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Joe T. Cox
Mr. Cox a well known resident of Baywood and citizen of Grayson County, who was 89 years of age December 10, 1960, at his home when interviewed by Gazette newsman (in January, 1961), primarily concerning his thirtieth year as a rural free delivery mail carrier. Below is the article written by Munsey M. Poole in January, 1961.
Twenty-five years ago, come January 31, 1961, Joseph T. Cox, long-time citizen of the Baywood Community, terminated his service with Uncle Sam as a rural free delivery mail carrier. He was then...
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Joe T. Cox
Mr. Cox a well known resident of Baywood and citizen of Grayson County, who was 89 years of age December 10, 1960, at his home when interviewed by Gazette newsman (in January, 1961), primarily concerning his thirtieth year as a rural free delivery mail carrier. Below is the article written by Munsey M. Poole in January, 1961.
Twenty-five years ago, come January 31, 1961, Joseph T. Cox, long-time citizen of the Baywood Community, terminated his service with Uncle Sam as a rural free delivery mail carrier. He was then 63 years old. Now, Mr. Cox is hale and hearty at 89. He observed his 89th birthday quietly at his home on Saturday, December 10, 1960. He was born near Independence on December 10, 1871.
Mr. Cox, amiable and a very pleasant conversationalist, told Gazette representatives in a recent interview, that he served RFD Rt. No. 1, out from the Baywood Post Office, from 1905 to the time of his retirement in 1935 - a period of 30 years.
During summer heat and winter cold, Mr. Cox, known to everyone as "Joe," rode his route in the spirit of the post office department's longstanding slogan, "The mail must go through."
To maintain this standard, Mr. Cox did most of his mail carrying on horseback. Notwithstanding this fact he related that he wore out three buggies and one cart carrying the mail during the 30 years that he served the patrons of the route, which varied in length through the years but averaged up to about 32 miles.
The mail that Mr. Cox delivered came to the Baywood Post Office by Star Route extended by, and included, in its circuit, the post offices at Oldtown, Baywood, and Ennice, North Carolina, the star carrier traveling one way each day and then retracing the route on his return.
"Old Swift" was recalled to Mr. Cox's mind during the interview as perhaps the best horse he ever used on the mail route. He said he rode "Old Swift" for nine years, and related that he bought this favorite horse from the late Dr. S. E. Young, of Baywood, who was the father of Don A. Young, who now resides in Galax on Swanson Street.
Beginning his career as a mail carrier on November 16, 1905, Mr. Cox said that he went through his first winter on the job without wearing overshoes or a cap. He said, however, that he wore heavy home-knitted wool socks, and durable homemade shoes. It is hard for anyone in this modern era of high-priced shoes, and high-priced "most everything else," to imagine having a pair of good shoes made for one dollar. But Mr. Cox said that was what it cost him to have a pair made in the period in which he began to ride his mail route a little more than half a century ago. (Things like this sometimes make those who remember some of them long for "The good old days.")
Furthermore, he said --- on the other hand --- that his salary during the early days on his mail route was the "fabulous" sum of $75.00 a month.
During the interview, Mr. Cox thought of, and told very interestingly, a number of most unique and very interesting occurrences, of a rather humorous nature, that happened during the lengthy period of his service with Uncle Sam's far-flung postal service, and which served to "smooth some of the rough places" that one was sure to encounter from time to time along the way as one served such a route as did Mr. Cox.
Once, said the veteran retired RFD carrier, he was visited by a mail inspector from the U.S. Post Office Department. The inspector had come to Fries, and driven from there over to Baywood and contacted Mr. Cox as he was on his route, or about to start on it -- horseback.
The inspector chided the rural carrier about the fact that he still used a horse instead of an automobile as a means of conveyance as he traveled his route. The inspector asked Mr. Cox to get in his car to travel over his route on the daily delivery. Mr. Cox was a little leary of the whole thing, knowing, as he did, the condition of the road, and the resistance that such "mud" roads could, and often did, put up against the onward march of progress as represented by a moving automobile. However, he acceded to the inspector's invitation, and the two entered the vehicle, and were off at once. Soon they were in difficulty because of the mud, and it wasn't long until the inspector's car was "stuck", immovable. When finally, the car was gotten to where it would navigate again, the inspector told the carrier he was returning to Fries, and said, "When I come again, I'll let you know" ---- as much as to say "I've had enough of your muddy roads."
Then Mr. Cox saddled his trusty old horse, and quietly traveled the remainder of his route.
The genial retired carrier said that one year an entire large wooden buck of candy, such as was common in that period was mailed from New River Grocery Company, Fries, to a merchant in the Baywood area near Christmas time, and that the bucket of candy, notwithstanding its bulk and weight, was delivered by horseback, along with his other mail. Nevertheless, he said he had some help with the candy bucket, which help was furnished by J. I. Paisley, the well-known Mr. Paisley who operates an insurance agency in Galax.
Reminded, by his very attractive granddaughter, Alix Jo Cox, of another humorous incident of his mail-carrying days, Mr. Cox said that once he started out on his mail route before he realized that the day was a legal holiday, and that he wasn't supposed to be delivering the mail at all that day.
The mail route that he served is now a part of Route 1 from the Galax Post Office. Melvin Parish is the present carrier on the route with Glen Nichols as substitute carrier.
Joseph T. Cox was born two miles west of Independence, where Guy Halsey now resides. He is a son of the late Elbert F. S. Cox, who was many years clerk of the Grayson County School Board, and wife, Mrs. Jane Hampton Cox.
One of his grandmothers, Mrs. Alex Hampton, was the former Miss Jestin Fulton, sister of the late Capt. Samuel Monroe Fulton of Summerfield, who was an officer of the Army of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Thus, the late T. R. Fulton, who for a number of years represented Grayson County in the House of Delegates of the Virginia Legislature, was a second cousin of Mr. Cox.
Another revelation made by Mr. Cox --- one that was, naturally, very pleasing to his interviewers --- was that he probably had been a reader of the Gazette longer than any other living person. He said he began to be a Gazette reader when the newspaper was first established in Independence, and had been a reader of the Gazette ever since that time.
Mr. Cox came to the Baywood section to live near the time of his marriage to Miss Laura Hampton, of that community, on March 7, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Cox were married, as they sat on their horses, in front of the Methodist parsonage in Oldtown. The wedding ceremony was performed by the minister who was pastor of the Oldtown Methodist Church at that time.
Ten sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox. Nine of these children are now living. Three -- Forrest, Chap and an infant -- are deceased. The seven sons and two daughters now living are as follows: Paul G. Cox, at Rt. 1, Galax, Baywood Community, who has served as principal of both Galax High School and Woodlawn High School; Mrs. R. A. Noell, of Hillsville, wife of the vocational agriculture instructor at Hillsville High School; Elbert Cox, of Richmond; Joe Cox, of Marion; Randolph Cox, Adrien, Connecticut; Fred M. Cox, of Radford who is Radford's City Sergeant; Mrs. Annie Ward, of Roanoke County; Bruce Cox, of the United States Air Force, now stationed at Madison, Wisconsin and Hardin Cox, of Richmond.
He also has one brother living. He is Elbert (Bert) Cox, of Independence. The late Robert M. Cox, of Baywood, and the late Hardin Alexander Cox, for many years a widely known Independence lawyer and member of the Grayson County Bar, were brothers of Mr. Cox.
His four sisters were: Mrs. Sue Moore (half-sister), wife of the late Dan Moore; Mrs. Joe (Victoria) Osborne, who died in Nebraska; Mrs. Jeff (Ella May) Cox, of Peach Bottom. (She was the first wife of Jeff Cox, who was the father of Dr. Virgil J. Cox, Galax; Bryan Cox and Miss Nettie Cox, of Peach Bottom, and the late Dr. Carl E. Cox, of Fries and Galax), and Mrs. Mack (Zenna) Halsey.
This articles touches only some of the highlights of the career, primarily that phase of which ahs to do with his experience as an RFD mail carrier of a man who is affable, genial and loveable, and a man who lies people and likes to talk with them. There are, of course, many facets of his life note been mentioned here, but about which a veritable book could be written.
It is hoped, however, that this feature story attempt wills serve to convey to the reader something of an idea of the interesting experiences in at least one phase of his long life, and a glimpse of the glowing, effervescent spirit that characterizes the warm personality of the good citizen, the good neighbor, the good man --- Joseph T. Cox. (Copied from Baywood by Pat Davis, Pages 90-93)
Joseph Terry Cox was born in Grayson County, Virginia, about a mile west of Independence. He was the son of Elbert F. S. Cox (1829-1909), and wife Jane Hampton (1842-1908). His grandfather was Hardin Cox (1796-1867), who was the son of Joshua Cox (1766-1820). This Joshua Cox was the eldest of twelve children of the Pioneer to the New River area, David Cox (c.1735-1819). The father of the Pioneer David Cox was one Joshua Cox, who left his will in then Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the year 1747.
While Joseph Terry was born about six years after the close of the Civil War, he grew up amidst the after effects of the War. His father Elbert F. S. Cox had been wounded at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain and New River Bridge, fought on May 9-10, 1864. In this battle the Confederate losses are recorded at 900 men. Losses for the Federal Forces show as 126 killed, 585 wounded and 34 missing for a total of 745 men.
The 1871 birth date for Joseph Terry Cox came only 88 years later than the last of the British Troops had withdrawn from New York in 1783, following the close of the American Revolution. In Virginia in 1871, the hardships following the close of the Civil war were felt throughout the state. For nine years the state had not been a member of the Union. It was not until January 1870, that Virginia's Senators and Representatives were allowed to take their seats in Congress. Military rule during the period of reconstruction had come to an end. In 1870-74, one native of New York by name of Gilbert Carlton Walker was Governor of Virginia. He had resided in Norfolk since 1864.
Joseph Terry Cox married Laura Florence Hampton (1875-1966), at Oldtown, Virginia on 7 March 1895. The marriage was performed by the Reverend Simpson, and witnessed by a brother Robert M. Cox and a sister of the bride, Mary Frances Hampton. The children of Joseph Terry and wife Laura Florence numbered twelve born February 1896 - August 1919.
At age 24 in 1896, Joseph Terry Cox with a large number of other students, attended the Grayson Normal School in Independence. He taught school in the County in the late 1800's, when the monthly salary was about seventeen dollars. He had settled first on land about two miles east of the Island Ford in New River on Austin's Creek, and purchased additional land on Austin's Creek in 1904 and 1906. In 1912 he purchased land about one mile North of the Baywood Post Office, and was active in the building of the first school in Baywood. His children were closer to school by this move.
These parents of twelve children were strong in their support of education for the children. Of the eleven children that survived to maturity, nine obtained college degrees, seven sons and two daughters. Seven of the children taught school in Virginia at some time in their careers.
The eldest son served in France with U. S. Forces in World War I, and his son served with the Army in North Africa and Europe in World War II. Five sons served as Commissioned Officers in World War II, in the Pacific, Europe, North Africa, or the USA.
The eleven children in order of age: Chap Hampton Cox, Forrest Simmerman Cox, Paul Guy Cox, Mary Katherine Cox, Elbert Cox, Joseph Ellis Cox, Fred Cox, Thomas Randolph Cox, Annie Laura Cox, Robert Bruce Cox, and Hardin Cox. (Copied from Bicentennial Heritage, Grayson County, Virginia 1793 by the 1908 Courthouse Foundation, Independence, Virginia, 1995, Page 187-188) |
