Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

TIRED OF LIVING

J. B. Cox, an old gentleman 88 years of age, was found dead in bed at the Midland hotel early last Saturday morning. He had been in the city for about one week and told several people that he wanted to die, in fact he had made preparations for his death and burial. He was an uncle of J. M. Moutray and had been living with him, but was childish and hard to get along with and when he proposed to come to town Mr. Moutray gave his consent and gave instructions looking to his care comfort while here. City Marshal Butler called upon the old man at the hotel Friday night and placed a watch over him, but the old gentleman told him that he would be dead in the morning and he was. The physician thought it unneccasary to send for the coroner as there was no evidence of foul play. Different ideas prevail as to the manner of his death. Some think he committed suicide, while others think that he simply prepared for death and just died of his own volition. A. O. Lund, who was on guard during part of the night does not believe that he had anything with which he could commit suicide as he and the room had been thoroughly searched. He left some papers and letters and his account of himself indicates that he is one of the pioneers of the west. One of the notes left and published by the Daily News is as follows:
"Blackwell City, Okla. - The last act of the most tragic and eventful life of the oldest pioneer of our country and one who has passed through all kinds of hazardous scenes, both military and civil. No man has been better known than Captain - B. Cox, formerly of St. Joseph, Mo, and latterly of St. Louis, Mo. He first landed in St. Louis when the city was without railroads and long before the Eads bridge was built. When a young man he went to Salt Lake with Johnson's army, stayed there six years until our civil war broke out and the army was ordered to the states. First met Buffalo Bill and old Major Bridger 113 miles this side of Bridger. Crossed the plains in Holiday's overland coach when there was not a house from Salt Lake City to St. Joseph, Mo. Had an adobe stable every ten miles apart never stopped to feed or eat; changed horses and ran to next ten miles station, and so on till we got to St. Joseph. Has been in and on every battlefield on the continent of America"
Mr. Moutray was notified and came to town and took charge of the body which was buried in Odd Fellows cemetery south of the city.

The Blackwell Sun
Aug. 02, 1906

KILLED HIMSELF
Death of J. B. Cox at the Midland Hotel
HE WAS TIRED OF LIVING
Had Seen Much of the World in His Time

J. B. Cox, aged 88 years, committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid Friday night. He was an uncle of J.M. Mourtray, who lives near Retta. The old man came to Blackwell about a week ago, and secured a room at the Midland hotel. In conversation with various persons he appeared to be despondent and complained that he had been mistreated by his relatives, and was sick and tiered of living, and said he would kill himself. Since coming here he has evidently been preparing for his death, as he ordered a monument from the marble works and wrote a letter to his son and also left a short sketch of his life. Friday evening he called the clerk of the hotel to his room and told him he would be dead before morning. Giving him a package of papers which he directed to be turned over to the Daily News. The clerk became alarmed and noticed Mrs. Hatfield, who in turn called upon City Marshall Butler, asking him to keep a guard over the old man during the night. Butler called upon Alfred Lund and Author Hess and they acted as guards. The old man had carefully dressed himself and lay upon the floor, and told his watchers he would be dead before morning. He refused to say wither he had taken anything, but a search of his clothing failed to discover anything, and the old mans actions indicated nothing beyond the fact that he clenched his hands and gritted his teeth as though he might be suffering. The watchers left him about 3a.m. in the belief that nothing would happen, and at 7 o’clock the old man was found dead. A search of the room at the time discovered a bottle under a pillow, the bottle evidently contained carbolic acid. It being a pretty clear case of suicide, no inquest was held, but his relatives were notified and they came to town and buried the body in the cemetery south of town. They stated that the old man had some money in the bank here and owned some stock in a mine in Montana. The notes left by the old man are as follows: “If a man has any just cause for taking his own life or any reason for committing such an act, I am somewhat excusable, and as I have suffered forty deaths in the last two years, with bones and hands all torn to pieces by buggies and cars in St. Louis, Mo. Been carried to my room twice in the last two years and pronounced hopeless by one of the best surgeons in the city. Suffered night and day, yet I came here to die. Oh! Where is my poor boy tonight! Farewell, Eddie, I will see you no more. Be good and meet me over. On the other Shore, You're loving father, J.B. Cox. “Blackwell City, Ok. – The last act of the most tragic and eventful life of the oldest pioneer of our country and one who has passed though all kinds of hazardous scenes, both military and civil. No man has been better known than Captain J.B. Cox, formerly of St. Joseph, Mo. He first landed at St. Louis, Mo. When the city was without railroads, and long before the Eads bridge was built. When a young man he went to Salt Lake with Johnson’s army, stayed there six years until our civil war broke out and the army was ordered to the states. First met Buffalo Bill and old Major Brigadier 113 miles this side of Brigadier. Crossed the plains in Holiday’s overland coach when there was not a house from Salt Lake City to St. Joseph, Mo. Had an abode stable every ten miles apart; never stopped to feed or eat; changed horses and ran to next ten miles station, and so on till we got to St. Joseph. Has been in and on every battlefield on the continent of America.”