The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-26
s. S. COX'S EARLY DAYS.
RECoLLECTIoNs OF THE STATES
MAN BEFORE HE LEFT OHIO.


MAN BEFORE HE LEFT OHIO.
As a Youngster Ee Was Bright and
addicted to Jokes-A Campaign in
Which the Weevil Was the Most
Prominent Feature-As a Democratic
Editor.
From the Washington Post
EVANSVILLE, o., Sept. 20.-Ihe birth
Mace and early home of the late S. S. Cox
Ia one of Omo's Oldest cities. The houses
in the residence part of the city are per-
ceptibly aged, and only in the outlying wards
and additions are 10 be seen the signs of
modern architecture. The business streets
are newer, vet here and there may be seen
an old-time structure, which the cid resi-
dent will point out as having been consid-
cred quite building when Sam Cox was
bow" Yet GAINESVILLE is to day one of the
busy busting manufacturing cities which
90 to make the Buckeye state so thrifty.
The most enthusiastic citizens claim pop
ulatfon of from 10000 10 5000, but when
Won commence to talk about the census
rating it is not much trouble to effect
compromise on the basis of %, 900, and that
Desuite the growth of the city and the
changes which are taking place, it is not
forgotten by the average resident that
1sSnnset' Cox was a boy in GAINESVILLE,
rlayed about the streets, ran away from
school. went swimming in the blue Muskin-
gum, and did pretty much the same as the
small boy is doins. here to-day. They don't
call the late congressman 'Sunset" or IS.
= Cox out here, bur plain "Sam.n "Know
of I
Cox. Who is there that lived in GAINESVILLE
during this time that didn't know Sam Cox,
would like to knowr is about the style the
old resident assumes when questioned as to
the deceased statesman. They not only all
remember him well, but many recall some
of Cox's boyish pranks and witty remarks,
Characteristic which followed him through
life.
Sunset Cox's parents resided in plain,
unassuming brick house on North Third
street. The building, which has been re-
placed by more modern house, had an
old-fashioned two-story porch at the north
end, over which vines were trained in great
profusion. This house was originally built
by Sunset" Cox's grandfather, Mr.. Sam
uel Sullivan, who, at an early day, carried
On an extensive pottery business in an adj
Joining lot. Young Cox was great favor
lite with this grandparents. but about all he
left him was a crude idea of the pottery
business and two very long sections to his
otherwise diminutlve name, and they were
sections that never became popular with
the people.
Samuel Sullivan Cox was born on Sept
30, 1924, and the old citizens remember him
as having the reputation of being one of
the brightest of boy babies GAINESVILLE ever
produced. His father, Ezekiel t. Cox, was
a plain, unassuming and hard working
man. He did not have the means to give
his children any better education than the
con.mon schools afforded, and in those days
that was crude enough. The first inStruc-
tion you & Cox received was in the Sun
day school of the old Presbyterian church,
Of which the Coxes and the Sullivans were
all members. He showed himself an apt
scholar, and his father was prevailed upon
to send him TO the select district school,
The tuition fee was only s. per quarter, but
that was considerable to a man in Cox
Sr's., circumstances. But the financial
difficulties were overcome, and young Cox
was Taught by "old Jimmy Mccormick"
typical schoolmaster, who wore ill-fitting
clothes and a scowl on all occasions. Here
he remained for some time and made excel
lent progress in his studies, especially in
reading, writing and arithmetic, about all
that was taught in this school.
After Cox had achieved distinction old
Uncle Jimmy Mccormick used to take great
credit to himself for having laid the foun-
dation for such brilliant career Young
Sammy Cox was always perfect III his
studies, but he did not devote all his time
to mis- books. On the contrary, he had
more spare time than any other scholar in
the school, and this was put in in a most
mischieVous manner. He was always the
leader i'll such freaks as barring out the
teacher and making him treat before being
admitted to the school room. On such DAYS
as Sammy desired holiday the stove
would smoke, and an investigation iuvaria-
bly, led to the discovery of an impeachment
in the tiue OF course, no one knew who
put it there, and on such ccasions there
were no moro innocent, smoke-be-grimed
features in the room than those of Sammy
Cox.
Later Sam was a pupil of Royal r. T.
Sprague, who afterward became supreme
judge of the state of California. Under
Sprague the higher branches were taught,
but tue school did not pay, and Spragus
suspended after the first quarter. Tnen
the Mcintyre Academy was lounded and
young Cox was among the first pupils to
enter. 1t was here the finishing touches
were put to his education, SO far as the
pteceptor and regulation school books were
concerned.
Like all boys who are reared in river
town, Sammy Cox was an expert swimmer
and skater. There were other swimmers
and skaters in his time, but even the old
men " no were his school mates are willing
to concede that he was much more pro-
hclent in that line than any of the others
TINS superiority extended to all the games
which were played in those times, and he
was always looked upon as a leader
Young Cox early displayed oratorical
talent, and always carried off the prize in
the contests ct the scaool exhibitions. In
his early youth he displayed quite genius
In drawing, and afterward became an art
Ht OF no mean pretentions. In the school
room he would make sketches of the differ
ent objects to be seen, always working in
the funny side. This was another accom-
pIshmeat that afforded him much atnuss-
Ment and benefit in after life. At ore
ume, while be was editor Of the Ohio States
man, he made visit to his parents, who,
at this time, resided a short dis
lance from the city. Some repairs we're
belng made to the porch at the front of the
mouse, and on the smooth surface of the
new boards he drew a nuabeT of comical
laces, no two of which were alike. They
were so grotesque that Cox, ST., instructed
the painters to spare EN-, and the boards
remained Imprinted for some time These
pictures were quite attractive to the resi-
dents Of the neighborhood, as the faces of
some OF them we're recognized as carica-
lures of old-time chara cters of Muskingum
county. White and red chalk add charcoal
cd he 81 tfu