Wright
Ellis
Cox

WRIGHT ELLIS COX was born in New Jersey to Edward Cox and the former Caroline Shane in August of 1861. The family resided in Philadelphia when the census was taken in 1880. Shortly after the census enumeration Wright Cox married Martha S. Hales. Two children came of this marriage, only one survived to 1900, a daughter, Ida. Wright and Martha Cox separated by 1900.

Wright Cox had moved back to Camden when the City Directory was compiled in 1887, working as a packer and living at 215 Channing Terrace. His daughter Ida was born about this time. By the end of 1890 he had secured an appointment to the Camden Fire Department as a driver. The 1890-1891 City Directory records his address as 220 Washington Street. On May 30, 1894 Wright Cox's brother George P. Cox was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. George P. Cox served as late as 1918, and was a Battalion Chief prior to retiring.

When the Census was enumerated in 1900, Wright Cox was separated from his wife. Still working as a fire fighter, he then was boarding at 303 Stevens Street, the home of Henry Colkitt, a wood turner. In 1906 he was at 437 South 4th Street. Four years later he was boarding at 432 South 2nd Street, the home of Reba Harris. By 1914 he had again moved, to 421 South 3rd Street.

Wright Cox served on the Fire Department through 1906. By 1910 he had moved over to the police department, where he remained employed through 1924. He had attained the rank of sergeant when the Census was enumerated in January of 1920. He was serving as the stable sergeant for the mounted police in 1921. On January 4, 1922 he was assigned to the mounted patrol, exchanging places with  Officer William Greenan, who had been on horseback for the previous 12 years. 

At that time and through 1924 he lived with his daughter Ida and son-in-law Henry Joseph Gerke at 619 South 4th Street in South Camden. Interestingly enough, in 1920, his wife Martha was also living at that address. It is unknown, however as to whether this marked a reconciliation or was due to some other reason. When the 1927 City Directory was compiled Wright E. Cox was living at 564 Mount Vernon Street. He was still with the police force when the directory was compiled.

Wright Cox passed away on November 14, 1926. He was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

Ida Francis Cox married  shortly after the 1900 Census was taken. Her husband Henry Gerke had a long career as a fire fighter in Camden and Pennsauken. Her son, Wright Ellis Gerke, served as a B-17 bomber pilot with the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He was killed in action during a raid against Geisenkirchen, Germany in August of 1943.

Philadelphia Inquirer - November 24, 1898

Samuel Hufty - Harry C. Kramer - George W. Jessup - Aaron Ward - Frank H. Burdsall - Chestnut Street
Lewis C. Mohrman - Wright Cox - Logan Bates - Charles P. Sayrs -Thaddeus P. Varney

Robert Colkett - Wright Cox - Joseph T. Johnson

Robert Colkett - Wright Cox - Philip Schmitz

Robert Colkett - Wright Cox  

Philadelphia Inquirer - December 4, 1907

Lewis Buzine - Wright Cox - Seth D. Monnell - William Miller William Rose William Elberson

Philadelphia Inquirer - July 28, 1913