My Genealogy Hound

JAMES H. COX, an influential citizen of Berrien County, and a successful fruit-grower of St. Joseph Township, residing on section 19, was born in Baltimore, Md., on the 8th of August, 1848. His father, James G., was also born in the city of Baltimore, where he was reared to manhood and married. About 1850 he came West to Indiana and settled in Cass County, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. His wife having died prior to his Westward removal, he was again married, choosing as his wife Miss Maria, daughter of James Twells, a native of Philadelphia, Pa.

Upon locating in Cass County, James G. Cox purchased six hundred acres of land and there devoted his attention to the improvement and cultivation of the place, which he made his home until his death, in September, 1862. His wife passed away in 1875. They were a worthy couple, who were highly esteemed in the community where so many years of their lives were passed. Kindhearted and generous, possessing noble impulses and industrious habits, they acquired a competency of this world’s goods, and were enabled to give good advantages to their nine children. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his ancestors on both sides of the house were of substantial stock.

The nine children constituting the parental family all grew to mature years, and four of the number are now living, our subject being the eldest. He was reared in Cass County, Ind., where he carried on his studies in both public and private schools. At the age of about twenty years he went to Kansas, and embarking in the stock business, was thus engaged for two years. For the eighteen ensuing years he traveled throughout the Western States and conducted an extensive stock business, meeting with fair success in his enterprises. This roving life, however, was not exactly suited to his tastes, and he finally returned to his childhood’s home in Indiana.

March 25, 1885, Mr. Cox and Miss Martha Yanties were united in marriage in Cass County, Ind. The bride was the daughter of Robert Yanties, a prominent and successful general farmer and stock-raiser of Cass County, Ind., where she was born. After his marriage Mr. Cox located in Chicago, where he secured a position in the Studebaker Bros.’ Wagon Manufactory, remaining thus engaged for two years. In 1890 he came to Berrien County and located on the place where he now resides. His fruit farm is one of the finest in the township, and consists of twenty acres planted to grapes, pears, peaches and blackberries. The fruits are shipped principally to Chicago and Milwaukee, and find a ready sale. A successful fruit-grower and a keen and sagacious business man, Mr. Cox occupies a position of prominence in the county. He is liberal in politics and votes for the man whom he considers best qualified for the office in question. When our subject’s father left Baltimore, Md., for Indiana he had a number of slaves, whom he set free.