Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Cox, Peter |
Bio |
Peter Henry Cox was born on 11 November 1852, at Chatham, Kent County, England although he grew up in Dorsetshire. He was educated at King's College before emigrating to Canada in 1869 where he settled on a farm two miles south of Paris, Ontario. He joined the volunteer forces of Canada in 1871 and commanded the Paris Company for 8 years retiring with the rank of Captain in 1882. Cox married Annie Selina Harris, the youngest daughter of Captain James Harris of Benares, on 17 November 1875. He retired from agricultural pursuits in 1880 actively pursuing his political career which culminated in his serving as Mayor. When Cox started his political career, he moved with Annie into Paris to their new home, Claremont, which still stands today. The Coxes were frequent guests to Benares and went on a trip to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 with their niece, Naomi Harris Aside from politics, Cox was a member of the Masonic Lodge and St. James Anglican Church where he served as a warden. After the death of his wife in 1909, Cox donated a pulpit, screen, prayer desk and electric brass cross as a memorial to St. James. Peter died in 1911. Ref: Rev. William Cochrane, The Canadian Album, Men of Canada or Success by Example Vol. 1, 1891. p. 27 |
