A Memorial to Micajah Cox

Printed 1915 by Nash Bros. Printers, Goldsboro, NC
Written by Daughter, Emma Cox Massey

This little memorial has been prepared and approved by Micajah Cox’s family, in memory of the noble, self-sacrificing life he lived. Hoping it may be a blessing to his children and grandchildren, and all who my chance to read it:

Micajah Cox was the son of William and Apsilla Cox, of Johnston County, North Carolina. He was born Fourth Month, 9th day, 1847, and died at his home, near the place of his birth, Second Month, 5th day, 1914, at the age of sixty-six years, nine months and twenty-six days.

He was a birthright member in the Society of Friends, his father being a minister in that denomination. His mother died when he was a small boy, his father married again and he never knew all the loving kindness and self-sacrifice of a mother’s love such as we, his children, have been blessed with. He bore many trials, even in his youth, his father being much away from home, he had many cares and much work for one so young and small of stature, and sometimes untrue reports were given the father. We have heard him relate experiences of his boyhood most pathetic, but he was going through a preparation, permitted by an all-wise Heavenly Father, for the trials and deep provings later on.

When the war between the states broke out, Friends suffered much and near the close of that bitter struggle some were forced into the army. For days and nights, our father with other young men, lay hid in the woods with no protection from the weather, and with very little to eat. The armies were overrunning the country and they hid to keep from being forced into a service which they could not perform. The last battle of that war was fought only a few miles from his home. The armies took away or destroyed almost everything and Friends, as well as others, knew hard times and much suffering. During the war Micajah was sent to New Garden Boarding School, partly to keep him from being forced into the army and also that he might get some useful education. But he did not stay long, the war left the country poor and devastated, food was scarce and much sickness and suffering followed. Father’s stories of those days have entertained we children many times, and he always told us he hoped we would never see anything like it. He loved peace in all things. He was married First Month, 10th day, 1867, to Mehetabel A. Jinnett, who was also a member of the Society of Friends. They lived happily together amid many trials and constant toil. They were ever devoted to each other and self-sacrificing one toward the other. The manner in which they lived, ever loving and considerate of each other and of others, should be a lasting inspiration to us their children.

The Master of Life saw fit to give them eight children, five sons and three daughters, and ours, though humble, was a happy home ruled by love. It required constant toil and economy on the part of both parents to support their family and keep a clean and comfortable home for themselves and Friends, who frequently came their way, and who were cheerfully entertained with the best their toil could provide.

Father was regular in his attendance of meetings, conscientiously concerned for the welfare of his family and the strengthening and up-building of the Society. He took his children with him to meetings and we have felt the sacredness of sitting under the shadow of the Almighty. The spirit of unrest, called progress, began to appear in the Society of Friends, and our dear father heard the call of his Lord to go forth in the ministry, with a warning against the rush into untried paths, and a plea for the truths as tried by the faithful ones of the Society in the years passed and gone.

Our dear mother well remembers the first time he spoke in meeting. It was given him to speak from the text,” Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest,” as found in John 4:35 and “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that ye will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt. 9:38.

After the burden was lifted from his mind and he sat down, his father arose and quoted for Matt 17:5. “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” The time soon came when he needed all the fortitude that former trials had given him, for opposition and persecutions were his portion. Few were with him and many against him. As the years passed he bore his trials and persecutions patiently, ever trusting in the true and living God, who he endeavored to serve, but his persecutors kept in authority and the meeting never recognized his call. Through it all father was always loving and kind, never refusing help where he could render it, even to those who were most cruel to him. But oh! What he suffered none but an all seeing God can ever know. Some of us can remember waking in the night time, in our childhood and hearing his loved voice pleading with a merciful Father in Heaven for knowledge and strength to know and do His will. Though he suffered as few have suffered in his generation, yet he knew of the peace and safety of abiding with his Lord.

His devoted wife was ever his help and comfort, and her prayers mingled with his as they appealed to their one Friend who was ever ready to comfort and sustain. The years of severe toil and deep anguish of soul told on father’s strength and in the spring of 1896 he was critically ill for weeks, his life was but a brittle thread, then he rallied and though he never regained his strength, yet he was ever about his Master’s work, with his heart and his hands doing all the good he could.

During his sickness he told us of a most beautiful and wonderful experience through which he had gone. Said the Savior came to earth and went with him to the various meetings and sifted the congregations. He saw those who had accused and persecuted him in the sifter. Saw how few of all the multitudes were left when the chaff was sifted away, how few golden grains for the Master’s harvest. At the home meeting place a fire was kindled to burn up the chaff and father say some, even of his father’s household, so near the fire their clothes were scorched by the flames. The Savior took him to the courts of Heaven and showed him the glory thereof, the wonderful peace and beauty and happiness that is for those who are faithful, in this life, to the requirements of a Christian life, not for those who are great in their own estimation or who win the applause of men, but for the meek and humble, for all those who keep their lives and souls clean, their lights bright and shinning. Father requested that all he had told us be remembered, and we have often wished we had that experience all written down, but he was too weak at the time to do more than tell it to us. And in the years that followed he suffered much physical pain and never regained the strength it would have required of him.

The spirit of unrest and dissatisfaction in the meeting grew and admitted things which father could not support, and be true to the light that was given him, so he withdrew and a few years later, when the separation came, he joined the conservative or smaller body of Friend, who were trying to hold on to the principles which have sustained and protected true Friends since the foundation of the Society.

Father was feeble during all those latter years and did not attend meeting except in his own home, where for some time before his death the families of his family met for worship. In these family meetings he plead with us to be watchful and prayerful, remembering at all times that God is a spirit and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.

After many trials, and we believe many triumphs, when the time came to hear the voice of his Master saying: “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Matt.25:34, it found him at his post doing the work of his earthly home and serving his Heavenly Father. Without a moment’s warning the call came and he took his cross home to lay at his Master’s feet, and we doubt not he received a crown with many stars in it.

His faithful wife, eight children and twelve grandchildren, mourned not for him, for well we know that our loss is his eternal gain, but for the desolation in our own lives do we mourn. Even in his weakness of body he has been a tower of strength to us. And now we would try to follow where he led, and our desire is that we may all be true and worthy to meet him in that happy home when our work too is finished, that we may be ready to hear the call to which our loved one responded.

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”