FOX, T. J.

FOX, NICHOLSON, RIDENOUR, TRIMBELL, PETERS, TISS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/8/2004 at 13:20:28

Biography reproduced from page 507 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

T. J. Fox, who has charge of the interests of the Kuntz Grain Company at Hanna, is one of the well known residents of Luverne township. He was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, January 22, 1868, and is a son of William C. and Exey (Nicholson) Fox. The father, who is also a native of West Virginia, engaged in farming until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Forty-second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry and went to the front in defense of the Union. He remained in the service from 1861 to 1865, and during the period was promoted from the ranks to a captain’s commission. He participated in many of the notable conflicts and was wounded at Vicksburg by a minie ball that tore out the knuckle of the right middle finger and has ever since given him more or less trouble. The family of William C. Fox was well represented in the Civil war as he had eight brothers in the Union army and three in the Southern army. When mustered out at the close of hostilities he resumed the duties of civil life as an agriculturist, continuing to reside in the south until 1874, when he removed to Iowa with his family. He first located at Elgin, Fayette county, Iowa, but five years later he became a resident of Winneshiek county. Ten or twelve years later he went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he is now living retired. Mr. Fox subsequently withdrew from farming and in the latter years of his life he was employed on the railroad. The mother of our subject was born in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, where she was reared to womanhood. Her people were southern sympathizers, and she had a brother in the Confederate army. T. J. Fox is the only son and eldest of the three children born to his parents. The daughter, Emma, the next in order of birth, married C. J. Ridenour, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; and the other daughter, Alice, became the wife of Harry Trimbell of Walla Walla, Washington.

The boyhood and early youth of T. J. Fox were passed in the paternal home, his education being obtained in the public schools and the Decorah Business College. At the age of thirteen he started out to make his own way in the world and for two years thereafter worked as a farm hand in Winneshiek county. From there he went to Winnebago county, where he followed the same occupation for three years and at the expiration of that time obtained a position in a lumberyard at Forest City. He was identified with this enterprise for three years, and then resigned his position and went to South Dakota and bought an interest in a stock farm. Two years later he returned to Iowa, locating at Hanna. Here he assumed the management of the lumberyard and elevator of the Kuntz Grain Company, who handle coal, lumber, tile, grain and live stock.

In 1892, at the age of twenty-four years, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Peters of Forest City, who passed away in 1900, and was buried in the cemetery at Forest City. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox, as follows: Ruby, deceased; and Floyd, Irene and Carroll, all of whom are at home. In September, 1904, Mr. Fox was married to his present wife, formerly Miss Angelina Tiss, and they have become the parents of five children: Enid; William, deceased; Louise; Lois; and Tillman.

The parents are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and affiliate with St. Mary’s parish at Corwith. Fraternally Mr. Fox is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Corwith, the Knights of Pythias, at Forest City, and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, at Corwith. Politically he is a democrat, and served for three or four years as postmaster at Hanna. He was also a school director for two terms and justice of the peace for two. Mr. Fox is held in favorable regard in the business circles of Luverne township, where he has proven himself to be most capable and efficient, as well as trustworthy and reliable.