Surnames: Cox, Shallenburger, Dawson, Works, Murphy, Lingham
Robert Bruce Cox was born at Brownsvillle, Fayette county, Penna, March 24, 1840; was reared and attended the common schools there. He began life as a clerk for Jesse H Duncan of Brownsville, iron, nails and commission house. From 1857 to 1861 he served an apprenticeship at millwright business under William H Barnes of Uniontown. IN 1861 he went into the army and served till 1864. About three years before the war, however, he joined a company of cavalry which was organized by Captain Davidson at Merrittstown. This company offered its services to the governor of Virginia at the time of the John Brown raid.
On the breaking out of the war they again offered their services, but General Scott thought there was no need for cavalry to quiet the rebellious feeling at the South, and they were not called into action. It
was afterward attached to the Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry at Camp Wilkins, Pittsburgh; was taken thence to Washington City where it was disbanded, and the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry was organized under George D Bayard as colonel. He was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg.Mr Cox was at the following battles: Drainsville, Virginia; Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Gainesville, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Culpeper, Auburn, Bristow Station, New Home Church, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and all the battles under General Grant in his attempts to capture Richmond. The regiment was with Sheridan in all of his raids. Mr Cox was never out of the service one hour from the time he entered till he was discharged; he never had a furlough, and received no wound.
He was mustered out September 15, 1864, at Philadelphia. Since then he has been very active in the organization of martial clubs for political parties, and assisted in organizing the William Kurtz Post, G A R at Connellsville. After the war he returned home and engaged in the carpenter trade, and was for several years in the employment of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company of Connellsville. In 1877 he commenced as a contractor and builder, and has continued as such ever since.
He is a member of "King Solomon's" Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, No 346, at Connellsville, of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Chosen Friends, Penn Council, No 30. He has served as secretary in each.
In politics Mr Cox has been an independent republican.He has alwasy been a strictly temperate man, is a member of the Baptist church, and has served as a member of the council for his borough, and as assessor.
Mr Cox has been twice married; first on April 13, 1864, to Mary J Shallenburger, a daughter of Abraham Shallenburger, an old settler at Connellsville. Four children were born to them: Abraham Shallenburger Cox, Samuel J Cox, Anna Cox and Nannie Cox.
His second wife was Jennie Dawson, a native of Connellsville, to whom he married in March, 1889.
His parents were Samuel J Cox and Nancy Works Cox. Their family consisted of six children: James Cox (dead), Mary A Cox, Robert B Cox, John C Cox, Samuel J Cox and Ellen Cox. The latter was burned to death when thirteen years of age.
Samuel J Cox, father, was born at Brownsville, lived there till 1863, when he removed to Connellsville, and has always been engaged in the merchant tailoring business. He married three times. His second wife was Mary Murphy, a native of Redstone township, and had four children:
William Cox, Dorcas Cox, Thomas Cox, and James Cox. She was killed at Connellsville. For his third wife he married Ella Lingham, a native of Pittsburgh.The paternal grandfather of R B Cox was of German descent, born in Fayette county, and was a farmer. He served in the War of 1812-15, and was killed in battle.
Nancy Works, the mother of R B Cox, was a native of Dunbar township, a daughter of James Works, who was also born in Dunbar township.