Orville M. Cox

• GIVN: Orville M.
• SURN: Cox
• Sex: M
• Born: 19 Sep 1878 in Indianola, Sanpete, Utah, United States
• Died: 8 Jul 1961 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada
• Buried: 11 Jul 1961 in Cardston Cemetery, Alberta, Canada
• AFN: 2B2L-LJ¹
• _UID: F6CB43FF2A0111DAB9B700A0CC5D9B655204
• Baptised LDS: 24 Oct 1886 25 Apr 1924
• TEMP: ALBER² 8 Feb 1979
• TEMP: PROVO
• Record last updated: 30 Nov 2013
• TIME: 11:39
• Notes:

  Orville was a large man 6 ft.2 in. tall and about 230 lbs. he easily found work in construction of the railway between Lethbridge and Cardston, then some coal-mining and finally went into the Waterton area as a wood cutter for the Western Oil and Coal Co., which had moved into the mountains.
  «b»Mary Sophia Aldridge«/b» was born in «b»Garden City, Rich Co. Utah«/b». on «b»Feb 5, 1884,«/b» daughter of William Aldridge and Anna Rolphe. In 1888 Bill Aldridge heard of the prairies in Canada and having a number of outstanding livestock, decided to move to the new country. With his wife and four small children, they made the trip in about three months. They lived at various places in Southern Alberta before moving to the Waterton Lakes area in 1896. Here he discovered oil floating on a stream ,which eventually resulted in an oil well being built there, thus the need for wood cutters. It was at the Aldridge home that Orville, at the age of twenty three, found a place to board. At that time Mary was a charming young lady about seventeen years old. In 1904 the Aldridges moved back to Cardston, with their family of twelve children.
  This made courtship a little more difficult, but Orville would saddle a horse and make rather regular trips to Cardston. He also signed up for a homestead in the Twin Butte area. The land description was:
  
  «b»N.E.4 Sec.28 Twp.3. Range 29 West 4. «/b»
  
  He built a one room shack, and made some other improvements, then went to the High River country with his horses to do some work, (plowing) for some extra needed cash. He was to be back on July 11 for his wedding but because of very muddy roads didn't make it until the 13«sup»th«/sup».
  Orville and Mary were married in the Aldridge home in Cardston on July 13, 1905 by Pres. E. J, Wood. Orville was twenty seven, and Mary was twenty one. They went to Mountain View to spend their honeymoon and to help cousin Fred put up the hay. A few days later as Fred was raking hay his team ran away and Fred was instantly killed. A few days after the funeral they left for their own home in Twin Butte. Their first child, Ida, was born the following spring in 1905.
  There was lots of work to be done, setting up a new home, preparing for winter, sod to be broken for next year's crop and hay for their horses. Orville was an outstanding blacksmith, and through the years ahead he spent much time helping his neighbours, sharpening ploughshares, shoeing horses and many other jobs he did for them. He also had a big old grain chopper, and much time was spent grinding feed grain for others. He kept his accounts as accurately as he could in a large book that was kept on a shelf in the pantry. Much of those accounts were never settled. Times and work was hard, but there was always enough to get by with, then came the hard winter of 1920. The summer was so dry there was little feed for the stock. Hay was shipped into Pincher Creek about twenty two miles away and material had to be hauled home a little at a time over very poor roads. Several animals starved in spite of all that was done - among the animals that died there was a very valuable horse, that was much prized. It took years to recover from the expenses of that winter.
  Mary was also a real pioneer and she carried a heavy load. There were very few conveniences for her in her lifetime. She made bread from home ground wheat, butter, soap and cheese. The latter became quite a business and she supplied her neighbours with hundreds of pounds of cheese. She raised the garden, chickens, turkeys, geese, orphan pigs, lambs and calves. She washed wool and made quilts and also knitted mitts and stockings for the family.