Fox, William (1848-1912)

FOX, KNUTHS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/23/2017 at 12:05:19

Webster City Herald, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, August 1, 1912

In the death of William Fox, which occurred about midnight July 25, 1912 this community has suffered the loss of a most honorable and respected citizen and his family a wholly unexpected and irreparable bereavement. Mr. Fox had been enjoying his usual degree of good health, had finished an unusually strenuous day's work in harvesting his heavy crop of oats, but aside from the remark that he was very tired had complained of no illness. He retired early and immediately fell asleep - never to awaken in this mortal sphere. His only son, Richard, who occupied the bed with him was slightly ill during the night and about four o'clock a.m. attempted to awaken his father, when the shocking discovery was made that the angel of Death had silently entered that happy and peaceful home and had summoned to his assured reward the beloved husband and father. William Fox was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1845 [headstone says 1848], and had been a resident of Williams township during the past thirty-five years. His industry and judicious frugality are evidenced in the fact that although he came to Williams township a poor boy, he owned at the time of his death one of the finest 200 acre farms in Iowa, a 160 acre farm near Frederick, S.D. and much valuable personal property. Married on February 25, 1884, he is survived by his faithful and loving wife [Emma Knuths] and five affectionate and dutiful children - Margaret, Jessie, Ruby, Blanche, and Richard - and they have the most profound and sincere sympathy of the entire community in their sad and sudden bereavement. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of which the deceased was a devout, faithful and life-long communicant. Rev. J.J. O'Meara celebrated the requiem high mass for the dead and in his sermon eulogizing the life and character of the deceased epitomized his moral worth and christian rectitude in this impressive sentence, "I have never known a man who was better prepared to either live or die than William Fox." The funeral was very largely attended by sorrowing and sympathetic friends and neighbors, the remains were followed to their last resting place in St. Mary's cemetery by the largest funeral cortege in the history of Williams parish. Peace to his ashes and eternal glory to his immortal soul.