James Beckel Cox was born on the 20th of December, 1811 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. From the age of thirteen, he assisted his father, also an organist. Beckel worked in several Philadelphia churches including the Clinton Street Emanuel Church (Presbyterian) for over 50 years beginning in 1829. He edited the Musical Clipper, a music, art, and literature journal. Beckel, a Mason, lived in the Philadelphia Masonic Home.
He studied with Filippo Traetta and at the American Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia, then he was an organist of Saint James Episcopal Church in Lancaster Pennsylvania first as assistant to his father who was a German immigrant and organist of Saint James Church.
He worked as an organist of Saint James Episcopal Church in Lancaster Pennsylvania , then became a professor of music in Philadelphia and the organist of Clinton Street Church,he was managing editor of 'The Musical Clipper' and a famous music publisher in Philadelphia.
In 1836 he married Charlotte and their only son was James F. Beckel.
