The Columbus Republican
Columbus, Indiana
Thursday, January 26, 1899
Page 8

OBITUARY

The funeral of James Cox was held at the Friends church at the Sandcreek cemetery, Jan. 18, 1899. The services conducted by Rev. Louis E. Stout and others were very impressive and well attended.

The deceased had been ill for several months with a complication of ailments but bore his suffering with patience and christian fortitude. He was a native of the south; was the son of Mecajah and Achsah Cox, born near Goldsboro, Wayne Co., N.C., Dec. 13, 1828. He emigrated to Indiana in the early fifties, when the exodus of the Friends from the "old North State" was at high tide; believing like a great many that the opportunities were greater in the north, would be less hampered by the chains of slavery, and be able to avoid the political contention and the threatening cloud that culminated in open rebellion and ended in the great civil war. He was married Sept. 13, 1855, to Sarah Hall, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hall, and settled where they continued to reside till the day of his death Jan. 15, 1899. This union was blessed with eight children, four sons and four daughters, five of whom, two sons and three daughters, the mother also one sister and two brothers who remain to mourn their loss. The deceased was a man of great integrity, possessing especially the virtues of industry, economy and liberality, "given to hospitality." He possessed the confidence of the community at large and was frequently appointed guardian, trustee, administrator, or executor of estates thus befriending the widows and orphans.

A man he was, of strong convictions and unflinching courage, an especial foe to intemperance and the liquor traffic, and an ardent supporter of the prohibition party. His great individuality shows forth in every thing whether pertaining to the family, the school, the church or the state. He was especially interested and devoted to Sabbath school work, and was seldom absent from his post of duty, having occupied the position as teacher for thirty years, and was a continuous member of the executive committee on Bible schools of Bartholomew county. In earlier years he was much interested in the distribution of Bibles and supplied the poor, and the out districts with religious literature. He was one versed in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the doctrine of the Friends church, of which he was a life-long member, and for a number of years held the prominent positions as Overseer and Elder. While not aspiring to the ministry he was ever ready to offer prayer of give a word of exhortation for the Master's cause, and upon his last visit to the house of God, led in the exercises of the hour. He was especially devoted to his family, and remarked during his illness that but for the consolation of his family he would rather go and be with Jesus. For years, family worship, was the established custom of his home. In the death of James Cox the community loses a zealous christian citizen, his relatives, a true friend and wise counselor, his family a loving father and a faithful husband and the church a staunch and tried christian character.