Fabulous Photos!

 I haven't blogged in awhile, but today, while doing some genealogy on my mom's side (Mendenhall), I came across some distant cousins. This family had some FANTASTIC photos that I just couldn't help sharing!

Jacob Dorval Cox (1870-1963) was the son of Lucretia Mott Baily (1846-1928) & John Henry Cox (1843-1929). He is my 7th cousin, 5x removed. Jacob was one of 8 boys!

Jacob married Nelle Jewel Fort (1876-1945) and they had 3 daughters.:

1. Thelma Lucretia Cox (1899-1969)

2. Thyra Rebecca Cox (1902-1928)

3. Rhea LeFort Cox (1904-1993)

Between 1904 when Rhea was born and 1910, the family moved from the small town of Shirley, Indiana to Los Angeles, California. In 1910, Jacob was working as a book-keeper for a cement contractor and by 1930, he was working as an accountant. 

Don't you just LOVE the mustache?! 

Here is a picture of Nelle, probably around the time she was married., I don't know the exact date of the photo, but she was married in 1894.

The three Cox sisters- Thelma in the back, Thyra on the left and then Rhea sitting.

Jacob and Nelle's first daughter was Thelma Lucretia Cox, born 29 Aug 1899 in Shirley, Indiana. 

Thelma married Otto Harry Lewis (1900-1973) in Los Angeles and together, they had one son:

Donovan Keith Lewis (1922-2007)

Jacob and Nelle's second daughter was Thyra Rebecca Cox, born 15 Jan 1902 in Shirley, Indiana. 

Thyra was passionate about dance and was featured in a number of silent films and was a dancer with the Marian Morgan dance troupe. 

Unfortunately, Thyra died at the young age of 26 from tuberculosis. 

Rhea LeFort Cox was the last child of Jacob and Nelle. She was born on 20 Mar 1904 in Shirley, Indiana. In 1922, she won the title of the L.A. Times "Southwest Most Beautiful Girl"-- the equivalent of Miss Cali., Ariz, Oregon and Washington State. She received $1500 cash and a modeling contract. The picture above (bottom left) is from Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood. 

Rhea married Robert William Heck (1904-1990) in 1930 and they had 3 children: Elaine, Robert and Pamela.