowl of gravy and he always got a big kick out of it. I wish I had the time and space to write much about my cousin John Cox, but I haven't. Needless to say that he is a fine man and a good Christian.

John Anderson Franklin Cox and Mary Jane Slaton were married on 9 December 1906 in Flat Gap, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁹³ p.206, Record of Marriages, Jefferson County, Tennessee. License #1837, married Dec. 9 06, John Cox to Mary Slaton, E. A. Carpenter, J. P., recorded Dec. 13 07 (sic, it was surely recorded 13 Dec 1906).

The following is oral family history from Hazel Cox. They were married at Flat Gap by Mr. Sam Carpenter. The lived over on Cline Road when Grandpa Slaton died April 10, 1919 so in the fall of that year, Sept. 1919, they bought the place at the corner of Goose Creek Road and Green Hill Road, where Hazel Cox was still living in 1999 from the heirs so that they could take care of Grandma. Hazel Cox was 9 years old when they moved to Goose Creek Road. Before they moved to Goose Creek, Mildred and Hazel went down the lane behind their house and over the hill to the Nursery Road and went to Oakland School. They just went over there two years. Hazel doesn't know exactly. She remembers two different teachers Girtle Latham and Miss Hazel Stepp, taught the lower grades. Miss Ida Jane Franklin was the principal and taught the upper grades.

Mary Jane Slaton^{1,36,73,74,92,93,94,95,96} was born on 16 October 1886 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.^95,96 The birth record for Hazel Cox in Jefferson County Vital Statistics lists her mother's birth place as Jefferson County.

She appeared in the census in 1900 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mary J. 13 dau f s w May 1886 TN NC TN.

She appeared in the census in 1910 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mary 23 wife f m1-4 w TN TN TN 1 child, 1 living Mary appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mary 33 wife f m w TN NC TN can R/W She appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mary 43 wife f m@18 w TN TN NC She died on 17 December 1975 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.^95,96 Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Mary Cox; Last Residence: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Born: 16 Oct 1886; Died: Dec 1975; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (1965). Tennessee Death Index Information: Cox Mary J, 12-17-1975, age 89, died in Jefferson County, resided in Jefferson County, TN, widow, female, white, file #38081.

The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.

I do want to write a few words about John's wife, Mary Slaton Cox, one of the finest. She is one of the finest women I have ever known, good, conscientious, hard working, and kind. You could never go to their home without a real welcome. Next to my mother, Mary Slaton Cox could bake the finest biscuits (I don't mean this self-rising stuff either) that I have ever eaten. John and Mary were married around 1908. The now living children are as follows: Mildred, Hazel, Dorothy, Ethel, Vern, and Fern (twins).

John Anderson Franklin Cox and Mary Jane Slaton had the following children:

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i.
Mildred Frances Cox^{1,36,60,73,92,94} was born on 3 January 1908 in Jefferson County or Sevier County, Tennessee.⁶⁰ She was born in the West Cox house the John Ellison Place (now on the Asheville Highway).
She appeared in the census in 1910 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mildred 2 son m s s TN TN TN (the census incorrectly listed her as a male son rather than as a female daughter).
She appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mildred 12 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school, can R/W.
Mildred appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Mildred F. 22 wife f m@16 w TN TN TN.
She died on 10 February 1983.⁶⁰ Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Mildred Miller; Last Residence: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Born: 3 Jan 1908; Died: Feb 1983; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (1954).
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Mildred, oldest daughter of John and Mary Slaton Cox, has a disposition much like the Nichols. She enjoys a good hearty laugh about as well as anyone I know. Mildred married Lloyd Miller. He is a very good man and a fine farmer, one of his chief crops is raising tobacco. Lloyd and Mildred have five children, namely, Lois, Mabel, Majorie, Janice, and Vivian.
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Hazel Loretta Cox^{1,36,73,92,97,98,99} was born on 30 July 1910 in Goose Creek Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^92,99,100 She was born at the Moore place. The attending physician was J. M. Caldwell.
She appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Hazel 9 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school, can R/W.
She appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Hazel 19 dau f s w TN TN TN.
Hazel died on 14 November 2004 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.^92,99 Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Hazel L. Cox; Last Residence: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Born: 30 Jul 1910; Died: 14 Nov 2004; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (1963). Obituary, Jefferson Standard-Banner, 20 Nov 2004. Hazel Loretta Cox, age 94, of Dandridge, TN passed away Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004 following an extended illness. She was the daughter of the late John F. and Mary Slaton Cox and was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy Blackburn, Mildred Miller, Fern Sherrod and Ethel Delozier. Hazel was a charter member of the Green Hill Baptist Church. She is survived by her brother and sister in law, Vern and Effie Cox; brother in law, Jim Delozier; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 at 8 p.m. from the Farrar Dandridge Chapel with Rev. Len McElyea officiating. Interment graveside services Tuesday, 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Farrar Funeral Home, Dandridge, is in charge of arrangements. She was buried on 16 November 2004 in Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁹²
Hazel never married. She graciously provided a family history of her family. We had a wonderful visit in December 1999. The family moved from Cline Road to her present house in 1919 after Hazel's Grandpa Slaton died in April 1919. (RGB) The following information is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols. Hazel, second daughter of John and Mary Slaton Cox, is truthfully one of the finest girls of East Tennessee. She never married. A fine business woman and truly you could call her the Miss Milkmaid of Tennessee, if not the entire United States. They have a large dairy farm and many dairy cows and for a good number of years since her father's health has been bad, Hazel has managed to a large extent the dairy farm. She is much like my oldest brother John. They both were very thrifty and John Cox and I might call her a little stingy. She is a fine Christian woman and she and her father and mother (John and Mary Cox) help keep up some missions in Africa as well as being strong supporters of their own church there near their home. I can only say this about Hazel, she is one of the best.
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iii.
Anna Laura Cox^1,36,55,97 was born on 16 September 1913 in Jefferson County or Sevier County, Tennessee. She was born when they lived up at the County Farm. Papa (John Franklin Cox) worked for them then.
She appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Anna 6 dau f s w TN TN TN.
She died on 27 August 1923.
Anna was buried after 27 August 1923 in Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Before leaving the family of John and Mary Slaton Cox, their third child whose name was Ann, died when she was four or five years old. remember her so vividly, her beautiful face and the most beautiful eyes on any child that I have ever seen and as I remember her, she had such a fine and sweet disposition. As long as I live, it will always be a fond memory to remember little Ann.
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iv.
Dorothy Gladys (Dot) Cox^{1,36,60,73,92,97,101} was born on 30 December 1916 in Cline Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^60,101 She was born in the house where Ramon McSpadden lives (1999).
She appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dorthy 3 1/12 dau f s w TN TN TN.
She appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dortha 13 dau f s w TN TN TN.
Dorothy died on 27 June 1982.⁶⁰ Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Dorothy Blackburn; Last Residence: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Born: 30 Dec 1916; Last Benefit: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Died: Jun 1982; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951).
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Dorothy, third daughter of John and Mary Slaton Cox, is quite a gal. She is quite a talker, when she and I get together we really have a talk-fest. Dorothy's first marriage was to Conley Caton. They had two children, Barbara and Mary Lou. Barbara married Bill Clark of Chicago, Illinois, who is a career man in the United States Navy. They have one child, but at this time I do not know what its name is A few years after Dorothy divorced her first husband she married Lynn Blackburn from Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a fine man. To this union two children were born, namely Lynn Jr. and John. They now reside in Jefferson County near Dandridge, Tennessee.
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v.
George Marion (Little George) Cox^1,36,55 was born on 15 June 1919 in Cline Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was born in the house where Ramon McSpadden lives (1999).
He appeared in the census in 1920 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Marion 7/12 son m s w TN TN TN.
He died on 21 November 1924.
George was buried after 21 November 1924 in Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
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vi.
Ollie Elizabeth Cox^1,36,55 was born on 18 November 1921.
She died on 20 December 1922.
She was buried after 20 December 1922 in Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
She was a twin of Minnie.
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Minnie Ethel (Ethel) Cox^{1,36,60,73,92,97,102} was born on 18 November 1921 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.^60,102
She appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Ethel 8 dau f s w TN TN TN.
She died on 10 December 2003 in [Fullerton, Orange County], California.^60,102 Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Ethel C. Delozier; Last Residence: 92833 Fullerton, Orange County, California; Born: 18 Nov 1921; Died: 10 Dec 2003; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951).

Obituary, Orange County Register, 11 Dec 2003.
Ethel C. DeLozier, 82, of Fullerton, a retired teacher, died Dec. 10, 2003, of cancer. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, First Lutheran Church of Fullerton. Arrangements by McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton. Husband, James; daughters, Marie DeLozier, Andrea Pecora, Cynthia Orysh; son, James Jr.; brother, Vern Cox; sister, Hazel Cox; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Minnie was buried on 13 December 2003 in [Fullerton, Orange County], California.¹⁰²
She was a twin of Ollie.
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Ethel, fourth living daughter of John and Mary Slaton Cox, is one of the most beautiful and fine girls that has ever been my privilege to know. She is a typical Nichols in stature. She is a graduate of Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. She taught school two or three years in Washington, D.C. She married Dr. James De Lozier, a fine physician from Sevier County, Tennessee. To this union four children were born, namely Marie, Andrea, Cynthia, and James Jr. They now reside in California.
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William Vern (Vern) Cox^{1,36,60,73,92,97} was born on 16 September 1926 in Goose Creek Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁰ He was born in the house in which Hazel Cox was still living in 1999.
He appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Fern 3 3/12 dau f s w TN TN TN.
He died on 11 January 2006 in [Jefferson County, Tennessee].^60,103 Social Security Death Index Information: Name: William V. Cox; Last Residence: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Born: 16 Sep 1926; Last Benefit: 37725 Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Died: 11 Jan 2006; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951).
Obituary: William Vern Cox, born September 16, 1926, passed on to be with the Lord Jesus on January 11, 2006. Preceded in death by parents, John and Mary Cox; sisters, Mildred Miller, Hazel Cox, Dorothy Blackburn, Ethel Delozier and twin sister, Fern Sherrod. Survived by wife, Effie Walker Cox; daughter, Mary Cox Haynes and husband, Jimmy; son, David Cox and wife, Joyce; grandchildren, David Haynes, Brian Cox and Lisa Haynes Lovine; greatgrandchildren, Susanna, Landri, Bowden Haynes and Jonathon Lovine; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2006 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church with Rev. John Thompson and David Haynes officiating. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Farrar Funeral Home in Dandridge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church building fund, c/o Virginia Holbert, 622 Ross Drive, Dandridge, TN 37725. (from Farrar Funeral Home Web site).
William was buried on 14 January 2006 in Hillcrest Cemetery, Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee.¹⁰³
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Vern, the only living son of John and Mary Slaton Cox, was a twin to Fern. He has always been more or less a businesslike man instead of a farmer. He never cared to much for the farm and was in the trucking business. Also, for quite a few years he would go into Indiana and Illinois and buy up used farm machinery and bring it into Tennessee and sell it. He married Effie Walker who at the time of their marriage her father was the Sheriff of Jefferson County. They have two children, namely,Mary Louise and David.
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Wilma Fern (Fern) Cox^{1,36,73,92,97,104} was born on 16 September 1926 in Goose Creek Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was born in the house in which Hazel Cox was still living in 1999.
She appeared in the census in 1930 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Vern 3 3/12 son m s w TN TN TN.
She died on 8 April 2003 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.¹⁰⁵
Obituary, Knoxville News-Sentinel, Thursday, April 10, 2003, p.B7
Sherrod, Fern - age 76, of Knoxville, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2003. She was a long time member of the Grace Baptist Church. She dearly loved her Sunday School Class, will be remembered for her spiritual guidance to her family and friends, her caring nature, sweetness and affection for others, her love for gardening. She was truly loved and will be dearly missed as a Christian wife, mother, and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Franklin Cox and Mary Jane Slaton Cox, and her husband Victor Dale Sherrod. She is survived by her six children and families, Dale and Polly Sherrod, Jane and Sid Kelly, Jean Bramlett, Paul and Beverly Sherrod, Mark and Wilma Sherrod and Stanley and Angie Sherrod, all of Knoxville; 11 grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; one brother, Vern Cox of Dandridge and two sisters, Hazel Cox of Dandridge and Ethyl Delozier of Fullerton, Calif., several nieces and Nephews, and many other family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. til 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2003, at the Weaver Funeral Home with the service to follow at 8 p.m. Rev. Alfred Royer will officiate. The family will go in procession from the funeral home for a 1 p.m. graveside service at the Highland Cemetery. The family will meet at the funeral home at 12 Noon. Serving as pallbearers will be the grandsons. Weaver Funeral Home, “A Tradition of Service Since 1921”, 5815 Western Ave. (865) 588-3838.

Funeral Program: In Memory of Wilma Fern Sherrod age 76; Date of Birth: September 16, 1926; Date of Death: April 8, 2003; Funeral Services: Friday, April 11, 2003, Weaver Funeral Home Chapel 8:00 P.M.; Officiating: Rev. Alfred Royer; Interment: Highland Memorial Cemetery, 1:00pm Saturday; Pallbearers: Grandsons
Wilma was buried on 11 April 2003 in Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.
The following is from "The Nichols Book" by Wyatt Nichols.
Fern, twin of Vern, daughter of John and Mary Slaton Cox, is a very fine girl and in disposition much like her mother. She married Victor Sherrod who is one of the nicest young men that I know in that area. They have four children, namely, Dale, the twins Jane and Jean, and Paul. Victor works at the Atomic Bomb Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and they live in that area near Knoxville, Tennessee.
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John Franklin (Johnnie) Cox Jr^1,36,55 was born on 15 February 1929 in Goose Creek Road, Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was born in the house in which Hazel Cox was still living in 1999.
He died on 10 September 1929.
He was buried after 10 September 1929 in Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
He was known as "Little Johnnie".