The national leader., 1889-09-14
Sketch of His Career.

Samuel Sullivan Cox, better known as
Sunset Cox, was born in GAINESVILLE. Ohio.
September so, 1924 His father, Ezekiel Tav-
lor Cox, was leading politician of Ohio and
member OF the State Senate in 1928 The
mother of S. S. Cox was daughter of
Samuel Sullivan, who was Treasurer of
Ohio in 1918, and had high reputation for
probity.
Mr. Cox attended the Ohio University at
Athens, but subsequently became a student
of Brown University, Rhode Island, where
he graduated with honor i'll the class of 1916.
He adopted the profession of law, and after
being admitted practised many years success
fully. He then made trip to Europe and
on his return published very readable and
popular book on travels, entitled "The
Buckeye Abroad"
In 1858 Mr.. Cox became owner and editor
of the Columbus Ohio Statesman, the
Democratic organ Of the State In 1856
President Pierce rendered Mr. Cox the posi-
ton Of Secretary of Legation to England
but he was not able to accept the honor.
Subsequently, however, he accepted the sec
retaryship of the Legation to Peru On his
resignation and return to Ohio, Mr.. Cox was
elected from the Columbus district to Con-
gress, his Congressional term commencing
on the same day as Buchanans Presidential
term. He was thrice reelected, serving con-
tinuously from 1857 to 1865 or throughout
of James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln.
In 1863 on the assembling of the Thirty
eight Congress, Mr.. Cox was the caucus
nominee of the Democrats for Speaker
against Mr.. Colfax
Upon the expiration of the Thirty y-eighth
Congress in 1865, Mr.. Cox removed to the
city of New York where he afterward re-
sided. He published that year, under the til
tie of Eight Years in Congress" book of
his experiences and observations while a
member of the House In 1868 Mr.. Cox was
again put into the field for Congress, this
time by the Democracy of his adopted home
and was elected. Before the assembling of
Congress he again visited the Old World
touring through Spain and other parts of
Southern Europe and Northern Africa. On
his homeward trip he tarried long enough in
England to write an interesting book of his
travels, which he published in London 1t
was entitled "a Search for Winter sun
beams" and has had an extensive circulation
in this country.
In 1870 Mr. Cox was reelected over Hor-
ace Greeley. who was the Republican candi-
date. In 1872 he received the nomination
from the Democratic State Convention for
CongresSman-at-large, and led the balance
. of the Democratic State ticket. The major
lty against Mr.. Cox was 5000 less than the
majorities against Greeley for President and
Herman for Governor. The death of Con-
gresham James Brooks occurring the follow
ing spring, Mr.. Cox was nominated and
elected to fill the vacancy. He has been
again and again elected; once with only forty
one votes against him.
Mr. Cox was candidate for Speaker to fill
the term left vacant by the death of Mr..
Kerr. He was subsequently beaten in caucus
by Mr.. Randall, though coming within a
dozen votes of success.
On the 25th of March, 1885, President
Cleveland nominated Mr. Cox to succeed
General Lew Wallace as Minister to Turkey
This post he resigned and was elected to the
Forty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Joseph Pulitzer,
and was reelected to the Fiftieth Congress
His best known book, why We
Laugh" is an analytical de-
scription of American humor. In the
summer Of 1882 Mr.. Cox visited Sweden, Nor
way, Russia, Turkey and Greece. The vol
ume describing this trip he called "Arctic
Sunbeams or From Broadway to the Bos-
phorus by Way of the North Cape" In
May, 1885, he published semi-historical and
emi-biographical work entitled Three De
cades of Federal Legislation"
He received the name of Sunset" soon af-
ter he had become editor of the Ohio (Colum-
bus Statesman, thirty-two years ago. He
wrote for his paper highly sophomosical ac-
count of fine sunset he had witnessed, which
was so rudely commented upon and ridiculed
that he was dubbed Sunset Cox, and he never
got rid of the soubriquet, though very few per-
sons who use 1t have any idea of its origin.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, offered bounty
for the killing of English sparrows. and VI