Sixth Generation

185. Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols^{1,20,30,34,58,59,60,61}. Birth: 27 May 1871, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^34,61 Her birth date is given as 27 May 1872 in Hazel Cox's family history, but there is much other evidence that she was born in 1871. Some sources list her birth place as Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Her father was from Sevierville. But her father and mother were married in Jefferson County, and her death certificate says that she was born in Jefferson County. She went by her middle name of Loretta, and she was known both as Retta and as Rett. Her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Rett. Parents: John H. B. Nichols and Martha P. Reneau.³⁴ Census: 1880, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Loretta 9 niece female single white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, she and her mother and siblings were enumerated household of her mother's aunt, Sarah Louise (Sallie or Sary) Reneau, and Sarah's husband, Thomas Jefferson Brimer. Marriage: 9 December 1883, Greene County, Tennessee, age 12, to George Jackson Cox.^20,59,60 Birth of Child: 2 October 1885, Minnie Ann Cox, age of mother: 14.^62,63 Birth of Child: 24 November 1887, Thursa (Thursie) Cox, age of mother: 16.⁶³ Birth of Child: 27 December 1888, John Anderson Franklin Cox, age of mother: 17.³⁴ Birth of Child: 15 September 1892, Mary Emily Ethel (Ethel) Cox, age of mother: 21.⁶³ Birth of Child: 23 April 1896, Martha Cox, age of mother: 24.⁶³ Birth of Child: 2 February 1900, James Wyatt (Wyatt) Cox, age of mother: 28.⁶³ Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Retta N. 29 wife female m16 w May 1871, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 6 children, 4 living. Birth of Child: 18 July 1903, Ruby Priscilla Cox, age of mother: 32.⁶³ Birth of Child: 3 December 1906, Eunice Cora Cox, age of mother: 35.⁶³ Birth of Child: 21 February 1910, Robert McKinley Cox, age of mother: 38.⁶³ Missing from census: 1910.⁶⁴ Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁵
Retta 48 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W. Census: 1930, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁶
Retta 59 wife m m@18 w sales lady, retail general store, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Census: 1940,.
Death: 26 February 1950, age 78, Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee.^34,61,67
Rett died in the home of her daughter Ethel Cox Harrison. Ethel's daughter Margaret Harrison reported that she was present at the time of Rett's death. Burial: 28 February 1950, Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^61,68 Burial inscription: Clarica Loretta N., May 27, 1871 - Feb. 26, 1950.⁶⁸ Same stone as George Jackson Cox. In Loving Memory of Our Grandparents. Death Record: 50-05319
1. Name Retta Nickols Cox
2. Date of death 2-26-50
3. Color or race W
4. Sex F
5. Single, married, widowed, divorced Widowed
6. Date of birth 5-27-1871
7. Age (in years last birthday) 78
8. Place of death: A. County Hamblen, B. Civil District 1, C. Morristown, D. Length of stay in this place, E. Name of hospital or institution (if not Hospital or Institution, City Street Address and Location)
9. Usual residence of deceased, A. State Tenn., B. County Hamblen, C. Civil District 1, D. City or Town Morristown, Tenn., E. Street address 519 W. 6th North St.
10a. Usual occupation Housewife
10b. Kind of business or industry Domestic
12. Was deceased ever in U.S. armed forces? Specify yes, no, unknown No
13. Birthplace Jefferson County
14. Citizen of what country? U.S.A.
15. Father's name John Nickols
16. Mother's maiden name Martha Reneau
17. Informant Mrs. Dan Harrison, Morristown
22. I hereby certify that the ceceased died on the date and from the cause stated above H.B. Marble M.D., Morristown, Tenn 2/28/50
23a. Burial, cremation, removal (specify) Burial
23b. Date of burial, cremation, or removal 2-28-50
23c. Name of cemetery or crematory Wesley's Chapel
23d. Location Jefferson County, Tenn
24. Funeral Director Hortons, Morristown, Tenn
25. Registration Dist. no 23201
26. Date signed by Local Reg. 3-11-50
27. Registrar's signature Mary Love Smith
---
The informant, Mrs. Dan Harrison, was Rett Nichols' daughter Mary Emily Ethel (Ethel) Cox who married Daniel Harrison. It was Ethel Cox Harrison's house where Rett died. The correct spelling of Rett's surname is "Nichols". It may only be unusual handwriting, but the name appears to be spelled "Nickols" on the death certificate. Rett's father was John H. Nichols and her mother was Martha P. Reneau. Several of Rett's grandchildren reported at the 2000 Cox reunion that they particularly enjoyed going to Grandma Cox's house. Rett was very positive with all her grandchildren, giving each one of them praise and positive feedback. She was very organized and believed in "a place for everything and everything in its place". She instilled this ethic in her grandchildren.

The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. Loretta was known to Wyatt Nichols as Aunt Loretta or Aunt Rett.

Loretta Nichols, oldest child of John and Martha Reneau Nichols, was born in Sevierville, Tennessee 1871. She like many other Nichols women folk was small, petite and very beautiful.

When she was two or three years old her mother took her and the rest of the family to Missouri where, John, her father was employed. It seems as though the climate proved very unhealthy for the family particularly Loretta and her mother, as they became seriously ill while there. Martha, her mother, later brought Loretta and my father Wyatt who was just a baby back to Tennessee. John, her father, stayed on in Missouri at his work. Loretta grew up and attended school in Jefferson County, Tennessee in what is known as Muddy Creek Valley. She married George Cox of Greene County, Tennessee and they later moved back to Jefferson County, Tennessee.

Just one word about my Aunt Loretta. I loved to visit her and Uncle George and spent many a happy hour at their home when I was a child. Loretta died several years ago and is buried at Wesleys Chapel.

Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols and George Jackson Cox. Marriage: 9 December 1883, Greene County, Tennessee, Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols, to George Jackson Cox.^20,59,60 It is not known for a fact, but it has been reported that they were married on horse back. It is certainly possible, due to circuit riding preachers (information from William Jackson Bryan) The age of 12 when she was married is correct, not a typographical error. The fact that she was married at such an early age is a part of family tradition. She still played with dolls after she was married, and her mother had to make her stop doing it.

George Jackson Cox^{34,58,59,60,69}, son of John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce,. Birth: 21 September 1861, Greene County, Tennessee.^34,60 His death certificate lists his birth date as 23 Sep 1861, but other family records list his birth date as 21 Sep 1861. Parents: John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce.³⁴ Census: 1870, Greene County, Tennessee.⁷⁰ George J. 7 m w TN attended school. Census: 1880, Greene County, Tennessee.
George J. 18 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, cannot W. Marriage: 9 December 1883, Greene County, Tennessee, age 22, to Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.^20,59,60 Birth of Child: 2 October 1885, Minnie Ann Cox, age of father: 24.^62,63 Birth of Child: 24 November 1887, Thursa (Thursie) Cox, age of father: 26.⁶³ Birth of Child: 27 December 1888, John Anderson Franklin Cox, age of father: 27.³⁴ Census: 1891, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 3, 1891 voters, George Cox. Birth of Child: 15 September 1892, Mary Emily Ethel (Ethel) Cox, age of father: 30.⁶³ Birth of Child: 23 April 1896, Martha Cox, age of father: 34.⁶³ Birth of Child: 2 February 1900, James Wyatt (Wyatt) Cox, age of father: 38.⁶³ Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Dist. 2, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 4 & 5 Jun 1900
page 15b, dwelling number 28, family number 28
Cox George J. 38 head male m16 w Sep 1861 farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Retta N. 29 wife female m16 w May 1871, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 6 children, 4 living
Minnia A. 14 daughter, female, single, white, Oct 1885, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
John F. 11 son, male, single, white, Dec 1888 farm laborer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Ethel E. 7 daughter, female, single, white, Sep 1892, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
James W. 3/12 son, male, single, white, Feb 1900, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Birth of Child: 18 July 1903, Ruby Priscilla Cox, age of father: 41.⁶³ Birth of Child: 3 December 1906, Eunice Cora Cox, age of father: 45.⁶³ Birth of Child: 21 February 1910, Robert McKinley Cox, age of father: 48.⁶³ Missing from census: 1910.⁶⁴ Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁵
Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 2 Jan 1920; p.5a, dwelling number 88, family number 92
Cox George 58 head male married white, farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W
Retta 48 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W
Ruby 16 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W, attended school
Robert 9 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school. Census: 1930, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁶
Old Dist. 1, Enumeration District 45-3, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 28 Apr 1930
Dandridge and Piedmont Pike, page 88b, family number 181, family number 190
Cox Georg J. 68 head male m@22 w miller, general mill, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Retta 59 wife m m@18 w sales lady, retail general store, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Death: 12 June 1938, age 76, Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^34,71 Burial: 13 June 1938, Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^60,68 Burial inscription: Cox, George Jackson, Sept. 21, 1861 - June 12, 1838.⁶⁸ Same stone as Clarica Loretta N. In Loving Memory of Our Grandparents. Death Record:
Death Certificate: 12609
1. Died - Jefferson County, Dist. 1, Dandridge, resided in Dandridge 10 months
2. Name - George Jackson Cox, Dandridge #3
3. Sex - male
4. Race - white
5. Status - married
5a. Husband or wife - Retta Cox
6. Born - Sept 23, 1861
7. Age - 76 years, 8 months, 20 days
8. Occupation - farmer
12. Birthplace - Tenn.
13. Father - John T. Cox
14. Father born - Tenn
15. Mother - Nancy Pierce
16. Mother born - Tenn
17. Informant - Mrs. M. A. Slaton, Dandridge #3
18. Buried - June 13, 1938, Wesleys Chapel, Jefferson Co
19. Undertaker - Haiton Funeral Home, Morristown, Tenn.
20. Filed - July 10 1938, C.A. Reneau
21. Died - June 12, 1938
The informant was George's oldest daughter Minnie Ann Cox, wife of Port Slaton. George was a farmer. Several of his grandchildren reported at the 2000 Cox reunion that their Grandpa Cox was very distant and aloof, and that they were a little afraid of him. He never said anything. With one exception he never sang, but when he was younger he had a beautiful tenor voice and had taught singing. The one exception is that he sometimes sang in his sleep. Grandma and Grandpa Cox had a wooden bench on their front porch, and Grandpa would lay his hat on the arm of the bench as a pillow so he could take a nap.

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

George Cox, husband of Loretta Nichols Cox, born in Greene County, Tennessee, in the 1860's. He spent all of his life farming in either Greene County or Jefferson County, Tennessee.

In writing about my Uncle George Cox, I must say he was my favorite Uncle. He was a very mild natured and fine dispositioned and loved to tell a sly joke for the benefit of those around him. One of his greatest sports was squirrel hunting. I can remember well seeing him tamper his shot and powder in his muzzle loading shotgun with a ramrod. He used to kid his neighbors about their modern guns in shooting a squirrel out of the highest tree. He usually won. This old muzzle loading gun was a prize possession of his as it had belonged to his uncle who was killed fighting in the Union Army during the Civil War. (Note: this was George Washington Cox, older brother of John Tivis Cox. George Washington Cox was killed 29 Dec 1863. This was the same date as the Battle of Mossey Creek, so that is probably where he was killed. George Jackson Cox was probably named for his uncle George Washington Cox.)

He was a fine singer, especially old harp songs. He died several years ago and is buried at Wesleys Chapel in the plot with his wife and some of his children.

Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols-1082 and George Jackson Cox-1081 had the following children:

+224	i.	Minnie Ann Cox^{30,58,59,60,62,63,72,73,74,75,76,77}. Birth: 2 October 1885, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^62,63,72,74 Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.^62,63 Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Household of her father George Jackson Cox, Dist. 2, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 4 & 5 Jun 1900. Minnia A. 14 daughter, female, single, white, Oct 1885, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Marriage: 30 May 1906, Mt. Zion Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee, age 20, to Joseph Porter (Port) Slaton.^59,62,76 Birth of Child: 6 November 1907, Eula Mae Slaton, age of mother: 22.⁶² Birth of Child: 17 November 1909, Alma Gertrude Slaton, age of mother: 24.⁶² Census: 1910, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Minnie 25 wife female m1-4 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 2 children, 2 living. Birth of Child: 4 December 1911, George Alger Francis (Alger) Slaton, age of mother: 26.⁶² Birth of Child: 15 December 1914, Eunice Bessie Slaton, age of mother: 29.⁶² Birth of Child: 15 February 1917, Ralph Porter Slaton, age of mother: 31. Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Minnie 34 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Birth of Child: 29 April 1922, John Conard (Conard) Slaton, age of mother: 36.⁶² Birth of Child: 12 May 1924, Mary Loretta (Loretta) Slaton, age of mother: 38.⁶² Birth of Child: 23 January 1926, William Ernest (Bill) Slaton, age of mother: 40.⁶² Census: 1930, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Minnie 44 wife female m@20 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Census: 1940,. Death: 20 October 1964, age 79, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^63,72,74 Death Record: Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Minnie Slaton; Last Residence: Tennessee; Born: 25 Oct 1885; Died: Oct 1964. Burial: Mt. Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁷⁴ Grave marker: Minnie Ann Cox Slaton, 2 Oct 1885 - 20 Oct 1964, same marker as Joseph Porter Slaton. Narrative: The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. ⁶² Minnie Cox Slaton, oldest child of George and Loretta Cox, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1888. She like many other children on the farm, went to school and did the chores, and as the oldest child, usually had to look after the young ones. She is a typical Nichols in stature and character, small and petite, red hair and beautiful eyes, and a beautiful singer. She is perhaps one of the few living today in that area that can still sing old Harp Music, which was almost a lost art, even when I was a child. I can remember in my young days it was always so nice to visit them and spend a week or so hearing her beautiful voice in song along with my aunt, especially in the early morning when the aroma of the coffee and the frying of ham meat was so pleasant I always get a kick out of Minnie saying just about every time she sees me. "Oh, yes, I used to carry you around on my hip when you were a baby and spank you good for crying.” She is a wonderful woman, always ready for a good talk, or a good laugh, and one of the most entertaining and friendly people you would ever meet. She married Porter Slaton, who resided in Jefferson County. Minnie and Porter had eight children, namely, Eula Mae, Alma G., Alger F., Eunice B., Ralph P., Conard, Loretta and William E.
225	ii.	Thursa (Thursie) Cox^1,30,58,63. Birth: 24 November 1887, [Jefferson County], [Tennessee].⁶³ Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Death: 8 January 1888, age 0, [Jefferson County], [Tennessee].⁶³ She died in infancy in her sleep. Burial inscription: Thersie Cox, 24 Nov 1887 - 8 Jan 1888, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Geo. J. Cox. TVA records indicate that the inscription was Thersia Cox, 1886, age 2 month. It therefore appears that the original stone has been replaced, either at the time of TVA's reinterment, or at some time since then. It further appears that the date on the replacement stone is slightly different than the date on the original stone. The stone currently is not legible, but its approximate location is known. Burial GPS: (approximate) 36.034683,-83.498197. Burial: Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was buried originally at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was re-interred by TVA in 1942 at Wesley's Chapel when the Pleasant Hill Cemetery was flooded by the construction of Douglas Dam. The Pleasant Hill Cemetery was sometimes referred to as the New Hill Cemetery.
+226	iii.	John Anderson Franklin Cox^{30,58,59,63,77,78,79,80,81}. Birth: 27 December 1888, Jefferson City, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^63,77,79 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. Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.³⁴ Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee. John F. 11 son, male, single, white, Dec 1888 farm laborer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Marriage: 9 December 1906, Flat Gap, Jefferson County, Tennessee, age 17, to Mary Jane Slaton.^34,80 Birth of Child: 3 January 1908, Mildred Frances Cox, age of father: 19.⁸² Census: 1910, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 4 May 1910 by W.T. Cox; page 27b, dwelling number 246, family number 253; Cox John Franklin 21 head male m1-4 w farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Mary 23 wife female m1-4 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 1 child, 1 living; Mildred 2 son m s s, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Birth of Child: 30 July 1910, Hazel Loretta Cox, age of father: 21.⁸² Birth of Child: 16 September 1913, Anna Laura Cox, age of father: 24.⁸² Birth of Child: 30 December 1916, Dorothy Gladys (Dot) Cox, age of father: 28.⁸² Draft registration: 5 June 1917, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁷⁹ 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 Birth of Child: 15 June 1919, George Marion (Little George) Cox, age of father: 30.⁸² Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 14 Jan 1920, enumerated by Herbert F. Bible; page 11b, Goose Creek Road, dwelling number 213, family number 213; Cox John F. 31 head male married white, farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W; Mary 33 wife female married white, TN NC TN can R/W; Mildred 12 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school, can R/W; Hazel 9 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school, can R/W; Anna 6 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Dorthy 3 1/12 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Marion 7/12 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Slaton Mary 67 mother-in-law female widowed white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W; They owned the house and it was mortgaged. Birth of Child: 18 November 1921, Ollie Elizabeth Cox, age of father: 32.⁸² Birth of Child: 18 November 1921, Minnie Ethel (Ethel) Cox, age of father: 32.⁸² Birth of Child: 16 September 1926, William Vern (Vern) Cox, age of father: 37.⁸² Birth of Child: 16 September 1926, Wilma Fern (Fern) Cox, age of father: 37.⁸² Birth of Child: 15 February 1929, John Franklin (Johnnie) Cox Jr., age of father: 40.⁸² Census: 1930, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Dist. 1, Enumeration District 45-3, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 28 Apr 1930, page 82a, Goose Creek Road, family number 52, family number 53, Cox John F. 42 head male m@17 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, farmer, Mary 43 wife female m@18 w born in TN, father born in TN, mother born NC, Hazel 19 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, Dortha 13 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, Ethel 8 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, Vern 3 3/12 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, Fern 3 3/12 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Rickard Samuel 18 boarder male single white, farm laborer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Census: 1940,. Death: 4 July 1961, age 72, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^63,77,83 Death Record: Tennessee Death Index, 1949-2014.⁸³ Cox John F., 07-04-1961 , age 72, Died: Jefferson County, Resided: Jefferson County, Tennessee, married, male, white. Obituary: Knoxville Journal [Knoxville, Tennessee], 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. Burial: 7 July 1961,.⁷⁷ 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. Narrative: 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.
+227	iv.	Mary Emily Ethel (Ethel) Cox^{30,58,59,63,72,77,84,85}. Birth: 15 September 1892, Tennessee.^63,72 Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Ethel E. 7 daughter, female, single, white, Sep 1892, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Marriage: 24 August 1906, Jefferson County, Tennessee, age 13, to Daniel (Dan) Harrison.^59,67,86 Birth of Child: 28 March 1909, Amos Rudolph Harrison Sr., age of mother: 16. Census: 1910, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Ethel 16 wife female m1-3 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 1 child, 1 living. Birth of Child: 7 January 1911, George Thomas Harrison, age of mother: 18. Birth of Child: 7 October 1913, Joseph Turner (Turner) Harrison, age of mother: 21. Birth of Child: 14 March 1915, Clarissa Lucille (Lucille) Harrison, age of mother: 22. Birth of Child: 24 October 1917, John Franklin (Frank) Harrison, age of mother: 25. Birth of Child: 24 October 1917, Cora Lee Harrison, age of mother: 25. Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Ethel 28 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Amos 10 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; George 8 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Turner 6 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Lucile 4 9/12 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Frank 2 2/12 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN; Cora 2 2/12 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Birth of Child: 12 September 1920, Ruby Helen (Helen) Harrison, age of mother: 27. Birth of Child: 5 April 1925, Margaret Claudine Harrison, age of mother: 32. Census: 1930, Hamblen County, Tennessee. Ethel 37 wife female m@15 w, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Census: 1940,. Death: 3 May 1979, age 86, [Morristown], Hamblen County, Tennessee.^63,72 Death Record: Social Security Death Index Information: Name: Ethel Harrison; Last Residence: 37814 Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee; Born: 15 Sep 1892; Died: May 1979; State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (1966). The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. Ethel Cox Harrison, third child of George and Loretta Nichols Cox. Ethel is a little different dispositioned than her sister Minnie. She is very mild mannered with one of the nicest dispositions of any one I have ever known. She is very much like her father Uncle George Cox, taking things as they came in stride and smiling along with the bad as well as the good. She is a lovely alto singer and one of my fondest memories of her and her sister Minnie singing duets when I would be visiting them as a small boy. She married Daniel Harrison Aug. 24, 1908, he was a local boy of Jefferson County and managed our grandfather's store that was located near her home. Dan was a fine man, he farmed in Jefferson County for a few years after they were married, then moved to Morristown, Tennessee. There they raised quite a large family. Several years ago Dan's health became impaired and he had a stroke and was a semi-invalid for a good many years but with all of this neither he nor Ethel would complain. I remember very well the last time I saw Dan. I visited their home and he had a fine garden of flowers and vegetables. Even though handicapped he kept smiling. He died a few years ago and is buried in the Morristown Cemetery. Ethel and Dan had eight children, namely, Amos, George, Turner, Lucille, Frank and Cora (twins), Helen and Margaret.
228	v.	Martha Cox^1,30,58,63. Birth: 23 April 1896.⁶³ Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Death: 8 December 1898, age 2.⁶³ Burial: Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
229	vi.	James Wyatt (Wyatt) Cox^1,30,58,63. Birth: 2 February 1900.⁶³ Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Census: 1900, Jefferson County, Tennessee. James W. 3/12 son, male, single, white, Feb 1900, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Death: 22 September 1901, age 1.⁶³ Burial: Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
+230	vii.	Ruby Priscilla Cox^{59,60,63,85,87,88,89,90}. Birth: 18 July 1903, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^{59,60,63,87,91} Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Missing from census: 1910.⁶⁴ Her entire family was missing from the 1910 census, not just Ruby herself. Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁵ Ruby 16 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, can R/W, attended school, enumerated in the household of her father George Jackson Cox. Marriage: 10 April 1921, Jefferson County, Tennessee, age 17, to Emmert Oral Bryan.^59,87,92 City Directory: 1922 Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee.⁹³ Bryan, Emmert O (Ruby), emp M'town Furn Co, h 600 n Hill. Birth of Child: 29 January 1922, William Jackson (Jack, Bill) Bryan, age of mother: 18. Birth of Child: 27 October 1923, Lena Maude Bryan, age of mother: 20. Birth of Child: 23 July 1925, Robert Elmer (Bob) Bryan, age of mother: 22.^91,94 Death: 9 August 1925, age 22, Morristown General Hospital, Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee.^59,60,63,87 She died 16 days after giving birth to Robert Elmer (Bob) Bryan. However, her death was not due to complications from childbirth. Rather, she died of a serious mastoid infection. She had suffered from severe earaches and headaches for years, and of course this was before the discovery of penicillin. She was being prepped for surgery at the time of her death. Death Record: Hamblen County, Tennessee, Death Certificate 280. Hamblen County, Tennessee, Death Certificate 280. 1. Place of death - Morristown, Hamblen County, Tenn. (Morristown General Hospital). 2. Name - Ruby P. Bryan 3. Sex - Female 4. Color or race - White 5. Status - Married 6. Date of birth - July 18, 1903 7. Age - 22 years, 0 months, 21 days 8. Occupation - Domestic 9. Birthplace - Tenn. 10. Name of father - G.J. Cox 11. Birthplace of father - Tenn. 12. Maiden name of mother - Loretta Nichols 13. Birthplace of mother - Tenn. 14. Informant - E.O. Bryan, Morristown, Tenn. 15. Filed - 8/10, 1925, Belle Fort, Registrar 16. Date of death - Aug 9, 1925 19. Buried - Wesleys Chapel, Aug 10, 1925 20. Undertaker - H. Stetzer Und. Co., Morristown, Tenn. The informant was her husband, Emmert Oral Bryan. Obituary: Gazette and Mail [Morristown, Tennessee], 10 Aug 1925, page 3. Mrs. Ruby P. Bryan, aged 22 years, died at the Morristown General Hospital Sunday morning at 1:30 a.m. She was taken to the Harry Stetzer Funeral Home, and prepared for burial, and then taken to her home on West Fifth North street. The funeral was held this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. from Wesley's Chapel in Jefferson County, conducted by Rev. Tarwater. Interment will be in the church yard. She is survived by her husband E. O. Bryan, and the following children: Jack, Robert, and Lena Maud Bryan; also by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Cox of Dandridge; two brothers, Messrs John and Robert Cox of Dandridge; two sisters, Mrs. J. P. Slaton of Dandridge and Mrs. Dan Harrison of this city. The following acted as pall-bearers; S. K. McAfee, Dr. Jno. Zedler, Gilbert Morrison, J. D. Walker, Jno. G. Hays, O. H. Newman. Burial: 10 August 1925, Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.^59,60,95 Burial inscription: Grave marker: Ruby Cox, wife of E.O. Bryan, Jul. 18, 1903, Aug. 9, 1925, Asleep in Jesus.⁹⁵ She is buried between her parents George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Rett) Nichols on one side, and her brother Robert McKinley Cox on the other side. Her husband Emmert Bryan is buried in Knoxville with his second wife Kate Nottingham. The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. Ruby, fourth child of George and Loretta Nichols Cox was about one year younger than myself. She was a fine pianist and as I remember her when visiting there, especially when her brother and sisters, John, Minnie and Ethel had married. In the evening she played the piano and the guitar and we would sing, especially hymns. Her father, my Uncle George, always was delighted in hearing her and I sing and play. She taught school for a few years, then married a young man from Jefferson County by the name of Emmert Bryan. When World War I came along he and Ruby went to Virginia where he worked as a ship builder until the war was over. He later returned to Morrison, Tennessee where he worked as a cabinet maker. Ruby died in 1925 and is buried at Wesley’s Chapel in Jefferson County. Ruby left three small children, namely, Jack, Lena Maud and Robert. According to her son William Jackson Bryan, the school at which she taught was the Cedar Hill School in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
231	viii.	Eunice Cora Cox^1,30,58,63. Birth: 3 December 1906, [Jefferson County], [Tennessee].⁶³ Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Missing from census: 1910.⁶⁴ Death: 3 November 1910, age 3, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶³ Narrative: The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. Eunice died when she was eight or nine years old. I just want to say something about this sweet little thing as I remember her so well. She had the nicest disposition of any child I have ever known, and I like to remember her sandy reddish hair, laughing and jabbering with me when I would visit their home. (Note from Jerry Bryan: Eunice appears to have been born 3 Dec 1906 and to have died 3 Nov 1910 at age 3. There is something inconsistent between these birth and death dates and the recollections of Wyatt Nichols.) Burial: Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.
232	ix.	Robert McKinley Cox^{30,58,59,63,90}. Birth: 21 February 1910, [Jefferson County], Tennessee.^63,96 Parents: George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Loretta, Retta, Rett) Nichols.⁶³ Missing from census: 1910.⁶⁴ Census: 1920, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁶⁵ Robert 9 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school. Missing from census: 1930. He died shortly before the 1930 census enumeration. Death: 24 March 1930, age 20, Knoxville General Hospital, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.^63,96 Burial: 25 March 1930, Wesleys Chapel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County, Tennessee.⁹⁶ Burial inscription: Robert M. Cox, Feb.21, 1910 - Mar. 24, 1930, Christ Is My Hope.⁹⁷ Foot stone: Robert M. Cox, Feb.21, 1910 - Mar. 24, 1930. Death Record: 6153 1. Place of death - Knox County, Knoxville, Knoxville Gen. Hosp. 2. Name - Robert Cox 3. Sex - male 4. Color - white 5. Status - single 6. Born - Feb. 21, 1910 7. Age - 20 years, 1 month, 3 days 8. Occupation - farmer 9. Born in - Tennessee 10. Father - George W. Cox (sic, really George Jackson Cox) 11. Father born - Tennessee 12. Mother - Retta Nichols 13. Mother born - Tennessee 14. Informant - J.F. Cox 15. Filed - April 30, M. P. Cochrane 16. Died - March 24, 1930 19. Buried - Wesley Chapel, Mch. 25, 1930 20. Undertaker - J.W. Vance Co., Dandridge, Tenn. The informant was his brother, John Anderson Franklin Cox. The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols. Robert McKinley Cox, youngest son of George and Loretta Nichols Cox. I do not know too much about Robert as I left Tennessee and was in the north all during his childhood and young manhood. I would see him along with the others when I visited there. My son Wyatt McKinley Nichols, Jr. and Robert resembled each other very much in looks as they were both fair and carried their baby faces even after they were young men. Robert farmed with his folks and was very quiet and never had too much to say. His untimely death as a young man was a shock to all of us and he is buried at Wesley's Chapel where the rest of his immediate family is buried.