COX, Mildred Virginia

Notes:

Mildred Virginia Cox, the only child of scotch-irish parents, was a brilliant woman who had her heart set on becoming a doctor at a time when there were not that many women in Medical School. Thanks to her father?s success as a lawyer, she attended Vassar College and graduated in 1921. Her grades and desire were great enough that she was accepted at Yale University and received her Ph.D. in Chemistry. She then studied for a period of time with Victor Grignard, the great French Chemist, who discovered reagents. Returning to the United States, she worked for some time as a chemist for Colgate Toothpaste.

On September 24, 1930, she married H Austin Spang and turned her attention to being a mother. Her quest for knowledge did not stop then as she took the opportunity of enrolling her identical twin sons in the Twin Study with Dr. Arnold Gesell, the first director of the Yale University Clinic now known as the Yale Child Study Center, as well as the nation?s first school psychologist.

After moving to Middletown, Connecticut in 1943, she continued her interest in gardening and became active in the local Garden Club. Her leadership ability was quickly recognized and she rose to the position of President of the Connecticut Garden Clubs. (Was this later in Portland) In that position she became active with the State Legislators and influenced them to ban billboards from the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways. She was an avid party bridge player and maintained her interest in her gardens, especially roses, throughout her life. My father and I dug her a new rose bed in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to her exacting specifications, digging down 3 feet and replacing the soil with manure and mulch.

On a more personal note I recall having mumps or measles when I was 5 or 6 and being bed-ridden while my father and the 3 other children were working in the garden in the back yard. I was very upset that I could not go out with them so my mother got out of her sick bed (probably getting the mumps or measles from me) and climbed into my bed to comfort me.

Mildred married SPANG, H. Austin 24 Sep 1930, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. H. (son of SPANG, Henry Augustine and MURRAY, Rose Mary) was born 02 Jan 1903, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died 05 Apr 1973, Portland, Connecticut; was buried 07 Apr 1973, St. Lawrence Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.. [Group Sheet]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. SPANG, David Barr was born 12 Aug 1936, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died 2 Feb 2016, Bangor, Maine, USA.

Notes:

In the 1921-1922 New Haven Directory, Thomas H. Cox and James E. Connor are listed as the Law Firm of Cox & Connor, 865 Chapel Street.

Thomas Henry Cox, my grandfather and better known as Charlie Pop, was born in Scotland on January 31, 1876. He came to America with his mother and his sister, Anna, on the "State of Alabama" on March 2, 1880. His father had come earlier, but his exact arrival date is not known. They initially went to Philadelphia and lived briefly with his father's sister, Ellen Thompson. It is interesting to note that I always thought Charlie Pop was very frugal and a true Scot but I recently learned that his grandparents came from Ireland.
The family settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where James Cox worked as a Bicycle Maker. Young Tom must have had a lot of experience riding because as a teenager he began racing. At age 18, he won the "Veru Handicap Race". The newspaper article indicated it was a 10 mile race but that many of the 'crack' riders were not present as they had to ride Bennett and Co. wheels and some got an unfair handicap advantage. "Cox, the winner of the race, was given a start of 80 (30 secs - hard to read) seconds, when according to his time and reputation he could have been placed on scratch." My grandfather entered quite a few races in the 1890's, perhaps the most well-known being the Derby to New Haven race for which he won a silver loving cup which is in the possession of his grandson, H. Austin Spang. It should be noted that the bicycles at that time had the very large front wheel (60" diameter) and a small rear one, and were called "High Wheelers"

In 1896, Mr. Cox received his Bachelors of Law degree from Yale University which thus began his lengthy legal career. The New Haven (CT) Register; December 1, 1897 : "Appointed Asst. Town Clerk. The selectmen last night appointed Thomas H. Cox, Yale Law School, '96, Assistant Town Clerk. Mr. Cox has been acting in that capacity since the death of Michael T Snigg in March, last."

At about the same time, he began building houses with John Daly, his sister's husband. A number of these houses can be seen yet today on Sherman Av., Norton St. and 2 on Edgewood St. in New Haven. They also built a summer home in Woodmont, Ct. He would live in a house for a time, then sell it for a profit and move to another. This was the source of much of his wealth.

He enlisted in the Spanish American War and there is a picture of him in his uniform but the war was short-lived (3mos and 2 wks.) so he never saw action.

Somehow he managed to begin courting the love of his life, Adelaide Agnes Quin, from Bridgeport, and they were married in 1899. My sister, Nancy Spang Becque, indicated that he rode his bicycle to Bridgeport to court her and would read Shakespeare to her. He even took her a bust of Shakespeare on his bicycle. He would dote on her for the next 50 years, treating her like a precious and fragile porcelain doll. They had one child, a daughter, Mildred Virginia Cox, on April 23, 1900. He was well enough known in New Haven to rate this filler in the New Haven Register - "Cox Wears a Smile; Deputy Town Clerk, Thomas H. Cox, is receiving congratulations as Mrs. Cox presented him with a fine baby girl last night."

They lived on Sherman Avenue and appear there in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. Strangely, the 1920 census lists him as single, living with his parents on Clinton Av. in New Haven. This is probably an error and refers to his brother, Peter. Further research shows that his daughter's yearbook from Vassar lists her as living on Sherman Avenue in 1919, the year she graduated. I wonder if she and her mother traveled to Europe as a graduation gift so missed the 1920 census.

After leaving the position of Town Clerk, Mr. Cox became a very successful Real Estate Lawyer, first sharing an office with Mr. Connor; and later moved his office, by himself, to 177 Church Street, overlooking the green. (As a side note, I have one strong memory of that office which was a series of rooms strung together in single file. While some of the family were visiting with Charlie Pop, I wandered down to the last office and found a very large, heavy dictionary. Being about 6 and curious, I noticed a scale so managed to get the dictionary onto the scale. I was embarrassed to discover that it was a postage scale which promptly broke. I recall my mother scolding me but my grandfather being very gentle and forgiving.)

The Coxes would travel to Europe during the 20's on a number of occasions, returning with very beautiful glassware and knickknacks. Sometime during that period they purchased a home on McKinley Avenue in Westville where they would remain until 1948 when Adelaide passed away.

I think it would be fair to say that Tom was a little lost without Adelaide. Almost immediately, he moved to the Taft Hotel in New Haven and would spend the weekends with his daughter and 4 grandchildren, first in Middletown, Ct. and later in Longmeadow, Mass.

Charlie Pop always bought black Packards. It was my assignment to wash them and it was very important that I did not miss a spot as he would inspect my work and have me redo it if necessary. Black shows spots very easily so it was not uncommon for me to have to rewash and wipe a section of the car. By this time, he was a very wealthy man but being Scotch was very conservative. And yet, for High School Graduation, my sister received a two-tone green Pontiac, my twin brothers would receive a blue Ford sedan and I would receive a black Ford convertible!

Nana and Charlie Pop would always visit for Christmas and other times of the year. In the beginning, they must have gotten up very early because they would drive from Westville to Hamden, CT and be there early enough to announce that Santa Claus had been here for 4 eager grandchildren. His original nickname was Sugar Pop because he brought sugar cubes each time he visited. This tradition continued until sugar was rationed in World War II so his name got changed to Charlie Pop. He was so well known as Charlie Pop that strangers thought his first name was Charles.

David B. Spang

Thomas married QUIN, Adelaide Agnus 1899. Adelaide (daughter of QUINN, Patrick W. and BARR, Margaret Jane) was born 27 Mar 1876; died 08 Aug 1948, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; was buried 11 Aug 1948, St. Lawrence Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Adelaide Agnes Quin. I don't have a lot of memories of Nana Cox because she died when I was 12. She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, from Scotch-Irish parents. Her father, Patrick, was a tool and die maker and they saved their money and bought saltwater flats which they rented out and did very well. Her mother, Margaret, brought two items from Ireland - a christening shawl and a statue of St. Joseph. She gave birth to 12 children but only 5 survived by 1900. Adelaide was the third child, according to the 1880 census. Edward, Robert and William died young.

Emma was the oldest and lived in a nunnery after 2 failed marriages. My sister, Nancy, was taken to visit her once and she grabbed Nancy and said "See everyone; she looks just like me."
Francis was the 2nd born who ended up being an Army Ambulance Driver and my sister said she was buried in her uniform.
Walter Sarsfield became a dentist in New Haven. There was also an Uncle Doc, Vincent Edward, who was a physician in New York City.

My sister shared a number of stories that I did not know about. Nana was known for her hats, so much so that, years later, older women would stop Nancy and comment on Nana's hats. She always dressed well, even at home, and always wore a girdle.

All of the Quin children were educated well and Nana worked as a bookkeeper for D. M. Read Department Store in Bridgeport. She was given an ornate sugar bowl when she left to get married. It is not clear how they met but Charlie Pop would ride his bicycle from New Haven to Bridgeport and read her Shakespeare.

Nana did not have a driver's license for many years as she saw no reason for it. One day, at their summer home in Woodmont that he had built, Charlie Pop gashed his arm splitting wood. Nana wrapped it and drove him from Woodmont to St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven. After that, she decided she should get her license so her daughter, my mother, took her in to be tested on Prince St.which was a dead end street. At the end of the test the examiner asked her to turn the car around. "You turn the car around; I'd never come into a place like this" She got her license. Nancy also remembers her driving Nancy home to Middletown, normally a 45 minute trip. It took 3 hrs! She stopped whenever there was a truck!

I do have a few memories of Nana Cox on McKinley Avenue as I stayed there for a week one summer when I was 6 or 7 while my parents went on vacation to Vinalhaven, Maine. I recall sleeping in the back bedroom in a high poster mahogany bed with a white chenille bedspread. I think we went there for Thanksgiving because I have a vague memory of a ceramic dog or clown cookie jar in the pantry that always had ginger snaps in it and she would allow me to have one if I asked. Nana and I also had a fondness for black olives which were a treat for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
During the week I stayed there, I recall playing on the front porch while she sat and relaxed or read a book. Then when the right time came, she would allow me to walk the two blocks down the street to the bus stop and wait for Charlie Pop. Once in a while, he would take me to the butcher's which was owned by Joe Marlow, his nephew. Nana and Charlie Pop helped out these relatives and Joe made sure they had meat during WW II when it was rationed. Charlie Pop liked to tinker with things behind the house and he would sometimes let me help.

1880 census - Stratford; page 12 [12/43]
Patrick 35
Margaret 33
Emma 10
Francis 9
Adaline 7
Vincent E 4
Sarsfield W. 1

1900 - Bridgeport Sheet 3A [5/43]
Just Patrick and Margaret; shows her as having 12 births and 5 are living.

Notes:

Irish1921 originally shared this
?20 Aug 2012 ?Document / Certificate
Written by Gertrude Hile (at age 84), granddaughter of Elizabeth Kelly and James F Cox.

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Transcription of text in document

Abridged text is: Elizabeth Kelly and James Cox went from Scotland to England with James' sister Ellen (corrected) Cox Thompson and her husband Tom. James and Tom went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later James moved to Connecticut. James initially sold insurance, but later opened a store-- first on State St/Elm then State St/Olive, both in New Haven, CT. Elizabeth Kelly had a sister Julia (Heron?) who had two daughters-- Lizzie Cooks and Marie Van Orden. Marie had a daughter Evelyn Walsted of New Jersey.

James married KELLY, Elizabeth 19 Apr 1875, St. Andrew's RC Church, Dundee, Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of KELLY, Peter and NOLAN, Mary) was born Dec 1850; died 1934; was buried St. Lawrence Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ran cold water flats on a large tract of land on the Long Island shore in Bridgeport per Nancy L. Spang Becque.
There is a letter in Mrs. Becque's possession written by a distant cousin who claimed that Patrick's father was Thadeus Quin who was an engineer on the Paris to Calais Railroad. He had 12 sons and 1 daughter. The daughter was Mary Ann Quin who married the tutor, John Gray.
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Oral Family History claimed Patrick was related to the Wyndham-Quins (Earls of Dunraven). This is yet to be proven and is unlikely given he was raised in Belfast.
____
P. W. QUINN RETIRES

Has been with U.M.C. Co. for past 40 years as Expert Toolmaker

P.W. Quin of Revere street has tendered his resignation as an employee of the Union Metallic Cartridge Company*, to take effect at once. Mr. Quin for the past 40 years has been a valued employee of the toolmaking department of the company; and his resignation is regretted by his associates. Prior to his engagement with the Cartridge Company he was employed in the capacity of master mechanic of the Sprague company of Central Falls, R.I.
Mr. Quin has accumulated considerable real estate in this city, and will now devote his time to his holdings. During his long period of employment Mr. Quin has taken but few vacations, the most extensive of which was in the summer of 1903, when he made a tour of the continent.

(published in the Bridgeport, Connecticut paper in about 1905.)
*later to become part of Remington Arms.

Patrick married BARR, Margaret Jane 09 Jul 1864, St. Malachy's, Belfast, Ireland. Margaret (daughter of BARR, David and BRONSON, Sarah) was born 10 Apr 1844, Ireland; died 04 Aug 1930, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; was buried 06 Aug 1930, St. Michael's Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Note: The headstone at St. Michael's claims Margaret was born in 1860. Since her marriage was confirmed as 1864, this is highly unlikely. Her obituary does not list an age. It is possible that she was born around 1850 or before. The 1930 census lists her age as 86 which would mean she was born in 1844.

Notes:

Search for Marriage License-
March 5, 2001 - No record between 1862 through 1866 inclusive; per Northern Ireland Statistics and
Research Agency, Belfast, No. Ireland. {Their reference - T13814)

November 29, 2001 - Copy of Marriage License received. Obtained from St. Malachy's Church, Belfast, No. Ireland (assisted by Jim Hyslop, Belfast)

Terrence married MCGACHAN, Ann 19 Jul 1845, Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Ann was born 1815, Caven, Ireland. [Group Sheet]

Peter — NOLAN, Mary. [Group Sheet]

David — BRONSON, Sarah. Sarah was born Abt 1820. [Group Sheet]