Background
Cox, William Wesley was born on February 5, 1864 in in Effingham Company, Illinois, United States. Son of Nelson and Susan R. (Hall) Cox.
Cox, William Wesley was born on February 5, 1864 in in Effingham Company, Illinois, United States. Son of Nelson and Susan R. (Hall) Cox.
Reared as farmer’s boy. Educated in country district school.
Worked on farm until 18 years old, then in coal mines 2 years, brickmaker 6 years, then miner. Preached in Methodist Episcopal Church, Church of God, and Christian Church, 1894-1897, but through study became materialist, and left pulpit for coal mines. Affiliated with Socialist Labor Party since 1898.
Nominee for Congress, 18th Illinois district, 1898, for Lieutenant-governor of Illinois, 1900, for Congress, 22d Illinois district, 1902, for Vice-President of the United States, 1904.
Also nominee of party for city and township offices. Toured Illinois, 1900 and 1902, and in 1904 spent 5 months in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri, speaking every evening in open air.
Address: East. Saint Louis, Illinois.
Married Saint