The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1033 

JAMES K. COX.

Although James K. Cox has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's
journey he is still active as an orchardist in the Yakima valley, having a ten
acre fruit ranch near Zillah. At one time he owned seventy acres but has now
sold most of the tract to his children. His career is interesting, as it has
been pursued in various western states, and thus he has been identified with the
development of the northwest.

A native of Hannibal, Missouri, James K. Cox was born November 27, 1844, and is
a son of Louis Allen and Caroline P. (Baird) Cox, natives of Barren county,
Kentucky. They removed to Missouri in 1842, later taking up their residence in
Bacon county, that state, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for
many years, and there both parents passed away. Louis A. Cox went to California
in search of the golden fleece in 1850 and in that state he remained for fifteen
years, his efforts being attended with more or less success. He then returned to
Missouri.

James K. Cox was reared upon a Missouri farm and in his youth became familiar
with life under pioneer conditions. He learned lessons in agriculture and in the
acquirement of an education attended the public schools until he reached the age
of eighteen years, when he began his independent career. When twenty-one years
of age, in 1865, he crossed the plains to Virginia City, Montana, where he
remained for eighteen months, but in the latter part of 1866 he returned to
Missouri. In 1869 he was married in that state and then went to Boone county,
Arkansas, where for five years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, at the
end of which period he returned to Missouri, again remaining in that state for a
year. Later he went to Texas, where for four years he was engaged in the stock
business and as a rancher in the central part of the state. Going from there to
Arkansas, he resided for nine years in that state, from 1880 until 1889, and
from the latter year until 1901 he was again a resident of Missouri. He then
came to the Yakima valley and in 1901 acquired title to twenty acres of land a
half mile east of Buena, which was than in alfalfa but which he has since
planted to fruit. He has sold ten acres of this tract, retaining the remaining
ten, from which he receives a very gratifying income, always following the most
progressive methods. He has built a fine home and instituted other improvements,
so that his place has now become a very valuable one. Since coming to the Yakima
valley he has acquired other laid, owning at one time seventy acres in all, but
he now has sold this to his children in order that they might have homes of
their own.

On January 24, 1869, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Merrill, a
native of Marion county, West Virginia, and a daughter of Andrew and Julia
(Davis) Merrill, who in 1851 became residents of Kentucky and in 1854 removed to
Missouri, where both passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have become the parents of
the following children. Nora Etta, the first born, died at the age of nineteen
years. Lucian M., who follows ranching near his father's place, is married and
has two children. Roma Ella first married M. Smith, who has passed away, and she
is now the wife of J. L. Love, by whom she has one child, and they reside in the
state of Missouri. Olive May wedded William E. Gibson, of Toppenish, Washington,
and they have three sons. Ida Caroline is the wife of Everett T. Brown, who is a
rancher on the Yakima Indian reservation, and they have two children. Ernest V.,
who is ranching near his father's place, is married and has two children. Andrew
B. is at home. Spruce McCoy, who is ranching nearby, is married and has one
child. Julia Virginia is a successful teacher and now makes her home in Montana.
Lola Lyda, the youngest member of the family, also follows the profession of
teaching. On the 24th of January, 1919, Mr. and Mrs. Cox celebrated their golden
wedding, being on that occasion surrounded by all of their children except one.
The ceremony was made memorable by this reunion of practically all of the family
and many were the expressions of felicitation which this worthy couple received
from their many friends and neighbors. A group picture of the whole family was
taken to commemorate the event and remain as a memento to future generations.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cox all received an excellent education and six of
them have been school teachers. The family are devoted members of the Christian
church, in the work of which they take a helpful interest.

Politically Mr. Cox is a democrat, having ever staunchly supported that party.
While a resident of Missouri he served as justice of the peace and also as
school director. While his career has been pursued in various states, each
removal has marked a forward step and he now is numbered among the prosperous
and substantial residents of his section of Yakima county.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.