John I. Cox
Encyclopedia
John Isaac Cox was Governor of Tennessee from 1905 to 1907.
soldier, which was less common in East Tennessee
than in the rest of the state, as East Tennessee was one of the Southern strongholds of pro-Union
sentiment during the Civil War
. Cox became affiliated with the Democratic Party, which was also less popular in the eastern part of the state than elsewhere; this also relates back to the Civil War legacy. However, the Democratic Party has traditionally been stronger in Sullivan County than elsewhere in the northeastern part of the state.
Cox became a practicing attorney
in 1885 and was subsequently elected county judge of Sullivan County. (This position in Tennessee
at that time combined minor judicial functions with the position of chief executive officer
of the county, a position currently referred to in Tennessee as "county mayor
".) He later served as district attorney
and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives
in 1892, serving until 1894. He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate
in 1900 and was serving as Speaker
of that body, which in Tennessee is the governor's designated successor (and in recognition of this fact now carries the additional title of Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee
), when, on March 21, 1905, Governor
James B. Frazier
arranged for himself to be appointed to the unexpired United States Senate
term of Senator William B. Bate
, who had died in office, and then subsequently resigned as governor. This made Cox governor of Tennessee.
The current flag
of Tennessee, designed by Colonel LeRoy Reeves of Johnson City, Tennessee
, was adopted during Governor Cox's term. Prison
riot
s, which had plagued Tennessee for decades during this era, flared again. A major effort to eradicate yellow fever
, which had long plagued particularly the swampy western part of the state, was undertaken. Cox chose not to run for another term as governor, but instead for his former position as a state senator. He won election to that office two subsequent times, serving from 1907 to 1910. He later served another term as a state representative from 1912 until 1914, and was the postmaster
of Bristol, Tennessee
from 1914 to 1922, when he retired from public service. He died on September 5, 1946, at the age of 90 years and 9 months, the longest-lived governor in Tennessee history (Gov. Tom Rye also lived to 90, but was shy by 6 months of tying Cox).
Biography
Cox was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on November 23, 1855, and was the son of a ConfederateConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldier, which was less common in East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
than in the rest of the state, as East Tennessee was one of the Southern strongholds of pro-Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
sentiment during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Cox became affiliated with the Democratic Party, which was also less popular in the eastern part of the state than elsewhere; this also relates back to the Civil War legacy. However, the Democratic Party has traditionally been stronger in Sullivan County than elsewhere in the northeastern part of the state.
Cox became a practicing attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1885 and was subsequently elected county judge of Sullivan County. (This position in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
at that time combined minor judicial functions with the position of chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the county, a position currently referred to in Tennessee as "county mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
".) He later served as district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
in 1892, serving until 1894. He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate
Tennessee Senate
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the Tennessee state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.The Tennessee Senate, according to the state constitution of 1870, is composed of 33 members, one-third the size of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Senators...
in 1900 and was serving as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of that body, which in Tennessee is the governor's designated successor (and in recognition of this fact now carries the additional title of Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee
Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee
The Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee is the Speaker of the Tennessee Senate and first in line in the succession to the office of Governor of Tennessee in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office through impeachment and conviction of the Governor of the U.S...
), when, on March 21, 1905, Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
James B. Frazier
James B. Frazier
James Beriah Frazier was Governor of Tennessee from 1903 to 1905 and subsequently a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1905 to 1911.-Biography:...
arranged for himself to be appointed to the unexpired United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
term of Senator William B. Bate
William B. Bate
William Brimage Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883 to 1887 and subsequently a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1887 until his death...
, who had died in office, and then subsequently resigned as governor. This made Cox governor of Tennessee.
The current flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
of Tennessee, designed by Colonel LeRoy Reeves of Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
, was adopted during Governor Cox's term. Prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s, which had plagued Tennessee for decades during this era, flared again. A major effort to eradicate yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
, which had long plagued particularly the swampy western part of the state, was undertaken. Cox chose not to run for another term as governor, but instead for his former position as a state senator. He won election to that office two subsequent times, serving from 1907 to 1910. He later served another term as a state representative from 1912 until 1914, and was the postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
from 1914 to 1922, when he retired from public service. He died on September 5, 1946, at the age of 90 years and 9 months, the longest-lived governor in Tennessee history (Gov. Tom Rye also lived to 90, but was shy by 6 months of tying Cox).