A Colored Inventor
February 17, 1900
Summary
Mr. McGilvray-Cox, a “colored” man, invents a “perfect” stationary engine.
Transcription
By invitation on last Tuesday, we visited the residence of Mr. McGilvray Cox, on Chaffin St, near Linden. After a pleasant chat with his madam we were shown a small stationary engine in complete working order. The machine has been inspected by several hundred people, many of them our best professional mechanics, both white and colored and they have pronounced it a most perfect and complete invention as they ever saw. Every particle about the engine is handmade and neatly finished.
Mr. Cox says he can build them any size from one horse to a hundred horse power. Mr. Cox expects to have the engine patented and placed on the market. He is quite unobtrusive middle aged gentleman of color, with a pleasant wife and nine children.
We have much sickness and several deaths in our midst. The very changeable weather has caused many people to be great sufferers from deep colds and other diseases. The doctors and the undertakers are kept on the go most all the time.
This community was greatly shocked to learn of the sudden death of Mrs. Rev Thomas H. Johnson in New Kent county last Friday. The Reverend is much of a favorite among our people, having often preached for the 5th Baptist Church and conducted successful revival meetings for two weeks last spring.
Some of our young men are being aroused to the real sense of organizing for business. Come together gentlemen to better your condition and not to gather money to throw it away.
Owing to the very inclement weather, the Missionary meeting at the 5th Church was very slimly attendant on last Monday night.
John Towns, of 1102 W. Leigh St., who has been home with his sister, Mrs. Meade and home in Amelia Co., for the past two months, left for the North last Wednesday at 5 a.m.
Willie Jones of West Leigh Street, near Hancock left homes last week for N.J., to obtain work—so report says—was brought home last Tuesday dead. It is supposed that he was killed in home way yet unknown to his parents. The young man was about 18 years of age and a church member.
We notice that some of our young ladies and gents are purchasing property together before they get married.
We think you had better be careful and make sure of your footing first, for we already have some very sensational troubles in the community. At the same time, save your money and prepare for future comforts. The children must do what their parents could not.
Mr. Cox says he can build them any size from one horse to a hundred horse power. Mr. Cox expects to have the engine patented and placed on the market. He is quite unobtrusive middle aged gentleman of color, with a pleasant wife and nine children.
We have much sickness and several deaths in our midst. The very changeable weather has caused many people to be great sufferers from deep colds and other diseases. The doctors and the undertakers are kept on the go most all the time.
This community was greatly shocked to learn of the sudden death of Mrs. Rev Thomas H. Johnson in New Kent county last Friday. The Reverend is much of a favorite among our people, having often preached for the 5th Baptist Church and conducted successful revival meetings for two weeks last spring.
Some of our young men are being aroused to the real sense of organizing for business. Come together gentlemen to better your condition and not to gather money to throw it away.
Owing to the very inclement weather, the Missionary meeting at the 5th Church was very slimly attendant on last Monday night.
John Towns, of 1102 W. Leigh St., who has been home with his sister, Mrs. Meade and home in Amelia Co., for the past two months, left for the North last Wednesday at 5 a.m.
Willie Jones of West Leigh Street, near Hancock left homes last week for N.J., to obtain work—so report says—was brought home last Tuesday dead. It is supposed that he was killed in home way yet unknown to his parents. The young man was about 18 years of age and a church member.
We notice that some of our young ladies and gents are purchasing property together before they get married.
We think you had better be careful and make sure of your footing first, for we already have some very sensational troubles in the community. At the same time, save your money and prepare for future comforts. The children must do what their parents could not.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Elizabeth Lopez-Lopez
Citation
“A Colored Inventor,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 18, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1345.