My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES A. COX. The Cox family have been for several generations prominently identified with the commercial and civil affairs of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. They are of English origin, and their ancestors were members of the Society of Friends.

Charles Cox, father of Charles A. Cox, was a native of Whitemarsh township. He spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, attending the schools of the neighborhood during the winter months until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he took up the practical duties of life on his own account. Having engaged in farming during his boyhood days he pursued this occupation for some length of time with varying success, and finally engaged in the limestone quarrying and lime burning business, in which undertaking he met with a well-merited degree of success. He was a progressive and enterprising business man, and during his day aided materially in the development and improvement of the means and methods of the lime burning industry in Montgomery county. He was the first man to ship lime by railway cars from this section of the country, and it is authentically stated that he consigned the first carload of lime that was shipped into the city of Philadelphia. He was one of the leading lime manufacturers of his day and by energy and perseverance, coupled with straightforward business transactions, he established a successful business, which has ever since been held in the possession of the family. In his political affiliations he was a Whig and Republican, and was ever a zealous worker in the interests of the parties. Mr. Cox married Elizabeth Detterer, a member of an old Montgomery county family, of German descent, and the issue of this union was three children: Charles A., born April 23, 1846, mentioned at length hereinafter; Clarence died in infancy; and Elizabeth B., who became the wife of Robert Argue. Charles Cox, the father of these children, and his wife, Elizabeth (Detterer) Cox, are both deceased.

Charles A. Cox was born in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, on the old homestead, April 23, 1846. He acquired the rudiments of education in the common schools of the township, and pursued a course of advanced studies at Treemount Seminary, Norristown, Pennsylvania. His first occupation after completing his studies was that of farming, to which he devoted his attention for several years. He then engaged in the butchering business, which he conducted successfully for a number of years, after which he turned his attention to the occupation of drover, buying and selling cattle. His next business venture was the quarrying and burning of lime, which line of trade had been pursued by his family for three generations, and his efforts were attended with a fair degree of prosperity. He supplied this commodity to builders both in the city and country, and the agriculturists also used a large quantity in the cultivation of their farms. He is an active and public spirited citizen, and during his entire business career he has at all times been scrupulously just, and his reputation has always been regarded as synonymous with honor and integrity. He has served in the capacity of school director, was at one time a member of the health board, and his name has been frequently mentioned as a candidate for office in the town council and for various other positions since his residence in Norristown. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Baptist church of Norristown, and a prominent member of the Masonic order, being affiliated with the Commandery. He was a victim of the Exeter wreck on May 12, 1899, in which so many citizens of Norristown and vicinity lost their lives. He suffered severe injuries, and after several trials of his suit for damages in the Montgomery county courts he received a favorable verdict.

On February 1, 1866, Mr. Cox married Maggie H. Davis, born April 29, 1847, daughter of Francis and Catharine (Hellings) Davis, the former named having been one of the prosperous farmers of Plymouth township. Their children are: 1. Charles C., born November 4, 1866; he married, February 6, 1894, Katherine S. Schofield, born September 16, 1872, daughter of Seville and Catherine (Sommerset) Seville, and the children of this union are: Charles A., born June 8, 1895; and Catherine S., born in June, 1902. 2. Frank D., born August 8, 1868; married, April 25, 1888, Anna M. Danehower, born February 23, 1870, daughter of John and Sarah (Leister) Danehower, and their children are Vernon D., born March 16, 1889; and Marion, born January 16, 1892. 3. B. Wilson, hereinafter further mentioned. 4. Bertha E. 5. Mary A. M.

The first representative of the Argue family in this country was the grandfather of Robert Argue, who married Elizabeth Cox. He came to this state from England, where he had been engaged in business as a weaver of cotton cloth. He married and had several children, among them David, who married Willamina Coulston. The children of David and Willamina Argue were William Frederick, Jemima, Hannah and Robert, the husband of Mrs. Argue. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of that city, and also studied under private tutors. On finishing his school pursuits, he became an apprentice to the trade of pattern making, and followed that occupation, but of late years he has been occupied in the promotion of various important enterprises. He and his family have a beautiful summer home in Whitemarsh township, where they are residing most of the year, and they also have a very desirable home on Broad street, in Philadelphia. In politics Mr. Argue is a Republican, although he has never been a candidate for public office. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the Knights of Sparta, and of several clubs in Philadelphia. He and his family attend the Baptist church. He married, in 1870, Miss Bertha Cox, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Cox. The couple have one child, Elizabeth B., born in 1871, who married Robert Judge, of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Judge have three children-Amy E., James R., and Gladys B.