Terrie C. Sager's grandather, Dr. William Henry Cox

 My wife Terrie Cox Sager's grandfather was an interesting man from what we have heard. He died in 1938, so none of us new him personally. Her father, Roy Cox, was only 18 or 19 at the time of his death. He was a physician in Brooksville, Florida, and is buried alongside his wife Susie Hedick Cox in the cemetery at Lake Lindsay in Hernando County, Florida, where many other relatives are buried. It was near that location they met at a church function when he supposedly gave her a pill for her headache and told her it was a 'love pill.' The rest is history. 

He did not own the first car in Hernando County, but sixth is not bad. The Florida archives have copies available of the original registrations and show his at number 6 on Sept. 16, 1909 for a Buick Model F, with a whopping 22 horsepower! His good friend the local pharmacist, Roy N. Chelf that he named Terrie's father after, was actually the first registered on March 1, 1909 with the exact same type of car. (Registration number 826)

Being involved in Florida politics he named several sons after politicians: Robert Sidney Catts Cox was named after the only governor elected on the Prohibition ticket. His youngest son, Doyle Carlton Cox was named for another prominent Florida politician. 

Several years ago Terrie made an amazing purchase at a garage sale down the street. It was a watercolor painting of the building in Dothan, Alabama her grandfather's pharmacy was in, which he sold to the Page brothers! We now have it hanging in our home.

I found these articles online and they tell his story quite well. What a heritage the Cox family has. Deep roots in Hernando County, for sure. The earliest we could find came there in 1851, when Anderson Mayo came from South Carolina. Enjoy the accounts of Dr. William Henry Cox.

WILLIAM HENRY COX, M. D.

The life story of William Henry Cox, M. D., former Florida State Health Officer contains many features that may serve as an example and inspiration to the present generation. He was born at Newton, Alabama, November 22, 1860, the son of William and Ellen (Britt) Cox, both natives of Alabama. Within a year or two his father had entered the Confederate military forces and was sent home badly wounded. Suffering under the handicap received in action and the greater one brought about by the aftermath of the war and attempts at rehabilitation, William Cox still managed to continue agricultural operations on a progressively larger scale and won a place in the esteem of the community which led to his election as county tax assessor. To a large extent William Henry Cox had to make his own way in life and earn the formal technical education which won him the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He remained on his father's farm until he was almost of age, in the meanwhile securing a common school education including graduation from the "Academy" at Newton, Alabama. In 1880 he opened and operated a drug store, the first in Dothan, Alabama, which is now a city of more than seventeen thousand people. This he continued for five years during which he studied medicine with Dr. J. W. Payne, his preceptor. In 1885 he entered Grant Medical University, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1888 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He practiced his profession first at Hartford, Alabama, later moving to Westville, Holmes County, Florida. In 1894 he moved to Suwannee. Florida, and later to Luraville, where he remained until 1000. At the beginning of the present century he located at Live Oak and practiced until 1903, when he established his home at Brooksville, where he has since achieved State prominence.

In 1917 Dr. Cox was appointed Health Officer for the State of Florida, serving until 1922. He then became interested in the insurance business, being connected with the Lowrey and Prince Company for two years before returning to Brooksville. In Brooksville he took up the real estate business in which he was very active until 1929 when he was appointed Prison Physician and Surgeon for the State of Florida. This post he held until 1933 when he retired from active practice. He has served as city councilman for Brooksville and as a former member of several medical associations. Dr. Cox has large agricultural andreal estate interests. He once was a very popular figure in Masonic circles and the Knights of Pythias. His religious affiliations are with the Baptist Church.

Dr. William Henry Cox married (first) Annie Payne, who died in 1900, and they were the parents of the following children : 1. Lois, married Elmore Saxon. 2. Gladys, married George Reedy. 3. Sanford Cox. 4. Eunice, married Andrew Law.

On March 13. 1904, Dr. Cox married (second) Susie Hcdrick, a native of Hernando County, and they were the parents of the following children: 1. A child, who died at the age of two years. 2. Charles. 3. Hampton. 4. Mayo. 5. Susie, married VV, W. Ferilay-sien. 6. Robert. 7. Roy. 8. Herbert. 9. Carlton.

From: THE STORY OF FLORIDA

WILLIAM  HENRY  COX  - Pasco-Hernando-Citrus County Medical Society

Doctor  William  Henry  Cox  of  Brooksville, aged  75,  died  on  March  4,  at  the  Hernando County  Hospital. 

Doctor  Cox  was  born  at  Hartford,  Alabama, in  1862.  He  attended  the  Chattanooga Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated in  1888. 

Doctor  Cox  came  to  Florida  in  1900,  locating at  Live  Oak,  where  he  practiced medicine  for  two  years.  In  1902,  he  moved to  Brooksville  where  he  practiced  until 1917,  when  he  was  appointed  State  Health Officer.  In  1929  he  was  appointed  State Prison  Physician  and  served  until  1933. 

He  was  an  honorary  member  of  the  Pasco-Hernando-Citrus  County Medical  Society  and rarely  missed  a meeting.  He  always  took part  in  the  discussion  of  scientific  programs. He  believed  in  the  personal  administration  of the  physician,  and  it  was  to  this  noble  mission he devoted  his  life.  He  was  most  active until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  is  survived by  his  widow,  four  daughters,  and  seven sons. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  by the  Pasco-Hernando-Citrus  County  Medical Society,  with  reference  to  the  passing  of Doctor  Cox : 

“Whereas.  God  in  His  infinite  wisdom  hath seen  fit  to  remove  from  our  midst  one  of  our most  beloved  brothers,  Dr.  W.  H.  Cox,  and, “Whereas,  we,  the  members  of  the  Pasco-Hernando-Citrus  County  Medical  Society, feel  deeply  the  loss  of  our  beloved  brother and  friend ; therefore  be  it Resolved,  that  the  Pasco-Hernando-Citrus County  Medical  Society  expresses  its  sorrow in  the  passing  of  Dr.  William  Henry  Cox; that  a copy  of  this  resolution  be  sent  to  his family;  that  a copy  be  entered  on  the  minutes of  this  society;  that  the  same  be  published  in the  Journal  of  the  Florida  Medical  Association.”