BIOGRAPHIES:  Adam Loftus FOX, Durand Township, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 12 January 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

Adam Loftus Fox (deceased) was born at Dublin, Ireland, January 21, 1811, and 
died in Durand township February 22, 1881.  He was the second child and oldest 
son of William and Ellen (Lynn) Fox.  Previous to his death our subject spent 
considerable time and labor in searching old records and tracing out the family 
genealogy, a record of which he fortunately left to his posterity.  From this 
record we learn that the family are descendants of Maine, son of Niall (The 
Grand), one of the Nine Hostages, who reigned about 380 A. D.  According to 
ancient Irish traditions, Niall was remotely descended from Lilidh who married 
Scota, daughter of an Egyptian Pharoah.  It is stated that Lilidh died in Spain, 
but Scota and her sons came to Erin, probably at the time of the Milesian 
migration.  The grave of Scota is supposed to be in county Kerry, where it has 
been pointed out for ages.  The first to bear the present name was Sinneah Finn 
(White Fox) King of Teffia, who died 1082, A. D., and who was also the first to 
bear a given name.  The last of the family to hold a title was Rory Fox of 
Kilcoursey Castle.  The ruins of this castle are near Clara, Kings county, 
Ireland.  The names of the descendants of Rory Fox in direct line are Anthony, 
James, Matthew and William.  The latter was born in 1784, and died at Madison, 
Wis., in November, 1859.  He was the owner of large flouring mills and landed 
estates, and also carried on a wholesale tea concern in Dublin.  He was an 
intimate friend of Lord Norbury, and, through his influence, many lives were 
saved in those troublesome times.  Having met with severe financial reverses, 
in 1832 he came to America and settled in Van Buren, Ind.  In 1840 he came to 
Madison, Wis., where he became a Methodist minister, and built the first church 
in that city.  Mrs. Ellen (Lynn) Fox was born at Donegal Castle, county Wexford.  
She was descended from Adam Lynn, who came from Southwick, Northampton, England, 
to Ireland about 1700.  He was an officer of the Green Horse, and married Charity 
Catgwohoun about 1710.  Their descendants in direct line were John, Adam L. and 
Ellen.

The subject of this sketch was educated at Trinity college, Dublin, and in 1832 
married Matilda, daughter of James McCutchan, who was born in Williamstown, 
Longford.  Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fox came to Van Buren township, 
Lagrange county, Ind., where seven children were born to them, named Susan (Mrs. H. 
Cathcart), Henry L., Ann aM. (Mrs. A. T. Spooner), Charles J., Adam Loftus, Frances 
(Mrs. C. Freligh), and Arthur.  Mrs. Fox died there December, 1852.  The following 
year the family removed to Dane county, Wis.  In 1854 Mr. Fox made a trip through 
the Chippewa Valley, and, being favorably impressed by the country along Bear creek, 
he induced several neighbors to return with him the next season, when he entered 
land for a farm, and in 1856 removed his family hither.  In 1870 Adam L. moved to 
Iowa and purchased a farm of 160 acres.  He now owns 1,000 acres of choice land, 
and has with one exception the largest farm in Mahaska county.

Mr. Fox Sr. was a typical, Irish gentleman.  Not having been accustomed to the 
transaction of business, he was, in some respects, illy qualified for the life of 
a pioneer but his sociability, hospitality and choice musical renditions, did much 
to lighten the cares and cheer the lives of the whole community, by whom he will be 
long and kindly remembered.

-Transcribed from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley
Wisconsin, 1891-2," pages 680 & 681


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