BIO: William A. COX, Cumberland County, PA
    
    Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
    OCRed by Judy Banja
    
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    >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
    Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 159-160
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    WILLIAM A. COX., SR. After an active business life of over sixty years, and
  crowned with the esteem of his fellow citizens and the affection of his
  kindred, William A. Cox, Sr., passed away at his home on East Orange street,
  Shippensburg, Cumberland Co , Pa., Sept. 10, 1903, aged eighty-three years,
  two months, twenty-two days.
    Mr. Cox was born June 19, 1820, on his father's farm, near Middle Spring,
  the second son of John and Martha Cox. His educational opportunities were
  confined to the local schools. About 1840 he went West, where he spent
  several years, and settled for some years at New Orleans, La. After his
  return, in 1846, he married, and for some years engaged in farming in the
  vicinity of Middle Spring, but in the spring of 1857 he purchased the shoe
  store of G. B. Cole, which he conducted for a year. His next business
  partnership was with the late E. J. McCune, in the grocery, boot and shoe
  trade, which they conducted in what was formerly the Graybill room, now in
  the Shapley block. About this time he also filled a clerical position in the
  Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Shippensburg, and was afterward for some nine
  months in the old Carlisle Deposit Bank. Later he entered into partnership
  with George H. Stewart in the dry-goods trade, in the room now occupied by J.
  L. Hockersmith & Sons, grocers, several years later purchasing the interest of
  E. J. Forney, in the hardware firm of Forney & McPherson, which business was
  successfully conducted under the firm name of McPherson & Cox for more than
  three years, when Mr. Cox retired, disposing of his interest to S. W. Means.
  In 1872 he purchased the hardware store of Stevick & Rebuck, where he
  continued in business until 1900.
    Mr. Cox was essentially a man of business, and enjoyed its pursuit.
  Strictly honest and upright himself, he set up the same standard for others,
  and was disappointed when he discovered methods less honorable than his own.
  He never sought public office and accepted but one, that of membership on the
  Shippensburg school board, to the duties of which he devoted much attention,
  making many practical improvements. Though so busy about his own concerns,
  Mr. Cox was always willing to lead an ear to those in business complexities,
  and on many occasions gave advice and counsel that brought order out of chaos.
    On Nov. 26, 1846, Mr. Cox married Jane A. Young, of Shippensburg, who died
  in 1896. Mr. Cox is survived by one daughter and three sons: Linda, Samuel P.
  and John A., of Gettysburg; and William A., of Shippensburg. One sister, Mrs.
  Sarah McClay, of Rolla, Mo., and one brother, John I., of Shippensburg, also
  survive.
    For many years Mr. Cox was a member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian
  church, in which he was elder and trustee and for years had served as clerk
  of the sessions. He
    
    160  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  was a highly venerated citizen, and must be classed with those who
  contributed materially to the upbuilding of the interests of the city of
  Shippensburg.