Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. COX (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 676-8. "THOMAS S. COX, a well-to-do farmer of Malvern, now practically retired from active business, and a gentleman who ranks with the best and most highly respected citizens of the county, is the eldest son of Thomas and Mary (Smedley) Cox, and was born September 3, 1821, near Warren Tavern, in East Whiteland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The family is of English descent, and its earliest representative in America is supposed to have been John Cox, who settled in Bucks county, this State, about 1708. Richard Cox, supposed to have been a son of the original emigrant, was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and on March 26, 1712, married Margaret Potts, of Abington monthly meeting. Their children were Anna, Sarah, Richard, Jonathan, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), and John. In 1728 they removed near the Schuylkill river, and Richard died in Vincent township about 1760. His son, Benjamin Cox (great-grandfather), was born February 18, 1723, and he and his wife, Margaret, were the parents of ten children: Richard, Margaret, Jonathan, William, Joseph, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Benjamin and John. William Cox (grandfather) was born in Bucks county, this State, December 21, 1751. On June 15, 1780, at Goshen meeting, he married Lydia Garrett, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Garrett, of Willistown, Chester county, where he soon afterward settled. His children were: Hannah, Benjamin, John, Abner, Thomas, Elizabeth, Levi, Jonathan, Lydia Garret and William. In early life he learned the trade of shoemaker, and followed that occupation for many years, but became a farmer in later life. He was an active and influential member of the Society of Friends, which he served as elder for many years at Willistown. Politically he was an old line whig, and was called on to fill many of the local offices of his township. He died at his home in Willistown township at an advanced age. "Thomas Cox (father) was born in Willistown township, this county, July 25, 1790, and removed to East Whiteland township in 1820, but in 1826 returned to his native township, and died near Sugartown, October 13, 1867, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He secured a good education and after leaving school learned the trade of tailor, which occupation he followed for a number of years, doing an extensive and profitable busi- ness, especially while in East Whiteland township, where he had a number of men in his employ. In later life he purchased a farm and devoted his last years to agricultural pursuits, toward which he had always felt in- clined. On September 11, 1817, he married Mary Smedley, and by this union had a family of eight children: Lydia, born July 10, 1818, and died in infancy; Susan, born January 1, 1820, also dead; Thomas S., whose name heads this sketch; William, born August 1, 1823; Mary, born April 7, 1826; now deceased; Bennett, born April 8, 1828; Abbie, born April 5, 1830; and Lydia H., born May 7, 1832. "Thomas S. Cox was reared principally in Willistown township, and received a good practical education in the common schools. After attaining manhood he engaged in farming, and has devoted about all his life to agricultural pursuits in Willistown township, where he owns a fine farm containing one hundred and seventy acres of choice land, all well improved and supplied with the necessary farm buildings, among which is a handsome and commodi- ous residence. In religion he is a strict member of the Willistown meet- ing of the Society of Friends, and in political faith an ardent republi- can. He has frequently been elected to official positions in this town- ship, having served for nine years as school director and as supervisor for some time. "In 1843, Mr. Cox was wedded to Mary Williams, a daughter of Jesse and Sarah Williams, of Willistown township, and to them was born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters: Jesse W., now a manufacturer and lumber dealer in South Dakota; Sarah, married Elias Jones, a prosper- ous farmer of Willistown township, this county; Wilmer B., who married Sallie Roberts, and is now engaged in operating his father's farm; Edwin T., who wedded Anna Hall, resides near Sugartown, where he is engaged in partnership with Joaquin Matlack, in the manufacture of platinum, under the firm name of J. Bishop & Co., Mr. Bishop, formerly senior partner in the firm, being now deceased; and Lydia J., now the wife of Edwin Gilbert, a well known farmer and miller, residing near West Grove, this county."