Jacob Coxey
| Jacob S. Coxey Sr. | |
|---|---|
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Coxey in 1914
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| Mayor of Massillon, Ohio | |
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In office January 1, 1931 – December 31, 1931 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacob Sechler Coxey April 16, 1854 Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 1951 (aged 97) Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party |
Greenback (1874–89) People's (1891–1908) Socialist Party (1910–1912) Independent (1908–26) Republican (1926–32) Farmer–Labor (1932–36) Democratic (1936–42) |
| Spouse(s) |
Caroline Ammerman (m. 1874–88); divorced Henrietta Jones (m. 1900–51); her death |
| Children | 6 children |
| Profession | Businessman, landowner, political activist |
| Religion | Protestantism |
Jacob Sechler Coxey Sr. (April 16, 1854 – May 18, 1951), sometimes known as General Coxey, of Massillon, Ohio, was an American politician who ran for elective office several times in Ohio. Twice, in 1894 and 1914, he led "Coxey's Army", a group of unemployed men who marched to Washington, D.C. to present a "Petition in Boots" demanding that the United States Congress allocate funds to create jobs for the unemployed. Although the marches failed, Coxey's Army was an early attempt to arouse political interest in an issue that grew in importance until the Social Security Act of 1935 encouraged the establishment of state unemployment insurance programs.
Coxey was born on April 16, 1854 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, the son of Mary Ann (Sechler) and Thomas Coxey. His family moved to the industrially thriving Danville, Pennsylvania when he was six years old. Known as Jake, Coxey excelled in school and took his first job at the age of 16 as a water boy in the mill where his father worked.
Coxey spent eight years at the water mill, advancing to stationary engineer, before he left to pursue other business endeavors. In May 1881, Coxey went to Ohio to look at property and decided to stay. He erected a crushing mill and quickly began accumulating wealth.
He was often branded as a crank for challenging the economic system that made him so prosperous. In addition to his 160-acre (0.65 km2) ranch in Massillon, Ohio, he owned ranches in Lexington, Kentucky and Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Coxey was a passionate equestrian. He bred blooded horses and raced or sold them across the nation. Many criticized his sporting propensities and his obsession with the track is often cited as the cause of his first divorce.
Many members of Coxey’s family were opposed to his involvement in Coxey’s Army. His father refused to talk to reporters and called his son "stiff necked", "cranky" and "pig-headed". One of Coxey’s sisters called him an embarrassment.
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