Sacramento Valley Biographies

WILLIAM ALEXANDER COX

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, May 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

         Self-educated and self-reliant, W. A. Cox has solved the vital
problem of attaining success in the face of difficulties which would have so
discouraged the majority of men as to effectively destroy their ambition for
advancement. 

         Mr. Cox was born, May 13, 1857, in Warrensburg, Johnson county,
Mo., of which state his parents were also natives. The father, Elisha
Randolph Cox, who was a farmer, served in the Federal Army during the Civil
War as a private in a Missouri regiment. He died in January, 1904, aged
seventy-nine years. Mr. Cox's mother, who was before marriage, Sarah
Elliott, died in 1857, leaving four children. Bereft of his mother in his
infancy, William A. Cox was left to the care of others, and the only
educational opportunity afforded him was a three-months' attendance at the
district school. When eleven years old he became a cow-boy on a cattle ranch
in Texas, where he remained for two years, at the expiration of which time
he went to Illinois for the purpose of serving an apprenticeship in the
machine shops of the Chicago & Alton Railway. He was immediately required to
serve as a fireman on a locomotive and in spite of his oft-repeated request
to be allowed to go into the shops, he was compelled to continue in that
capacity. At the age of seventeen he turned his attention to blacksmithing,
and after acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the trade he opened a shop in
Missouri. In 1881 he came to California, locating first in Arbuckle, Colusa
county, but shortly afterward removed to Williams, where he has since
resided. Finding that blacksmiths' wages were extremely low in this locality
he accepted a position in a warehouse and in a few months became foreman, in
which capacity he continued for eleven years. It was his intention when
leaving the warehouse to go to Montana, but happening to meet a resident of
Williams who desired the service of a carpenter, he attempted the work,
which he executed to the entire satisfaction of his employer. This incident
opened to him a new opportunity for advancement, and immediately deciding to
take advantage of it he resolutely began the task of preparing himself for
his new field of usefulness. Considering the fact that he was unfam-iliar
with the building trade this undertaking required no small amount of
courage, but buoyed up by an implicit confidence in his ability to succeed
he assiduously applied himself to the study of works upon building,
architecture, and drawing. In a short time he mastered the principles of his
new calling and established himself as a contractor and builder in Williams.
Since starting his business he has planned and erected some of the finest
residences in Williams and its vicinity. He furnishes employment to a number
of skilled workmen, has a shop which is equipped with modern machinery and
is about to erect a large and more up-to-date plant. In politics he is a
Republican but takes no active part in public affairs beyond using his
elective privileges.

           Mr. Cos was united in marriage at Colusa with Miss Maggie
Bledsoe, who is a native of Modoc county, this state. They have four
children, namely: Golda, Garland Cubb, Geraldine and Gladys. Mrs. Cox is a
member of the Christian Church.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 454-455.