James Madison Cox, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Mount
Olive township, Macoupin County, owning a fine farm of 180 acres in sections
7 and 8, was born in the township in which he now resides, December 4, 1852,
and is a son of Emanuel and Eliza G. (Biggs) Cox, and a grandson of Ezekiel
Cox.
Ezekiel Cox, the grandfather of our subject, labored faithfully
as a minister of the Gospel for many years. He was the father of five
children, namely: Emanuel, our subject's father; Jackson; Betsy (Coalson);
Jensey (Stilley); and Jerry.
Emanuel Cox was born in Stewart County,
Tennessee, November 19, 1812, and when six years of age went to Trigg
County, Kentucky, where he remained until he was 26 years of age. He came to
Macoupin County in 1837, took up government land and engaged in farming.
While a young man he engaged in the mercantile business. Before settling in
this region he was employed as a steward on steamboats and remained at that
occupation until he was married. Mr. Cox was a self-made man in every
respect the term implies, being left fatherless when 8 or 10 years of age.
When he first located in this region, he built a log house measuring 16 by
18 feet and endured many hardships for the first few years. He often went to
mill at Edwardsville, Illinois, by ox team, the journey of 25 miles each way
consuming two or three days. The neighbors often exchanged work and upon one
of these occasions (when helping his brother-in-law, John Coalson) on his
return home he became lost and spent one night on the prairie, fighting the
wolves, being compelled to club them off with a wagon stake. Mr. Cox hauled
all his produce to St. Louis as it was then the nearest market, making a
trip of several days. Mr. Cox was a home loving man and never drank a drop
of any kind of spirits, although he at one time conducted a saloon. He soon
became disgusted with this business and finally gave it up wholly. His wife,
Eliza G. Biggs, was born at Memphis, Tennessee, June 16, 1822. They were
blessed with eight children, namely: Alisa A., of Mount Olive township,
Macoupin County; Martha (Koontz), of Adams County, Illinois; William Alva,
of Montgomery County, Illinois; Alfred, of Parsons, Kansas; Ezekiel,
deceased; James M., our subject; Lillie Araba, who resides in Chicago and is
a stenographer, having an office of her own; and Anna E. (Coalson). Mrs.
Cox's death occurred in this county, January 23, 1893. Mr. Cox, who died
January 31, 1898, was a member of the Democratic party. He and his family
were members of the Baptist Church.
James Madison Cox has always
resided in Mount Olive township and has always followed farming. He devotes
his farm to general farming and stock raising, having cleared 160 acres for
farming purposes while the remaining 60 acres is timber and pasture,
affording good grazing for stock. Politically, our subject is a Democrat and
has served as school director.
Mr. Cox was united in marriage,
February 3, 1878, to Luella M. Purdy, who was born in Staunton township,
Macoupin County, Illinois, a daughter of William C. and Susan (Best) Purdy.
Three children were born to them, namely: Maude, a pianist, who resides with
her parents; Winifred B., a violinist, who married Mae Bruce, and has one
child — Glenn Elmer; and Hallie, also residing with her parents, who is a
graduate of the Mount Olive High School and a teacher and an accomplished
pianist.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 528-530.
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