The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1033 JAMES K. COX. Although James K. Cox has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey he is still active as an orchardist in the Yakima valley, having a ten acre fruit ranch near Zillah. At one time he owned seventy acres but has now sold most of the tract to his children. His career is interesting, as it has been pursued in various western states, and thus he has been identified with the development of the northwest. A native of Hannibal, Missouri, James K. Cox was born November 27, 1844, and is a son of Louis Allen and Caroline P. (Baird) Cox, natives of Barren county, Kentucky. They removed to Missouri in 1842, later taking up their residence in Bacon county, that state, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for many years, and there both parents passed away. Louis A. Cox went to California in search of the golden fleece in 1850 and in that state he remained for fifteen years, his efforts being attended with more or less success. He then returned to Missouri. James K. Cox was reared upon a Missouri farm and in his youth became familiar with life under pioneer conditions. He learned lessons in agriculture and in the acquirement of an education attended the public schools until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he began his independent career. When twenty-one years of age, in 1865, he crossed the plains to Virginia City, Montana, where he remained for eighteen months, but in the latter part of 1866 he returned to Missouri. In 1869 he was married in that state and then went to Boone county, Arkansas, where for five years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, at the end of which period he returned to Missouri, again remaining in that state for a year. Later he went to Texas, where for four years he was engaged in the stock business and as a rancher in the central part of the state. Going from there to Arkansas, he resided for nine years in that state, from 1880 until 1889, and from the latter year until 1901 he was again a resident of Missouri. He then came to the Yakima valley and in 1901 acquired title to twenty acres of land a half mile east of Buena, which was than in alfalfa but which he has since planted to fruit. He has sold ten acres of this tract, retaining the remaining ten, from which he receives a very gratifying income, always following the most progressive methods. He has built a fine home and instituted other improvements, so that his place has now become a very valuable one. Since coming to the Yakima valley he has acquired other laid, owning at one time seventy acres in all, but he now has sold this to his children in order that they might have homes of their own. On January 24, 1869, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Merrill, a native of Marion county, West Virginia, and a daughter of Andrew and Julia (Davis) Merrill, who in 1851 became residents of Kentucky and in 1854 removed to Missouri, where both passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have become the parents of the following children. Nora Etta, the first born, died at the age of nineteen years. Lucian M., who follows ranching near his father's place, is married and has two children. Roma Ella first married M. Smith, who has passed away, and she is now the wife of J. L. Love, by whom she has one child, and they reside in the state of Missouri. Olive May wedded William E. Gibson, of Toppenish, Washington, and they have three sons. Ida Caroline is the wife of Everett T. Brown, who is a rancher on the Yakima Indian reservation, and they have two children. Ernest V., who is ranching near his father's place, is married and has two children. Andrew B. is at home. Spruce McCoy, who is ranching nearby, is married and has one child. Julia Virginia is a successful teacher and now makes her home in Montana. Lola Lyda, the youngest member of the family, also follows the profession of teaching. On the 24th of January, 1919, Mr. and Mrs. Cox celebrated their golden wedding, being on that occasion surrounded by all of their children except one. The ceremony was made memorable by this reunion of practically all of the family and many were the expressions of felicitation which this worthy couple received from their many friends and neighbors. A group picture of the whole family was taken to commemorate the event and remain as a memento to future generations. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cox all received an excellent education and six of them have been school teachers. The family are devoted members of the Christian church, in the work of which they take a helpful interest. Politically Mr. Cox is a democrat, having ever staunchly supported that party. While a resident of Missouri he served as justice of the peace and also as school director. While his career has been pursued in various states, each removal has marked a forward step and he now is numbered among the prosperous and substantial residents of his section of Yakima county. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.