My Genealogy Hound

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 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.