Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
John Nicholson Cox
John Nicholson Cox was born March 14, 1834, in Montgomery County, Ind., only son of Benjamin and Sarah Ann (Nicholson) Cox. He was left an orphan at the age of thirteen years. He was reared by his Grandfather Nicholson till he grew to manhood. He was educated at the district schools and at Green Mount College, Wayne County, and when twenty-one years of age he began teaching, which he followed part of the time for three years. The next five years he followed farming on the homestead in Franklin Township. He was married in 1859, to Angelina G., daughter of George and Ruth (Marine) Shugart, and granddaughter of George Shugart, one of the pioneer settlers of New Garden Township. To this union were sent five children — Emma M., educated at Earlham College, now teaching school; Jennie V., wife of William E. Crampton; Nevva L., attending Earlham College; Benjamin and Gurney S. Mr. Cox was engaged two years in the mill of Robert Cox, and was in the mercantile business from 1864 till 1867, with Robert Cox and J. C. Boyd, under the firm name of Cox & Boyd, and during this time he was also Postmaster. He then purchased the interests of his partners, and conducted the business alone for one year, when he sold out and returned to his farm. He soon after sold his farm and purchased the Nicholson homestead, where he successfully followed farming till 1882, after which he sold the farm and bought his present property, and has since been engaged in the mercantile business, and is also the Postmaster at Cox's Mills. He also owns a farm, which is cultivated by his son. He and wife belong to the Society of Orthodox Friends. His father operated a saw and grist mill, carding-mill and oil-mill in Montgomery County, Ind. He was also an extensive farmer, and at his death was worth $15,000. He died in 1847, aged forty-four years. Our subject's mother died when he was five months old. She was a daughter of John and Esther Nicholson, who settled in Wayne County about 1815. Mr. Nicholson built the first brick house in the settlement. He was a successful farmer, and died at the age of sixty-six years.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2