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.