The chief recreation was to go down in the evening to Shafer's store, which still exists on the corner. When the weather was good, the boys used to play outside of the store in the moonlight; but when the wet and cold weather came, they were allowed inside to talk with the older men or watch them play checkers. All of the residents remember James as a boy, and several of them remember his characteristics. When he got into Shafer's store, he would either be discussing with the men political problems, or else would be over in one corner, under the old kerosene lamp, with his head buried in a good book.
He attended the little red brick schoolhouse of the neighborhood, but the people say his father often could not let him attend in the fall until sometime after the classes had begun. It was necessary to keep him home to help husk the corn. Some of his teachers can still be found. These teachers speak well of the boy, and one especially remarked upon his memory. He also seems to have then shown some interest in questions relating to social justice. While international problems and industrial problems were not at that time prominent before the American public, the boy apparently took a keen interest in the minor events which were reported in the newspapers of their day.
The neighbors like to tell of the boy's integrity and courage. It apparently was very noticeable. The Shafers, who owned the country store, are still alive, and they comment upon the boy's energy. Experience has taught me that the elderly are apt to remember only the good things about their children and grandchildren as the years roll by. Therefore, one is prepared to hear a good deal of such talk. But in the case of Cox there is a distinctly impressive earnestness about these comments of the elders.
When the boy was in his teens, his mother left Jacksonburg and went to Middletown, Ohio. What the reason for this was I do not know. Later a formal separation took place and the father married again. He is now living at Camden, Ohio. Although James has always been fond of his father and now often motors over to Camden to see him, his real friend was the mother. The tie between the boy, the man, and the mother was quite exceptional. She lived to the ripe old age of eighty-one, having died only three years ago. Mr. Cox says that the greatest pleasure he ever obtained from being Governor was to have his mother witness his inauguration. In this connection, I shall mention a story which I heard in Dayton.