Frank Cox (1862-1940)

Frank Cox was born in 1862 in Monongalia County. He was initially educated in the public-school system before attending West Virginia University and graduating at twenty-one years old with a law degree. For five years, Cox practiced law alone before forming a partnership with George C. Baker in 1888. The two lawyers bought the former office of Waitman T. Willey, who is also buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Their firm specialized in oil, corporation, and chancery litigation. Also in 1888, Cox was elected as Monongalia County’s Prosecuting Attorney. Cox appointed Baker as his deputy assistant and together they served for six years. In 1894, the roles were reversed, and Baker became the Prosecuting Attorney while Cox assisted. During this time, the partners continued their law business. In 1895, they rented The Old Stone House in downtown Morgantown, possibly as a temporary home for their law office. Sometime in the early twentieth century, Cox and Baker built a dedicated building for their firm located at 162 Chancery Row.

Cox was elected to Judge of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1904. He was also selected to serve as a member of the World’s Fair Commission for West Virginia. By 1907, Cox had become the president of the court, but resigned from the position that very same year and returned to Morgantown, where Cox reestablished the law firm with Baker. Cox also focused on local business and community interests. He purchased large swaths of real estate throughout Morgantown, which motivated the former judge to advocate for Morgantown’s commerce. Cox was a member and vice president of the Board of Trade of Morgantown and chaired the second Monongalia County Liberty Loan Drive during World War I. Additionally, Cox funded a mid-1920s building at 118 High Street to serve as space for local businesses. The structure also featured apartments on the upper floors. Cox was a member of many Morgantown institutions including the Methodist Episcopal Church, Masons, Odd Fellows, and Modern Woodmen of America. In 1940, Cox died in Morgantown. 

Butcher, Bernard L. Monongalia County, West Virginia Family Biographies, Genealogy Trails. Accessed September 28th 2020. http://genealogytrails.com/wva/monongalia/family_bios.html.

"Frank Cox." New Dominion (Morgantown) April 13th 1985.

History, The Old Stone House. Accessed September 14th 2020. https://oldstonehousewv.org/history-of-the-old-stone-house/.

Moore, Nancy and Steven Lee. Judge Cox Residence, National Register of Historic Places. September 13th 1983. Accessed September 14th 2020. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/monongalia/84003626.pdf.