Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1078 - 1079

JAMES COX. Like many other residents within the bounds of Sedgwick County who started out in life with naught but an abundance of determination and indefatigable industry, and a strong and healthy constitution, and who have succeeded through their own diligence, energy and economy, we classify the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm, which lies on section 30, Gypsum Township.

             Mr. Cox is a native of North Carolina, and was born on the 14th of October, 1834. He is a son of William and Mary (Hadicks) Cox, who were also natives of the same State, who emigrated to Illinois when our subject was quite a small child, and settled in Crawford County. The subject of this notice, in his boyhood, attended the district schools of Illinois and drew from that pure source the elements of a good education. Having been considerable of a reader throughout the balance of his life, and availing himself of the many facilities for acquiring information so plentiful at the present time, he has largely improved his mind and made himself a well-informed man. At the early age of fourteen years he was unfortunate enough to lose both of his parents, and was thus early thrown upon his own resources to battle with a rough and unfriendly world unassisted. Having been trained upon his father's farm he adopted the vocation of agriculturist, and commenced working, as many a poor farmer's boy has done, on the farm of a more fortunate neighbor, for a monthly stipend. Engaged in tilling the soil at first for others, and then for himself, he remained in Illinois until 1882, when, with a desire to better his fortunes, quite natural in a man of his energy and enterprise, he came to Kansas, where a fertile and productive soil and a genial and salubrious climate offer such pleasant inducements to those seeking farms or homes. He came at once to Sedgwick County, and for two years was employed in raising crops upon rented land, after which he made a purchase of eighty acres of land on section 30, in Gypsum Township, where he has made his home ever since.

             Mr. Cox, by dint of hard work and industry, has brought the place to a condition of most excellent culture, and has embarked with great success in the stock business, making a specialty of blooded horses, Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, all of which afford him a pecuniary reward that is highly satisfactory. The improvements upon his place are of a neat and substantial character, and bear witness by their appearance to the fact that the owner is a man who thoroughly understands his business. Although a resident of the county but a few years he has already won for himself a high place in the regard and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and is a valued member of the community.

             Mr. Cox was united in marriage, Oct. 29, 1857, with Miss Mahala Rhoades, a native of Clark County, Ill., born May 30, 1830, and daughter of Isaac and Mary Rhoades, natives of Kentucky. Her parents emigrated to Clark County, Ill., in an early day, where her father was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, which occurred in the year 1884. Her most excellent mother's death occurred in the year 1869, in the Prairie State. Mrs. Cox received her education in the district schools of Illinois, as she was quite a little girl when her parents settled in that locality. She has but one sister living, whose name is Eliza, and who is at present making her home in Clark County, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Cox there have been born seven children, three of whom are now living, whose advent brought joy to the household, and whose lives have brightened the lot of their parents. Eliza J., the eldest child, was born July 20, 1863, and married Daniel Branson, Sept. 16, 1886; her husband is a farmer, and they make their home in Gypsum Township. Emmet E., the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, was born Jan. 31, 1869, and is at home, as is the youngest boy, Isaac W., whose birth took place Nov. 8, 1873.

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