John P. Cox
Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Sheriff of Hill County for 16 years. The son of San Jacinto hero, Euclid M. Cox. Joined Parsons Brigade of the Confederate Army in 1861, then for 25 years after the Civil War was commander of Hillsboro's Confederate Camp. A Methodist and a Mason, this fearless and firm sheriff made every effort to bring offenders to justice and was particularly interested in the reformation of young law breakers. Cox also served 4 years as county clerk.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John P. Cox, son of San Jacinto veteran Euclid M. Cox, joined Parsons' Brigade of the Confederate Army in 1861 and after the war spent 25 years as commander of Hillsboro's Confederate camp. A Methodist and a Mason, he served Hill County as sheriff for sixteen years and as county clerk for four, earning a reputation as a firm lawman with a particular concern for reforming young offenders.
Why it matters
Cox's long career spans the arc of a Confederate veteran who became a fixture of Reconstruction-era and Gilded Age local government, embodying how the postwar South's civic life was shaped by men of the Lost Cause generation.
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Related people
- · John P. Cox
- · Euclid M. Cox
Themes & tags
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