"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY,
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 307-308.  
Used by permission.  [Daviess]

W. D. COX:  W. D. Cox was born in Hebbardsville, Henderson County, 
Ky., on January 29, 1856.  His father served in the 17th Kentucky 
Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.  He was married to Miss 
Mary E. Ligon of Henderson County, Ky., on March 5, 1878.
     In his youth he was a wicked and profane person having embraced 
the evil habits of drinking and cursing.  After working as a sawmill 
hand and on a farm he finally moved to Missouri in 1881.  Here he 
entered the employ of the Cotton Belt Railroad as a station hand, and 
by hard work finally became a section foreman.  In the meantime his 
life of wickedness increased.
     In 1886 a fellow worker on the railroad was killed in an accident 
and the scene was one that caused young Cox to think about preparing 
to meet God.  He nevertheless brushed the matter aside and went on in 
his drinking and swearing.  In the early part of 1887 he was 
discharged for drinking by the Railroad Company.  He recovered his job 
but was soon in the old habits again.  He resigned his job and worked 
in a Veneer Mill for a few months and then went to work for the Ohio 
Valley Railroad in Kentucky.  After being discharged for drinking again 
he went back to Missouri in the latter part of 1887 and began to work 
for the Cape Girardeau South-Western Railway but he soon lost this job.  
After coming back to Kentucky he finally secured work on the Railroad 
near Corydon, Kentucky.
     About the year 1890, J. J. Smith, a Methodist evangelist, came to 
Corydon, and held a series of meetings.  After a tremendous struggle 
Cox was converted and soon afterwards felt the call to preach.  In 
March, 1892, he began laboring as an independent evangelist.  After 
some successful meetings he again worked on the railroad, preaching 
during this time also.  He finally began a meeting at Bell's Run in 
Ohio County.  While there he began to seriously study the doctrines 
of the Baptist faith.  For three months he studied the matter and 
finally on September 16, 1893, was baptized into the fellowship of 
the Bell's Run Church by B. F. Jenkins.  He was soon ordained to 
preach.
     He entered the employ of the Daviess County Baptist Association 
as a missionary the following week, at forty-five dollars per month.  
Success crowned his labors everywhere he went.  He remained under the 
employ of the Board until August 16, 1895, when he resigned to enter 
the independent evangelistic field.  During his services with the 
Board he held about 35 revival meetings resulting in over 700 
conversions and over 900 additions to the Churches.  The following new 
Churches were constituted as a result of his labors: Adaburg, Concord, 
New Panther Creek, Delaware Creek, and Hopewell.  He pastored the 
Adaburg, Concord, New Panther Creek and Hopewell Churches until they 
could secure pastors.  
     As several difficulties arose during his services as Missionary 
his resignation was finally given in.  From there we have lost all 
trace of him.  

Cox Ligon Smith Jenkins
=
Henderson MO Ohio

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/cox.wd.txt