The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-25
Sketch of His Career.

Samuel Sullivan Cox, better known as
t'Sunset" Cox, was born in GAINESVILLE, Ohio,
September 80, 1924. His father, Ezekiel Tay
lor Cox, was q leading politician Of Ohio and
O member of the State Senate in 1928. The
mother of s. S. Cox was a daughter Of
Samuel Sullivan, who was Treasurer of
Ohio in 1918, and had a high reputation for
probity.
MIR. Cox attended the Ohio University at
Athens, but subsequently became q student
of Brown University, Rhode Island, where
he graduated with honor in the class Of 1876
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 a very readable and
popular book on travels, entitled 1.-THE
Buckeye Abroad"
In 1853 Mr.. Cox became owner and editor
of the Columbus Ohio Statesman, the
Democratic organ Of the State. In 1855
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 Buchanan's Presidential
term. He was thrice reelected, serving con-
the memorable years of the administrations
of James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln.
In 1868, 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 eighth
Congress in 1855, Mr.. Cox removed to the
city of New York, where he afterward re-
sided. Hepublished that year, under the t.
r.1-Gk s,,T TA,,o hao1y Nf
his experiences and observations while
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
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
ity against Mr.. Cox was Il, 900 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
dozen votes Of success.
On the 25th Of March, 1885, President
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.
dis best known book, 'Why We
Laugh" is Oil 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
semi-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 q finesunset 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 it have any idea of its ORIGIN.