The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-14
R. f. cox DEAD.

Kew. ID. w. PraCC In MS 1uneTdl reLndlhs
touching the life work Of Robert Emme1
Cox, took as the basis OF his thought the
scriptural quotation: What greater love
hath any man than this, that he give his
life for his friend.
All that he said of the deceased is liter
ally true, and more, for his hand was held
out not alone to friends, in the commonly
accepted sense, but in the broader sense
in which the Saviour spoke when ne said
these are my mother and my brethren
He helped others by instinct. His en-
trance into public life was marked step by
step with deeds of kindness, and as his
opportunity enlarged those deeds of kind
ness were multiplied proportionately.
1t was our privilege to have known the
deceased intimately, having been closely
associated with him for something like
twenty years. Few people who did not
know him intimately, know OF the diff
cuIties under which he struggled, as q
young man.
He was left an orphan, at an early age,
and had little Or no opportunity to attend
school; and yet by dint Of the closest ap-
plication, in contact with an ordinary bus
iness life, he absorbed good English edu-
cation. He was man Of great deal OF
natural ability, much more than the aver
aged man possesses. Such men rise above
their surroundings in spite Of difficulties.
Mr.. Cox leaves a good estate, second to
few in Abbeville county, and he has made
every dollar of it himself. When he came
to Abbeville about twenty-five years ago
he had three or four thousand dollars that
he had made delivering wood and cross
ties to the Abbeville Branch railroad. He
bought tract Of land on the outskirts OF
the city which he afterward sold at good
price. For number Of years he was Mag
istrate. and at the same time clerk in the
County Auditors Office. He afterward
succeeded to the Auditors Office, which
position he held for something more than
one term when he was elected Cashier Of
the Peoples Savings Bank of this city. In
this position his sphere Of operations was
greatly enlarged, and success crowned his
efforts. In the meantime the growth and
development Of the bank, with which he
has been associated as cashier since its Or
ganization, has been phenomenal, largely
through his magnetism and business ca
pacity. The same may be said Of the
warehouse here OF which he has been pres
ident since succeeding Mr.. John R. Blake,
the organizer.
1t Is doubtless true as stated by Mr..
Pratt that the deceased came to his death
by ove-taxing his strength, and that, too,
in serving others as much or more than in
laboring in his own interest. II the hum
blest negro applied to him to draw up
some paper or do other work, while he was
deeply engaged In important work either
for the bank or for himself, he would most
likely put down his own work tocomply
with the request, or In any event, he
would put him off only until he could find
moment to help him.
Some mems sphere Of usefulness is State
wide--that Of the deceased was rather To-
cal, confined to his county, but no man has
ever filed a larger place in general service
to the people ef his county than R. E. Cox.
This fact could be attested by hundreds OF
individuals. 1t was evidenced by the pres
ence OF those from all over the county
who met his remains at the station, and
who with bowed heads stood about his
grave to witness the last sad rites.
The deceased leaves a widow, who was
Miss Jennie Mc1lwain, and seven children
two girls and five boys. The eldest son,
only few weeks ago, left for the Phillip
pine Islands to accept good position in
agricultural work there. He is even now
on his way and ignorant Of the fearful
tragedy that has darkened his home.
In the death OF Robert tEmmet Cox we
have lost true friend, and Abbeville
county has lost strong man whose every
heartbeat was loyal to her best interest.
: 1t is one Of the mysteries of destiny that
man should die when his arm is strong
est, when his brain is clearest, when his
grasp is warmest, and when 80 many
whom ne might lift up, are struggling
lower down. Truly, "Man proposes and
God disposes.' J
DEPOSIT MANGANESE ORE