Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 353
CHARLES R. FOX, of the Musser Lumber Company, of Muscatine, Iowa, has been connected with this and the original firm of Musser & Co. since the organization of the former in 1870, as partner and yard superintendent, and since the building of the company's planing-mill has had charge of that establishment also. He had previously been associated with the Musser brothers since 1859 as clerk of their lumber office.

Mr. Fox was born in Berk's County, Pa., Nov. 26, 1839, and is a son of Samuel and Hannah ( Robinson ) Fox. His father was born in Schuylkill County, and was descended from an old Pennsylvania family of Holland origin. His mother was born in Berks County, and was of Scotch and English descent. Our subject received a common-school education, and came to Iowa in 1859, locating in Iowa City, where he engaged as clerk with R. Musser & Co., lumber dealers. In May, 1864, he came to Muscatine in the employ of the same company, and served with him until 1870, when he bought into the business and became a member of the firm of Musser & Co., which was then being organized for the purpose of building and operating a saw-mill and doing a general lumber business. He assumed the position of yard superintendent, which he has now held for eighteen years. When the business was incorporated into a stock company in February, 1881, he was one of the incorporators, and the following year, when the company erected their planing-mill, he assumed charge of that establishment.

On the 14th of February, 1872, at Muscatine, Iowa, Mr. Fox and Miss Sarah A. Eckel were united in marriage. Mrs. Fox was born in Tremont, Pa., and is a daughter of Levi and Catherine ( Cressman ) Eckel, both of whom are natives of that State; their ancestors were Germans, who emigrated to that colony prior to the Revolutionary War. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox have been born a family of six children, four sons and two daughters : Samuel R., born Nov. 10, 1873 ; Richard M., Dec. 27, 1875 ; Charles Elmer, Nov. 29, 1877 ; Eva C., March 4, 1880 ; Levi H., Jan. 19, 1883, and Blanche W., Jan. 26, 1886.

Mr. Fox is a Republican in his political views. He has been for a number of years prominently identified with civic societies, is a member of Hawkeye Lodge No. 30, A.F.& A.M.; of Washington Chapter No.4, R. A. M., and is also a Knight Pemplar, and is the present Eminent Commander of DeMolay Commandary No.1, K.T., of Muscatine. He is one of the most substantial of Muscatine's worthy citizens, and has borne his part in building up the important industries with which his name is associated, and which have done so much to furnish employment to many people, and have disbursed a magnificent sum of money at this point.

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