Contributed to the Pierce County WIGenWeb Project by Nance Sampson nsampson@spacestar.net
@2000 by Nance Sampson

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Submitted by Debbie Barrett June 13, 2001
mrsgrinnin@home.com

SYLVESTER J. FOX, farmer and merchant, Rock Elm, Pierce county, was born at
Pamelia, Jefferson county, N. Y., Decmeber 3, 1831.  Daniel W. Fox, his 
grandfather, was of German descent, and George Fox, his father, married
Betsey, daughter of Benjamin Cole.  The latter had two sons, Sylvester J. and
Charles.  When our subject was three years old his mother died, and his 
father subsequently married her sister, Polly Cole, who bore him five
children, Jarius R., Charlotte, Almaron, Oscar and Horace.  When eight years
of age Sylvester J. removed with his parents to Norwichville, Canada, and 
in 1848 to Woodland, Wis., where his father was killed in a tornado, August
21, 1857.  At the age of twenty-four years he began farming for himself, and 
later engaged in buying wheat.  In 1863 he moved to Iron Ridge, Wis., and in 
March, 1867, he came to Rock Elm, and erected a log house which served for
several years as a residence and store.  This was the first building in the
present village, and the first town caucus was held in it the same spring.
The following May he brought his family, and shipped a stock of goods via
Maiden Rock, drawing them thence by team.  As the road had to be cleared,
two days were consumed in making a single trip.  The store and mill were
carried on by Fox & Hawn, until 1872, when the partnership was dissolved,
Mr. Fox retaining the store, which he and his sons still carry on in more
commodious quarters.  They also deal in wool.  Mr. Fox owns three farms, 
comprising 340 acres, and makes a specialty of breeding Clydesdale horses.
     June 23, 1857, Mr. Fox married Miss Juliet White, and to them have been
born seven children:  Estella (Mrs. S. Van Ostwick), Ida (Mrs. A. Abair), 
Mary and Martha (twins), the former now Mrs. C. W. Condit, Charles E., George
and Delsia.  In politics Mr. Fox is a democrat and is now serving as chairman
of the town board for the sixth term.  He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and
a courteous gentleman of good judgment and business ability.

--Taken from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley
Wisconsin Including A General Historical Sketch of the Chippewa Valley;
Ancestral Records fo Leading Families; Biographies of Representative Citizens,
Past and Present; and Portraits of Prominent Men.  Edited by George Forrester.
Published in Chicago, Illinois by A. Warner. Publisher. 1891-2. Pages 657-658