HOME AFFILIATIONS
James M. Cox was always a great pal of his mother and of course very
good to her. He also was very close to his sister Anna, and her
husband, Mr. Baker, his first employer. He seems to have had but
little to do with young ladies, his entire time being devoted to work
and study. The newspaper hours were long and as soon as they were over
he went home and buried himself in his books with a dictionary handy.
THE CHILDREN
His first marriage was to a Cincinnati girl named Harding. It is said
that she was a very pretty girl and is a very attractive woman today.
Altho the Governor has always refused to discuss in any way their life
together, it is said that she was the first girl whom he ever showed
any attention. At any rate, they were engaged, and soon married. The
wedding took place in Cincinnati, May 25, 1893, when he was 23 years
of age. They had four children, three surviving, which were born as
follows: Miss Helen Cox, now Mrs. Daniel Mahoney; Mr. John Cox;
Master James Cox.
It is a very happy family of children. At Mr. Cox’s home at Trailsend,
one notices pictures of the children about the house. One which young
Jimmy had autographed for his “Daddy,” apparently as a Xmas gift, is
especially noticeable. They all are very fond of the Governor and he
is devoted to them. You cannot spend, of course, an hour with him
without hearing of his children.
People think Mr. Cox made a mistake not to have his wife and family
more at Washington with him when he went first as Secretary to
Congressman Sorg, and later as Congressman himself. Political work
kept him very much engrossed at Washington and the three children and
her music kept Mrs. Cox very busy. Neither was interested in the plans
of the other. The neighbors believe that if they had been they would
be living together today. But such is not the case.
A MANLY ACT
When the Governor returned to Dayton from Washington in 1908 and 1909
something seemed lacking. The old love which was so strong in 1893 was
gone. On October 2, 1909, he and Mrs. Cox separated although no
formal action was taken for two years. His wife, Mary Harding Cox, had
in the meantime moved to Cleveland where she established a residence.
Legal proceedings were brought through the Patterson law offices,
American Trust Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Afterwards she went to
Germany remaining there until early in 1914. In the fall of 1914 she
married Mr. Richard H. Lee. Mr. Lee is a much-respected attorney now
of New York City and resides at Pelham Manor with his wife. Although
Mr. Cox had arranged to pay for the support of the children, Mr. Lee
insisted that such money be not so used, but invested for the children
to receive as a future benefit. Many who did not really know Mr. Cox
and his former wife before that time then learned to love and respect
them both.
The petition was filed on May 10, 1911. As is customary in such cases,
_i. e._, when the husband intends to be chivalrous, Mr. Cox permitted
his wife to ask for the divorce. It was granted on June 22, 1911. The
Court decided that the custody of the children should be awarded to
each party equally.
It was a wonderful test for any man or woman. Only persons of the
highest character could handle themselves in such a straightforward
impassionate way. The attitude of both is an example of frankness,
courage and kindness. Everyone who knew them then is enthusiastic in
their praise. Both, of course, today always speak well of the other
and the children are naturally equally fond of mother and father. It
was an unfortunate affair and yet was probably for the best. The
venerable Dayton attorney, Hon. John A. McMahon, was Mr. Cox’s counsel
in the case. All who know Mr. Cox or Mary Harding Cox realize that
they would do only what they thought was best under the circumstances.
The youngest son, now thirteen, is with his mother in New York and the
older son, about sixteen, is a student at the Culver Military Academy
in Indiana. The daughter is married and lives in Dayton, her husband
being in the employ of her father on the _Dayton News_. Mr. Cox
believes in doing the best possible under all circumstances and
trusting the results. He never discusses the case and makes no
explanations. Further light is thrown on the case by the fact that Cox
did not meet his second wife until five years after the divorce was
granted from his first wife.
THE GOVERNOR’S WIFE
One day in March, 1916, after a hard season’s work in connection with
publishing his two papers, James Mr. Cox motored down to Hot Springs
for a little rest and change. There he met Miss Margaret Blair who was
stopping at the hotel with her aunt. Both were from Chicago, Miss
Blair being the daughter of Mr. Thomas Blair, a prominent Chicago
business man. Miss Blair apparently had that love for politics and
out-door life which appealed to Mr. Cox. Miss Blair was very athletic,
rather than musical. She could ride, swim, play golf, sail a boat and
loved the rough life of the woods and farm. Mr. Cox stayed at Hot
Springs for a whole month. After that he made many week-end trips to
Chicago, even during his gubernatorial campaign. At the inauguration
ceremonies in January, 1917, Miss Blair was seen in a prominent seat.
She and the Governor were married in September, 1917.
They have recently had one child which has been named Anne. It was
eight months old when Mr. Cox was nominated for the Presidency. Mr.
Cox named it after his oldest sister, Mrs. John Q. Baker, to whom I
have already referred, and who did so much for him in his early days.
Before dropping the subject let me say that Mr. Cox was married to
Miss Blair by the Reverend Washington Gladden, one of the most honored
of Congregational preachers. Gladden died in 1918.
In this connection permit me to add that Mrs. Cox is an earnest
Christian woman and a regular attendant of the Episcopal Church.
While Governor, Mr. Cox has three homes; namely, the Governor’s
mansion at Columbus; Trailsend, a very beautiful country estate of
about 65 acres, two miles from Dayton on the Middletown road; and the
old Homestead where he spent his early boyhood days. This old place
was originally 111 acres and was at one time sold out of the family;
but just as soon as Mr. Cox had the means, he purchased it. He since
has restored it, so far as possible, to its original appearance and
increased the area to 250 acres. He conducts it himself now as a real
farm and is stocking it with a fine grade of Holstein cattle.
Unlike many boys who are born on a farm he still has a love for farm
life. Whenever he gets a half day of freedom, he goes out to his farm
at Jacksonburg and looks at the cattle. He loves them dearly and is
never so happy as when he can be amongst the animals. Mr. Cox feels
that everyone who can possibly afford it should have some active part
in production. He is very much interested in agriculture and the
producing of food stuffs. He believes that the cost of living will be
reduced only by all producing more and consuming less. It seems to be
a matter of principle with him to run his farm and render some real
service, not only in producing food stuffs, but also in improving the
quality of live stock.
He has strong opinions regarding fundamental economic problems. Altho
he makes no pretence to scholarship in economics, he is sound on all
economic questions. This is discussed more fully in the latter part of
this volume but I cannot help now mentioning the matter so far as it
applies to production, both industrially and agriculturally. James M.
Cox believes in everyone working, whether rich or poor, and believes
that not only the cost-of-living problem but also the social problems
will be solved thereby. Absentee ownership and idleness on the part of
both rich and poor are at the bottom of our social troubles. He
insists that this question of production is really a moral question
and should be taken up by all lovers of righteousness. To quote him:
“The need today is more religion, but this religion must be expressed
thru integrity, industry and service, rather than thru blue laws or
verbal resolutions.”
MEMBER OF THE MASONS
James M. Cox is a member of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge of Middletown,
Ohio. Among the many letters which came to him after his nomination
for the Presidency was one from the lodge which he seemed to prize
most highly. He commented on the fact that the Middletown Lodge had
furnished Ohio two Governors.
Although interested in all forward looking movement for the betterment
of mankind, Mr. Cox is very fond of the old things. The Jacksonburg
farm where he was born has been fixed up by him in a most interesting
way. All the old fire-places have been opened; a mammoth one, eight
feet long and five feet high, is in the dining room; while great four
poster beds are in each chamber. The entire house is--in
fact--furnished with old fashioned furniture. The present care-taker
was about the place when James M. Cox was a boy and he tells me that
he “nursed him.” On the walls in the living room are oil paintings of
his grandmother Graig and grandfather Gilbert Cox, the one who built
the church. One look at the faces of these two fine old people shows
clearly from where he inherits his honesty, courage and energy.