Monongalia County, West Virginia Biography of Hon. Frank COX ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Sandra Reed , May 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. Hon. Frank Cox, One of the native sons of Monongalia County whose private life and public career have reflected credit upon him and upon his birthplace is Hon. Frank Cox of Morgantown, who has won prominence at the bar and on the bench and today is recognized as one of the ablest lawyers and fair minded jurists in West Virginia. Judge Cox was born on the old Cox homestead in Grant District, Monongalia County, West Virginia, June 18, 1862, a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of the county. This branch of the Cox family, which is Scotch-Irish stock, was founded in Maryland about the middle of the eighteenth century by Abraham Cox, who was the American ancestors. >From Maryland he came to Virginia and settled on 300 acres of Government land near Morgantown, and there spent the rest of his life. His son Moses, was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1780, came with his parents to Monongalia County, and later located his home on Indian Creek in Grand District. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, was a Justice of the Peace and County Sheriff', and died in 1861. He was twice married, first to Jane Musgrove, and second, Mrs. Charlotte (McDermott) Foster. Henry L. Cox, son of Moses and Charlotte (Foster) Cox and father of Judge Frank Cox, was born in Monongalia County, in 1836, and became a man of wide influence and solid worth. From Monongalia Academy he entered Waynesburg College, which he attended for two summers, in the meanwhile teaching school during the two winners in Greene County, Pennsylvania. In 1867 Henry L. Cox, elected Superintendent of the Monongalia County School, was subsequently re-elected, and served in this office for fifteen years. He was active also in the political field and in 1880 was elected a member of the West Virginia Legislature and was returned in 1882. On February 28, 1861, he married Miss Elizabeth Matilda Boydston, a daughter of Boaz Boydston, of Greene County, Pennsylvania. Judge Cox was their only child. In the class of 1883 Frank Cox was graduated from the University of West Virginia with the degree of LL. B. ,was admitted to the bar in the same year and immediately entered upon the practice of law at Morgantown. And 1888 he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected in 1890. He appointed George C. Baker of Morgantown his assistant, and it 1892 Mr. Baker succeeded Mr. Cox as prosecuting attorney, and he appointed Mr. Cox as his assistant. A law partnership had been formed in 1889, and this professional association has continued to the present, with the exception of the interim while Judge Cox served on the bench. In 1904 Mr.Cox was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Appeals a West Virginia, a position for which he was singularly well qualified, but in 1907 he resign and resumed private practice at Morgantown. In numerous other capacities he has been equally prominent and trustworthy. He served as Judge Advocate General on the staff of Governor Atkinson, was a member of the West Virginia World's Fair Commission, and during the World War was active and influential both publicly and personally, serving as chairman of the Second Liberty Loan drive in Monongalia County, and giving generous assistance to all the local patriotic movements. On March 5, 1885, Judge Cox was united in marriage with Miss Mattie J. Weaver, a daughter of George and Margaret Weaver. Judge and Mrs.Cox have two children, Stanley Rhey and Margaret Elizabeth. Stanley Rhey Cox was born March 23, 1889. He was graduated from the University of West Virginia, entered into the practice of law at Morgantown and subsequently was elected prosecuting attorney of Monongalia County, and since the expiration of his term, January 1, 1921, has engaged in private practice. Judge Cox's daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, was born June 15, 1898. She was educated in the University of West Virginia and in private schools, and is now the wife of Charles Burke Morris, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. Judge Cox and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Morgantown, and he is a member of its Board of Trustees. For a number of years he has been a member of the School Board in this city and Vice-President of the Board of Trade. He belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.