Biography of T. L. Cox - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 58

Prof. T. L. Cox of Morrilton. Few young men have led a more active life, in all
its varying phases than Prof. Cox. He began laying the foundation of his fortune
by earnestly endeavoring to secure a finished education, which was laboriously
accomplished by alternately teaching and study. But to go back to his early
days, and begin the story of his life at his youth. He was born near Decatur,
Tennessee, October 18, 1859. Is the son of James and Mary (Cate) Cox, who are
also natives of that State, where they still reside on the farm near Decatur.
Our subject entered the Williams School, at Decatur, and remained a student of
that institution till his 17th year. He then entered the Masonic Institute at
Calhoun, Tenn., where he took the full classical course, and remained for three
years. Prior to his 16th year he taught a summer term of school, and each
succeeding summer thereafter he taught during the vacation, while he diligently
pursued his studies during the remainder of the year. After leaving school, in
1879, he engaged as editor of the "Hiwassu Reporter." The next year he bought a
newspaper outfit and started the first newspaper at Decatur, the "Meigs County
News." The next year he sold out and came to Arkansas, locating at Perryville,
in 1881. Here he at once began teaching school, and also the study of law. In
July, 1882 was elected president of Clinton College, which position he filled
till 1886, when he resigned to take charge of the public school of Morrilton.
During the term of his presidency of Clinton College that school became one of
the best known educational institutions of any interior town, and while at the
head of the Morrilton schools for four years, he built them up to a high degree
of proficiency. During the State Exposition at Little Rock, 1887, Mr. Cox had
charge of the Educational and Art Department. On December 1, 1888, he started a
book and stationery store in the bank building at Morrilton, where he carries a
full line of school and standard books, stationery, and all school supplies,
musical instruments, etc., etc., and beside his retail trade, does a jobbing
business among the country merchants. In 1889 he was made general agent for the
Standard School Book Company, of St. Louis, which position he still holds. Mr.
Cox holds office in several organized societies, among which we will mention
that he is Secretary and Treasurer of the Arkansas Building and Loan
Association; is Secretary of the Conway County Bureau of immigration; is one of
the trustees of the Morrilton Male and Female College; is one of the trustees of
the Arkansas Summer Normal, at Mount Nebo. He is a member of the Masonic and
Knights of Pythias fraternities, and is Past Dictator of the Knights of Honor.
Mr. Cox has been an active worker in the political, as well as the educational
field. In 1888 he was a candidate before the State Democratic Convention for the
office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and showed his political
strength by failing to secure the nomination by only a few votes. In 1880,
before he had reached his majority, he represented his county in the Tennessee
State Democratic Convention at Nashville, and was Assistant Secretary of the
Democratic Convention at Pikeville the same year; was Chairman of the Convention
of the Sixth Judicial District held at Conway, in June, 1884. These positions of
responsibility conferred upon Mr. Cox will convince the reader of his
popularity, and we predict greater honors held in store for him by the future.
Our subject has been married twice; the first time to Miss Emma Charles July 11,
1880; again, on August 26, 1887, to Miss Kate Doty, a native of Tennessee. The
first Mrs. Cox died November 6, 1884, leaving two children, one of whom joined
her in heavenly rest in June, of the next summer; the other, Thomas Nixon, is
now a bright and intelligent boy. The second marriage has resulted in the birth
of one child, Lilliam. Mr. and Mrs. Cox both hold church membership the former
in the Baptist, and the latter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.