Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-11-22
Stephen Cox.


Stephen Cox, founder and head of
the Cox & Sons Company's plant, on
Water street died Sunday morning.
His illness had been of short dura-
tion, but serious, arising from in
ternal complications. Never before
i'll, man hale and vigorous, Mr.. Cox
had no thoughts of dying, but felt
all through his sickness that he
would soon recover. Until the very
last he fully expected to again assume
his active place in the busy plant
which had grown up, under his man.
agement, from very small begin
ming.
Stephen Cox was born in Stafford
shire, England, was one of large
family and was accorded the privilege
of but limited education, which he
received in the parish school of his
native place. Fourteen years of age
he was when he apprenticed himself to
the Horsley Iron Works, in Stafford
shire, and laid the foundation for his
future success. There he remained
until he attained his majority, when
he removed to Smelterwich, in War
wickshire, where he was employed as
foreman in the London Works, a big
ironv concern near Birmingham.
There he remained for ten years, and
flattering indeed were the testimon-
ials from his employers, when he
severed his connections with the con-
cern.
A year more than thirty found him
looking toward America, which
seemed to afford broader fields for
his mechanical genius, and he came
to the United States with view of
prospecting. He travelled quite ex-
tenSively over the country and located
in Reading, Pa. There he became
foreman of the large machine shops
of MOBILES. Two years he remained
there, ana then went to Phoenix
vile, Pa, where he was engaged with
the Phoenix Iron Works, and from
there to Bridgeton, employed by the
same company and assumed the fore
manShip of the shops at the Cumber-
land Nail and Iron Works.
In the fall of 1866, he made begin
ming for himself, establishing the
shops under the firm name of Cox.
Deruke & Co., afterwards, Peace,
Cox & Co. Then he admitted his
three sons in the business, and later
the concern became, as it is now,
Cox u Sons Company. The great
plant on Water street, is well known,
and it has constantly grown and ex-
panded, and has reputation over
much of the world. All sorts of steam
heating apparatus, horizontal and
vertical engines, smith forges, glass
factory machinery and ice plant ma
chinery is made by the firm.
All these years, Mr.. Cox has been
giving his personal attention to the
business. Every day would find him
in the work shops, hand and hand
with the men. No man about the
big plant was more popular with the
employees than Mr.. Cox, and in his
death good friend is lost them.
Mr.. Cox was married in July of 1843,
to Miss Mary Partridge of his native
place. She died less than ten years
since.
Their children were William,
Stephen. Mary, now Mrs. Geo. Con-
field, and Miss Mercy, all born in
England. John T. and Charles
Franklin Cox were born in this.c .coun-
try. All the children survive except
ing Stephen, who died few years
since, suddenly.
Mr.. Cox was conservative, earnest
citizen. Republican in politics, he
never took active interest in political
affairs, but supported all measures
looking to the best interests of the
city. He was representative mem
ber of st. Andrews Episcopal Church,
and for years was teacher in the
Sunday School. In the church he
was one of it's earliest wardens'.
Bridgeton loses a good citizen in
Mr.. Cox and in the daily life in which
he associated he will long be missed
by those who knew him to love him.
David p. Elmer.
David P. Elmer died Saturday
night at his Franklin street home, at