The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-09-11
Biographical.

Samuel Sullivan Cox was born in ZAnes-
vile, o., in 1924 His father. Ezekiel Tay-
lor Cox, was prominent democrat before
him, and served IN the Ohio senate In
1928. His grandfather, Gen. James Cox,
Of Monmouth, y. J., was q soldier Of the
revolution, and took part in the battles of
Brandy wine, Germantown and Monmouth.
q n Cox was a friend OF Thomas Jetfer-
son. and served in congress during his ad-
ministTation, dying. however, before the
term was completed. Educated at Ohio
university and Brown university. Rhode
Island, from which Institution he gradu
ated with honor in 1876 he became
a law student in Cincinnati OF Nachel
WOrthingtOn. The Queen city was his
home in his earliest professional days,
from 1S47 to 1850 In 1850 be went abroaI
for an extended European tour. When be
came back he published "Ibe Buckeye
Abroad" a volume descriptive of bis
travels, which enjoyed q wide sale. In
1888 Mr.. Cox became editor OF the Ohio
Statesman and resident OF Columbus.
Several things happened 20 Mr.. Cox in
Columbus which had a most important
bearing upon his subsequent career. Not
least least ct these was .hs be .... attaching 70 To- his
are in Columbus TO this day old printers
who tell tcw Mr.. Cox came into the com
UOSlug-EOOm one evening and described 70
the foreman wonderful sunset scene
which he had just been watching.
"Why don't you write It out ?' said the
practical man OF type.
81 never thought Of it," returned the
editor But he set to work, and ia The
Statesman OF next day, May 10, 1858, there
appeared the gorgeous article 20 which he
him.
The position OF secretary Of legation at
London W. offered Mr.. Cox BY President
Pierce, but ne declined in favor Of a simi-
lar position AZ Lima. Peru. R-signiDg on
account OF III health. he was elected TO con
gress from the old Licking Frank lin dis
trict. and began service m 1851, on the day
OF President Buch8nau's Inauguration
lie was three times reelected, his eight
teGTs embracing ell Of Buchanan's ana
Lincoln's administrations. and, of course
the stirring years OF the civil var. A con
sisfent n8tiODai democrat, an ardent friend
OF the isiuenttd DOugla Mr. Cox used
every effort 70 avert secession and civil
strife. But with The outbreak of war be
supported heartily all constitutional mes-
surss for bringing IL 10 a speedy tesmina-
tlOn- In 1903 he was the demo-
cratic nominee for speaker against
Schuyler COlfax. His success was broken
By defeat in 1874 and be spent a year Ia
bringing cut another book, Eight Years
10 Congress" his experiences and ObseTya-
tiOns while a member OF the house His
defeat probably determined his removal
iIOm OHIO, which took place Just after bis
volume was given 10 the pUOhe in 1905.
de did not, however, remain llng Out Of
public life. la 1865 BE- Wes elected from a
New York City district he improved the
tine between election and the assembling
0f congress to revisit the Old world. mas
ing tour through spain, other parts Of
southern Europa aud northern a rlca,
whence be returned 10 England. In Lon
don he published in a sketch form al en-
teTtalnlng volume entitled "A Starch for
Winter Sunbeams." Il was afteTward re-
published in New YORK a1d exten-
sivcly read on both continents. In
1870 he was reelected, his opponent being
Horace Greeley. Two years later he WIS
nominated for cOngr6ssm aD-Rt large and
defeated, though he ran 1900 votes ahead
OF Greeley for president OF Herman for gov
ernor Hon. James Brooks death occur
REQ before congress met, and Mr. Cox was
elected 10 I'LL The vacancy. He has been
~ congress continually since that date. In
1876 he had d majority OF II 900, bis antag-
Onist polling only q 900 votes. Oniy one
member Of congress ontrsnks him o length
OF service In that body, Judge Kelley, Il
PennsylvaniA who began bis Washington,
career tour years later than Nj Cox but
has had no lntermissiOn- In 1876 Mr.. OK
published bis famous volume on A mrTicau
humor, entitled "Why we Laugh" In
lao2 appeared "Arctic Sunhesms; or From
Broadway TO the BOsphOr S by way Of
tie North Cape for which he OOiained
material by a third European tour ia 1881.
ApAyf ANGAAEnA CAAfNA-1& w
pointed Mr.. Cox minister TO Turkey.
While abroad he wrote "DiverslOns OF
Diplomatic" aud ''rhe Isles Of tue PTlEces,
or Treasures of PlnkIDa," both Of which
had a large sale. He resigned the mission
70 become candidate fUr congress ia q
ninth district, succeeding Mr. Pulitzer IA
TIE forty ninth congress- He has been
twice re elected from the same district
In nis long puOllc career IL Is almost i'm
possible 20 name an important discussion
m which he has not been beard, and has
served upon the most important commit
tees in congress. While his general repu-
tatiun has been that OF q bumOrist, so that
all the world laughed when Ben Butler
said ''ShOchy" tO his persistent Inquiries,
he g. one OF the most eruoi z men In public
life. His reading hES been extensive and
his memory was wonderful de has served
on cOUmittecs On banking aud currency,
ways and means, and foreign Affairs, was
speaker pro tenn AZ the time Speaker k-rT's
falling health called hlm hOmc 10 Indiana,
ana ba as been an active aspirant for the
speAkcrshtp ~ several sessions As speaker
pro TEN he proved himself an excellent
pSrliamentarian, bearing himself with
dignity and q measure OF force little T. be-
expected from 30 slight a form. Among
his forensic Ell lrts the widest noted Tor vii
was that against the army moth contracts
In which he analy zsd the mum Der OF suesz-s
In pinch Of moth powder, and the num-
Der OF s1eeZes required 70 break the NECK
OF mot0- His address in 1883 on the re-
Niyal OF American shipping, Tor which be
advocated free materials and free shiDy.
Was one Of NtE gFe1fezf T,Tyfuuua FHDrfe