Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Cox, Robert Bruce March 24, 1840 - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 1, 2024, 9:59 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 424
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Robert Bruce Cox was born at Brownsvillle, Fayette 
county, Penna, March 24, 1840; was reared and attended the 
common schools there.  He began life as a clerk for Jesse H 
Duncan of Brownsville, iron, nails and commission house.  
From 1857 to 1861 he served an apprenticeship at millwright 
business under William H Barnes of Uniontown.  In 1861 he 
went into the army and served till 1864.  About three years 
before the war, however, he joined a company of cavalry 
which was organized by Captain Davidson at Merrittstown.  
This company offered its services to the governor of 
Virginia at the time of the John Brown raid.
    On the breaking out of the war they again offered their 
services, but General Scott thought there was no need for 
cavalry to quiet the rebellious feeling at the South, and 
they were not called into action.  It was afterward attached 
to the Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry at Camp Wilkins, 
Pittsburgh; was taken thence to Washington City where it was 
disbanded, and the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry was 
organized under George D Bayard as colonel.  He was killed 
at the battle of Fredericksburg.
    Mr Cox was at the following battles: Drainsville, 
Virginia; Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, 
Gainesville, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Culpeper, Auburn, Bristow Station, New Home 
Church, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and all the battles under 
General Grant in his attempts to capture Richmond.  The 
regiment was with Sheridan in all of his raids.  Mr Cox was 
never out of the service one hour from the time he entered 
till he was discharged; he never had a furlough, and 
received no wound.
    He was mustered out September 15, 1864, at Philadelphia. 
Since then he has been very active in the organization of 
martial clubs for political parties, and assisted in 
organizing the William Kurtz Post, G A R at Connellsville.  
After the war he returned home and engaged in the carpenter 
trade, and was for several years in the employment of 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company of Connellsville.  In 1877 
he commenced as a contractor and builder, and has continued 
as such ever since.
    He is a member of "King Solomon's" Lodge, Free and 
Accepted Masons, No 346, at Connellsville, of the Knights of 
Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Chosen Friends, 
Penn Council, No 30.  He has served as secretary in each.
    In politics Mr Cox has been an independent republican. 
He has always been a strictly temperate man, is a member of 
the Baptist church, and has served as a member of the 
council for his borough, and as assessor.
    Mr Cox has been twice married; first on April 13, 1864, 
to Mary J Shallenburger, a daughter of Abraham 
Shallenburger, an old settler at Connellsville.  Four 
children were born to them: Abraham Shallenburger Cox, 
Samuel J Cox, Anna Cox and Nannie Cox.
    His second wife was Jennie Dawson, a native of 
Connellsville, to whom he married in March, 1889.
    His parents were Samuel J Cox and Nancy Works Cox.  
Their family consisted of six children: James Cox (dead), 
Mary A Cox, Robert B Cox, John C Cox, Samuel J Cox and Ellen 
Cox.  The latter was burned to death when thirteen years of 
age.
    Samuel J Cox, father, was born at Brownsville, lived 
there till 1863, when he removed to Connellsville, and has 
always been engaged in the merchant tailoring business.  He 
married three times.  His second wife was Mary Murphy, a 
native of Redstone township, and had four children: William 
Cox, Dorcas Cox, Thomas Cox, and James Cox.  She was killed 
at Connellsville.  For his third wife he married Ella 
Lingham, a native of Pittsburgh.
    The paternal grandfather of R B Cox was of German 
descent, born in Fayette county, and was a farmer.  He 
served in the War of 1812-15, and was killed in battle.
    Nancy Works, the mother of R B Cox, was a native of 
Dunbar township, a daughter of James Works, who was also 
born in Dunbar township.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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