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| Eckley B. Coxe Jr., 1872-1916 University of Pennsylvania Painting Collection Artist - Adolphe E. Borie 1877-1934 (Public Domain - United States) |
Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, Volume 28 (page 31)
“Eckley
Brinton Coxe, Jr.
“Member 1914.
“Born May 31, 1872 September 20, 1916
“ Eckley
Brinton Coxe, Jr. of 1604 Locust Street, died September 20 1916, at his summer
home at Drifton, near Hazleton, Penna., after an illness of more than a year.
He was a son of the late Charles Brinton Coxe and Elizabeth Sinkler Coxe.
“He entered
the University of Pennsylvania in 1891 in Biology and received a certificate of
proficiency in June, 1893. He was, therefore, a member of the Class of 1893 and
of the Delta Phi Fraternity as his father and four uncles had been before him.
He was President of the University Museum, a member of The Numismatic and
Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, and of the International Historical
Society, also of the University, Rittenhouse, Racquet, Philadelphia,
Philadelphia Country, and Huntingdon Valley Clubs.
“The tribute
to his memory published in the Evening
Bulletin and written by Hon. John Cadwalader gives such an interesting
account of his family that it is here quoted:
“ ‘Eckley B
Coxe, Jr. sustained the name and usefulness of one of the most distinguished
families that this country has produced. Dr.Daniel Coxe, of London from whom he
was directly descended, was in 1678 the proprietor of West New Jersey and of
Carolina, which included all the territory between N. Latitude 31st to 36th
parallels, and prepared the first general plan for a union of the colonies.
“ ‘Tench
Coxe, the great grandfather at the age of thirty-three was a member of the
Continental Congress, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Alexander Hamilton
in 1789, filled many important posts until his death in 1824, and it was said
of him that he “was never forgetful of the duty of exerting his peculiar
talents for the good of his country.” The grandfather, Charles S. Coxe, was a
judge of the district court, noted for its eminent judges, and rendered, among
others, a most important decision relating to the privileges of consular as
distinguished from diplomatic officials recognized generally by writers on
international law.
“ ‘His father
Major Charles Brinton Coxe, was the youngest of the five sons of Judge Coxe,
all of whom were men of unusual force of character and distinction. The eldest Brinton Coxe, was one of the most
learned lawyers of his day, as shown in his work on Bracton and his unfinished
analysis of the Constitution of the United States.
“ ‘Eckley B.
Coxe, after whom his nephew was named, was the most eminent mining engineer
this country has produced, and held a very important position in the State,
politically and as head of the firm of Coxe Brothers & Co., who operated
the great anthracite coal fields owned by the Coxe family.
“ ‘Charles B.
Coxe. the father was a scholar of a high order, having taken the highest rank
in the University of Pennsylvania, in the class of 1862, that included many of
our most successful citizens, among them two Provosts of the University.
“ ‘His
services in the army, having been major of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the
only lancer regiment, were most conspicuous for bravery and unselfish devotion.
He was equally popular with his fellow
officers and men. Several of those in his company were long in the service of
Coxe Brothers & Co., of which Charles Coxe was a member.
“ ‘Eckley B
Coxe, Jr. though not of vigorous frame, was full of determined energy and
untiring in any work he undertook. Unlike many young men of independent means, he
had but one object in life, which was to be useful, following the example of
his great-grandfather. His father having
died in Egypt, the son had always felt a deep interest in that land of the
earliest civilization. Growing out of
this interest, he became connected with the Museum of the University of
Pennsylvania, and secured for it the result of the exploring expeditions which
he entirely supported under concessions granted by the Egyptian government. Few persons understand to what extent this
great department of the University has been dependent upon the liberality and
generosity of a very few persons.
“ ‘Mr. Coxe became president of the Board of the
Museum and had practically met the large annual outlay necessary to maintaining
its work. This has been in addition to sustaining the expeditions and meeting
the cost of the valuable publications constantly used. Mr. Coxe did not limit his interest to these
educational fields, but every charitable movement appealed to him.
“ ‘The Children's
Hospital, the College of Physicians, the Orthopaedic Hospital, many fields of
work in aid of the miners and their families in the anthracite coal region, and
the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania are only some of those that could
be mentioned to which he has contributed on a very large scale.
“ ’There was
a quiet, dignified reserve, with a gentleness of character, in Eckley Coxe
rarely met with. Firm and decided wherever he had a positive view, it was
always a pleasure to him to meet the wishes of those who appealed to him.
“ ‘His generosity was not measured; but was
indulged for the benefit of others, with little thought of himself. The concentration of wealth in the hands of
such a man is productive of more good to the community than any possible
distribution, among many could produce. His life was spent for the benefit of others
and he maintained a reputation without a blemish. To those who learned to
appreciate his generous thought and to his immediate family his loss is
irreparable.
“ ‘He showed
the value of inherited worth, and did not fail to sustain in every way what
might have been expected of him.’ “
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| University Museum - University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia |
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| 1604 Locust Street - Philadelphia (Google Maps) Former Residence of Eckley B. Coxe Jr. |
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