Jeremiah Simon Cox

Jeremiah Simon Cox

Jeremiah Simon Cox during a long and useful career has been farmer, financier, manufacturer and banker. He is one of the men responsible for the establishment and development of one of Greensboro's most prominent banking institutions, the Greensboro Loan and Trust Company, of which he has been vice president since it was established in 1899. This company, capitalized at $200,000, with surplus of nearly a hundred thousand dollars, has deposits aggregating more than a million and a half dollars.

Mr. Cox was born on a farm in Grant Township of Randolph County, North Carolina, in 1846. His father, Simon Cox, was born on the same farm. The grandfather was a farmer and planter, and probably spent all his life in North Carolina. Simon Cox grew up on a farm, succeeded to its ownership, and was a successful farmer, aside from other important business interests outside of tilling the soil and managing its resources. He married Ruth Allen, who was born in Randolph County and died at the age of sixty-two. Her father, Dr. Joseph Allen, was a practising physician for many years. Her mother was Martha Allen. Simon Cox and wife were active members of the Society of Friends. They had five sons, named Joseph, Milton, Nathaniel, Samuel and Jeremiah S.

Jeremiah S. Cox grew up on his father's farm, and the advantages supplied by the rural schools were supplemented by a course in what was then known as the New Garden Boarding School, now Guilford College. For a time he taught school, and after his marriage was superintendent of the New Garden Boarding School for two years, and since that time he has built an elegant modern dormitory at Guilford College, known as "Cox Hall," which will accommodate about 100 students. Returning to Randolph County, he bought the Kemp Mills, consisting of flour, grist and saw mills, and operated that property for about five years. Selling out, he transferred his energies to a farm in the north part of Randolph County, about twelve miles south of Greensboro.

Mr. Cox has been a resident of Greensboro since 1892. Prior to that time he had become interested in the Greensboro Manufacturing Company, and he gave part of his time to the active management of its affairs for about four years. In 1899 he joined W. E. Allen and J. W. Fry in organizing the Greensboro Loan and Trust Company.

In 1870 Mr. Cox married Margaret D. Branson, who was born in Randolph County, daughter of Eli and Mary Branson. Mrs. Cox was engaged in teaching school before her marriage to Mr. Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Friends Church. While a resident of Randolph County Mr. Cox served as public administrator eight years, and since coming to Greensboro he served a term on the county board of education. Mr. Cox has been a trustee of the Juvenile Protective Association for many years. The association has done a great deal in reclaiming juvenile delinquents. The record of the lives of those who have come from the humble walks of life and, by dint of their own effort have left their impress on society and the world is an incentive and inspiration to do our best for humanity.

Source: History of North Carolina, Vol. VI, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York ©1919