Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/465

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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num ; and is past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Business Men's and Country clubs, is vice- chairman of the Ijoard of stewards and trus- tee of the Broad Street Methodist Episco- pal Church. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never accepted a public office.

Mr. Bowman married in Richmond, May 28, 1875, Anna Maud Martin, born in Glou- cester county, \'irginia, daughter of John and Emma ^lartin ; children: Marvin Steel, born July 26, 1877; and Lillian Tudor, March 2^, 1879.

Joseph Edward Cox is a member of an old Virginian family, which for many gen- erations has resided in that state and be- come completely identified with its life and traditions. It is in Virginia, perhaps, more than in any other of the United States, that the association of the great past, the stirring events connecetd with the birth of our great nation, are kept most vividly in the memory of the present generation, and are most active in the formation of that generation's character, preserving thus into the present many of the standards and ideals of a more gracious and courtly age. Of these ameni- ties and graces, so well worth preservation, no less than of the sterner virtues of integ- rity and a jealous concern for the liberty for which the past has striven, the Cox family has been an exemplar.

The paternal grandfather of Joseph Ed- ward Cox, of this sketch, was born in Ches- terfield county, Virginia, and there spent much of his life, though he moved later to Powhatan county and lived there for some time. He was married to Miss Paul, by whom he had five children, three of whom are now living, Josephine M. and Rosa L., both of whom are residents of Richmond, Virginia, and Duncan K., a merchant of Ashland, Virginia.

Marcellus E. Cox, the father of Joseph Edward Cox, was born in Chesterfield coun- ty, Virginia, in the year 1831. Early in life he removed to Richmond, and there lived a number of years. He became associated with the concern of H. M. Smith, dealer in agricultural implements, continuing therein until i860. In that year he entered the service of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad in the capacity of railroad agent. The duties incident to this position rendered it necessarv for him to make his

home in Ashland, Virginia, and he accord- ingly removed to that place and there passed the remainder of his days. His death oc- curred in 1884, when he was but fifty-three years of age. Mr. Cox married Sarah Eliz- abeth Carter in 1863. Mrs. Cox was a native of Hanover county, and a daughter of Thomas Francis and Frances (Green) Carter, also of Hanover county. To Mr. and ]Mrs. Marcellus E. Cox were born chil- dren, as follows : Charles Curtis, now a resident of Fredericksburg, Virginia ; Joseph Edward, of whom further; Alice Virginia, now Mrs. Marshall Ellis, of Ashland, Vir- ginia ; Fannie L., now Mrs. Schooler Fox, of Ashland, Virginia; James M. and Frank H., both of Ashland; Clara, now Airs. W. J. D. Bell, of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Joseph Edward Cox, the second child of Marcellus E. and Sarah Elizabeth (Carter) Cox, was born March 20. 1866, at Ashland, Hanover county, Virginia. The elementary portion of his education was received in the local schools of Ashland, which he attended until he was sixteen years of age, and pre- pared himself for a college course. He then matriculated at the Randolph-Macon Col- lege, of Ashland. Mr. Cox was unusually brilliant in his studies, and throughout both his school and college career was many classes ahead of those of his own age. Un- like so many students who leave college never to be heard of, Mr. Cox has exhibited abilities quite as marked in dealing with the political afifairs of life as those which he displayed in the more theoretical matters of the class room. His first position was the humble one of telegraph operator in the same railroad which his father had served so many years, the Richmond, Fredericks- burg & Potomac, which, connecting the state capital with that of the nation, forms one of the most im])ortant links in the great system of southern railroads. This com- pany has benefitted by his services ever since that time, though in constant increas- ing amount, as Mr. Cox has ascended in the rank and responsibility of his office. It was for two years that he remained as a tele- gra])hic operator, but from that to his next position was a great step, and in 1885 he was appointed chief clerk in the accounting department. In his new duties Mr. Cox acquitted himself with distinction, and again drew favorable regard from the officers on the road to himself. In 1892 he was made