East Tennessee Roots
Major
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2010
- Location
- Kingsport, Tennessee
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/north-of-the-ohio-river.89250/#post-713551
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/th...863-the-tullahoma-campaign.85901/#post-666569
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/some-assistance-please.74766/
I've posted in the past about my maternal "reluctant rebel" 2nd great-grandpa, John Harvey Cox of Sullivan County, in East Tennessee, and his determined struggle to stay out of the Civil War. Like most husbands and father's in East Tennessee, he was a farmer. He was also a blacksmith, a trade handed down in the family since shortly after the Revolution. John also supplemented his income by making whiskey. Inspired by the great thread by @major bill titled "One item that belonged to your ancestors?", I'm posting this photo of a Clay replica of John Harvey Cox's whiskey brand ( stamp ) he would brand his barrels of whiskey with it. Family lore says his stamp was the first issued in East Tennessee if not the whole state following the Civil War, in which John had little use it seems for either side. Family yarns handed down say it was only issued after some of the Government agents almost met their demise at the hands of John Harvey and his Tennessee long rifle. The clay replica was made from the original by Brian Cox, great-great-grandson of John's brother, Ezekiel.
Like most family men in East Tennessee, he was a farmer. He was also a blacksmith, a trade handed down in the family since shortly after the Revolution, and probably last implemented by my grandfather. John also supplemented his income by making and selling whiskey. If you've read any of the links I posted with info on John, you've probably figured (and figured correctly) he was somewhat of a "character" (to put it mildly) for his day. His wife came from a strong Confederate family, two of her four Confederate brothers died in POW camps. Family lore says her father didn't care for John even before the war came but John's reluctance to join the Rebel military caused a breach between them that was never reconciled. Though surrounded by Confederate family and neighbors, he steadfastly refused to cast his lot with the Southern Confederacy, even with his life threatened. But that didn't necessarily make him a "Lincolnite" either. I recently found a Union pension application index card for a John H. Cox Company D 4th Tennessee Cavalry, There was no John H. Cox in this regiment. John was no rebel, and he wasn't above taking easy Yankee money if he could get it.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/th...863-the-tullahoma-campaign.85901/#post-666569
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/some-assistance-please.74766/
I've posted in the past about my maternal "reluctant rebel" 2nd great-grandpa, John Harvey Cox of Sullivan County, in East Tennessee, and his determined struggle to stay out of the Civil War. Like most husbands and father's in East Tennessee, he was a farmer. He was also a blacksmith, a trade handed down in the family since shortly after the Revolution. John also supplemented his income by making whiskey. Inspired by the great thread by @major bill titled "One item that belonged to your ancestors?", I'm posting this photo of a Clay replica of John Harvey Cox's whiskey brand ( stamp ) he would brand his barrels of whiskey with it. Family lore says his stamp was the first issued in East Tennessee if not the whole state following the Civil War, in which John had little use it seems for either side. Family yarns handed down say it was only issued after some of the Government agents almost met their demise at the hands of John Harvey and his Tennessee long rifle. The clay replica was made from the original by Brian Cox, great-great-grandson of John's brother, Ezekiel.
Like most family men in East Tennessee, he was a farmer. He was also a blacksmith, a trade handed down in the family since shortly after the Revolution, and probably last implemented by my grandfather. John also supplemented his income by making and selling whiskey. If you've read any of the links I posted with info on John, you've probably figured (and figured correctly) he was somewhat of a "character" (to put it mildly) for his day. His wife came from a strong Confederate family, two of her four Confederate brothers died in POW camps. Family lore says her father didn't care for John even before the war came but John's reluctance to join the Rebel military caused a breach between them that was never reconciled. Though surrounded by Confederate family and neighbors, he steadfastly refused to cast his lot with the Southern Confederacy, even with his life threatened. But that didn't necessarily make him a "Lincolnite" either. I recently found a Union pension application index card for a John H. Cox Company D 4th Tennessee Cavalry, There was no John H. Cox in this regiment. John was no rebel, and he wasn't above taking easy Yankee money if he could get it.
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