J. Elwood Cox

[2] Two years later his father hired as superintendent of New Garden Boarding School in Guilford County and moved the family there.

[4] In 1880, he moved to High Point and assumed control over his father-in-law's lumber products business, building a factory to produce shuttle blocks and bobbin pins for textile mills.

[8] As his career in business grew more successful, Cox became increasingly involved in the Guilford County Republican Party.

"[13] Cox also encouraged fellow businessman John Motley Morehead II to run for the United States House of Representatives 5th congressional district seat as a Republican to strengthen the image of the party's pro-business platform, and they subsequently worked together to appeal to other businessmen for support.

[16] Cox ultimately lost the election to Democratic nominee William Walton Kitchin by 37,342 votes.