Genesee-Oakland-Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Fox, David S. 1817 - 
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

DAVID S. FOX. One of the strongest men financially of the city of Flint, is he
of whom we write. Our subject is also personally esteemed for his numerous
excellent qualities, which have besides led to his success in various
directions. He is well known as a man of sterling integrity and worth. He is
President of the First National Bank, also of the Flint Wagon Works and of the
Glenwood Cemetery Association, which position has been accorded him willingly by
his co-workers in recognition of his enterprise and ability.

  Mr. Fox was born in Broken Straw, Warren County, now Sugar Grove, Pa.,
November 28, 1817. He is a son of David and Matilda (French) Fox. His father was
a New Englander, born in Connecticut, as was his grandfather, who was a soldier
in Revolutionary War. The latter died at a very advanced age, and his wife
survived until 1831, being then ninety-seven years of age. They were of English
descent. Our subject's father was the youngest of seven brothers. After serving
in the War of 1812, he was married at Otisco, Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1816.
Subsequently he became a pioneer in Warren County, Pa., being one of the first
of three or four families to locate there. He cleared one hundred and sixty
acres of heavy timber land, rearing a family of children in the log house. He
died when over eighty years of age. He was a Whig in his political predeliction,
and in his religious creed a Presbyterian. Our subject's mother was a native of
Northampton, Mass., and a daughter of an old Revolutionary soidier. She lived to
be eighty years of age, her decease occurring in Pennsylvania. 

  David S. Fox was next to the youngest of five children. He was reared to the
pioneer duties of farming and made that his business for some time. He then
worked at manufacturing shingles, and  was engaged in lumbering, rafting, and
sending his lumber down the Ohio to Cincinnati. He received limited school
advantages, but acquired enough to start him in the right intellectual
direction, and has since acquired by observation and reading what he now knows.
On leaving his home farm at the age of seventeen, he went to New York and became
an apprentice to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner.

  He was married in Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., February 17, 1840, to Miss
Phebe A. Randall, a daughter of William Randall. In the spring of 1846 the young
couple came West to Michigan. Mr. Fox rented a shop in Birmingham, Oakland
County, and engaged in the manufacture of the Roger's Patent Steel-Tooth
Cultivators. He continued in this for three or four years, and then engaged in
general merchandise. In the fall of 1856 he came to Flint and purchasing a store
put in a new stock of goods. In the fall of 1865 he started in the lumber
business with Messrs. Walker & Begole as partners. They purchased and improved a
mill, and were extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles.
They also speculated in timber lands. They purchased large tracts of pine lands
in Lapeer County, and getting the lumber out themselves, floated it down the
river. During the last three years of their lumber business their lumber supply
was brought by rail chiefly from Claire County, and the company which carries on
the business is that of Begole, Fox & Co., one of the largest manufacturing
firms here. These timber lands, however, have been cleared away and are now
settled by farmers.

  Mr. Fox was one of the organizers of the First National Bank in this city, and
for the last twelve years has been its President. The Flint Wagon Works, of
which he is also presiding officer, has greatly increased in size and
importance, and now has a capital stock of $100,000 being one of the largest and
most important factories here. Our subject has a very lovely home on Grand
Travis Street, No. 606. His success in life has been due to the energy and hard
work he has brought to bear. He has also made it a rule to lay by some money
every year.

  By his first marriage he has been the father of three children: Charles A.,
who is engaged in the merchandise business in Oxford, Ohio; Mary M., Mrs. John
M. Hall, of Flint; and Herman D., who died in his ninth year. Mr. Fox has held
various positions in the municipal government of Flint. He has been Alderman for
four years and was Mayor two terms, and School Director of the First Ward for
many years. Mrs. Phebe Fox died March 1887, and two years later, October 16,
1889, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Florence S. Tracy, a daughter
of Fitch R. and Charlotte W. Tracy. Mrs. Fox's father was one of the pioneers of
Genesee County, and was killed while engaged in milling at Goodrich. He served
as Registrar of Deeds in this county. In his political career our subject was a
Whig, and since 1854 he has been a Republican, and has frequently served as
delegate to county and State conventions.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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