Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
WILLIAM E. COX, Justice of the Peace at
Wellington, is of Southern antecedents,
possessing marked traits of character, transmitted to him from a very worthy ancestry. His
native place was in Frankfort, Franklin County,
Ky., and the date of his birth March 17, 1842.
His father, Austin P. Cox, was born in Shelby
County, that State. His paternal grandfather removed from Virginia to the Blue Grass regions at
an early day and carried on farming successfully
in Shelby County where he spent his last years.
Austin P. Cox when a young man commenced
the study of law, going for this purpose to Frankfort about 1806-07. Upon the present site of that
city there was then only a fort with a few settlers
around it. The young barrister attained success
and built up quite an extensive practice in the
Court of Claims. He was President of the Board
of Internal Improvements and otherwise a prominent man in his community. About 1859 he was
appointed by the Governor as one of the commission to
establish the State line between Kentucky
and Tennessee. While in the pursuance of his duties
he was subjected to much exposure and contracted
a violent cold from the effects of which he died at
his home July 20, 1861.
Mrs. Rebecca L. (Phillips) Cox, the mother of
our subject was likewise a native of Kentucky and
the daughter of William J. Phillips who was born
in ^Maryland. Grandfather Phillips left his native
State during the pioneer days of Kentucky and
there spent his last years. There were born to the
parents of our subject twelve children, viz: Elizabeth F., Sarah M., Charlotte L., Rebecca A., Laura
S., Mary P., William E., Wallace H., Josephine C,
Philip M., John C. and Willis T.
William E. Cox was reared and educated in his
native county completing his studies in Sayers
Academy. His business experience began as a
clerk in the State Auditor's office and later he was
employed in the office of the Adjutant General. He
was thus occupied until in February, 1868, when he
started for the West. Coming to Kansas he took
up his abode in Montgomery County where he sojourned until the fall of 1869. He then started
out to explore the western part of the State, visiting Sumner County in his travels, in company with
two others. This county was not then organized
and it was principally peopled by wild animals and
Indians. Buffaloes were still plentiful and frequently roamed over the ground upon which stands
the present flourishing city of Wellington. Mr.
Cox spent three or four months traveling through
this section and then returned to Montgomery
County, where he remained until the spring of 1871 .
He then came back to this county and located in
Sumner City in time to witness the contest for the
county seat. When the question was decided in
favor of Wellington he came to this point and
here has invested his labor and his capital. When
first coming to Sumner County the Government
survey had not been made and every foot of land
was owned by Uncle Sam. Later it was sold at
$1.25 per acre. Mr. Cox has viewed with warm
interest the growth and development of his adopted
State and as far as he could has assisted in advancing the prosperity of Sumner County.
The marriage of William E. Cox and Miss Mary
D. Evans was celebrated at the bride's home in the
city of Wellington in 1875. Mrs. Cox was born in
Benton County, Iowa, June 10, 1849, and is the
daughter of Judge Elijah and Amazetta H. (Forsythe) Evans. Her parents were natives of Indiana
and spent their last years in Kansas. To Mr. and
Mrs Cox there have been born five children, viz:
Helen, Nettie. Keith, Amazetta and William E.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members in good standing of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Cox
votes the straight Republican ticket. He keeps
himself posted upon the current events of the day
� the political as well as the social questions and
is identified with Lodge No. 24, A. O. U. W. at
Wellington.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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