Progressive Men of Minnesota

Minneapolis Journal 1897

ALBERT JEFFREY COX of Tyler, Minnesota, is a native of Wisconsin, and traces his ancestry back to Colonial times. His mother, whose maiden name was Minerva J. Cook, was descended directly from Peter Lozier, of France, and Francis Cook, who settled at the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. Her father, Rev. Nelson Cook, was a prominent minister of the Free Methodist and Wesleyan church. She was first married to Zebulon M. Viles, a nephew of John Hancock. Mr. Viles died shortly after their marriage, and his widow subsequently became the wife of James Cox, who was a native of England.  Mr. Cox came to this country when but eight years of age. He has always been a farmer, and has acquired a competency. His son, Albert, was born in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, on March 2, 1862.

The boy attended school at a neighboring schoolhouse, known in the vicinity as “the red schoolhouse.” A feature of school life in the country districts in those days was the spelling school, brought, with other customs, from New England. The “red schoolhouse” which young Albert attended, usually held the championship of the vicinity over all comers. In 1880 he entered the scientific course of Galesville University at Galesville, Wisconsin, and graduated from the academic department in 1883, having covered the three years’ course in two years of actual study.  He was unable to attend continuously on account of lack of funds. For three years he was first sergeant in the cadet corps of the institution.  After leaving Galesville he taught school and studied medicine under Dr. Cyrus H, Cutter, of Trempealeau, Wisconsin. In the course of a year he found himself in a position to enter the medical department of the Michigan University, and by hard work and close application succeeded in making the freshman and junior studies during one year. He had intended to graduate from the medical department at Ann Arbor but his old preceptor advised him to go to Rush Medical College in Chicago, and accordingly he went there and graduated February 16, 1886.

Upon graduation Dr. Cox went at once to Tyler, Minnesota, where he has since lived, practicing his profession. During the following spring he formed a partnership with J. W. Kendall, and for three years was interested with that gentleman in the drug business at Tyler. In 1890 he purchased Mr. Kendall’s interest in the business, and has since conducted it himself with the aid of two clerks. When Dr. Cox went to Tyler the country was newly settled, but population has constantly been added, and though the work of building up a practice has been slow, it has been continuous.

Dr. Cox was married to Miss Mary J. Bigham on June 23, 1887, at Tyler.  They have two children, Floyd Albert Cox and Howard Bigham Cox. Dr. Cox is a member of the Congregational church. He is also a member of the Southwestern Minnesota Medical Society.  His political faith is Republican. For the past two years he has been secretary of the Republican county central committee. In the order of the A. O. U. W; he has held the office of financier of Tyler Lodge No. 109, ever since its organization in 1888 he being one of the charter members.