My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN F. COX, attorney, Homestead, was born Oct. 6, 1852, in Mifflin township, a son of William and Ann Cox. He spent his early life on a farm, and received a common school education. In 1870 he entered Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa., where he was a student for four years; then entered Union College, Alliance, Ohio, where he graduated in the class of 1875, and for three years he taught school at Homestead and Camden, in his native township. He read law with Maj. W. C. Moreland and John H. Kerr, of Pittsburgh, and was admitted to the bar in 1880.

Mr. Cox has his office in Pittsburgh and resides in Homestead, where he has served as burgess for two terms, and has taken an active part in promoting the prosperity of the town. He is an ardent republican, and in 1884 was elected to the legislature, and reelected in 1886. He served in the committee’s judiciary, general and local, and was chairman of the committee on retrenchment and reform. While in the legislature Mr. Cox devoted himself specially to legislation in the interest of the laboring classes. His bill to modify the conspiracy laws of Pennsylvania was one of the most important measures before that body in the interest of the workingmen. He secured its passage in the house without a dissenting vote, but it was defeated in the senate by a tie vote. Mr. Cox has a very large and growing practice as a lawyer, especially for one so young in the practice of that profession, and bids fair to become a prominent figure at the Allegheny county bar.