Biography - ERWIN DAVIS FOX
As a type of the wide-awake, progressive and enterprising Illinois
business man no better example could be found than Erwin Davis Fox, of
Keyesport, who deals in general merchandise, hardware, farming implements
and lumber, and has also been called to high positions of honor and trust by
his fellow townsmen, who have recognized and appreciated his natural
abilities. During the years that Mr. Fox has been identified with the
business interests of Keyesport he has displayed those characteristics of
industry, integrity and progressiveness that are bound to have a beneficent
effect on the commercial activities of any community, and as a public
official has brought those same characteristics into play, with the result
that he won the admiration not only of those who have belonged to his own
party, but of his opponents as well. Mr. Fox is a native Illinoisan, having
been born at Hilesburg, Fayette county, August 12, 1878, a son of Julius C.
and Maria (Bourner) Fox.
Julius C. Fox was born June 12, 1837, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany,
and in his native village attended the public schools, after leaving which
he entered the University of Berlin, being graduated with the degree of
Doctor of Medicine. On coming to America, in 1860, he located first in
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he took a course in English, and eventually went to
Indiana, in which state he practiced his profession for a short time. After
following the same line of endeavor at Pleasant Mound, Illinois, for about
seven years, Dr. Fox came to Keyesport, and after a short term of practice
moved to a farm in Fayette county, where his family grew up. He then retired
from active life and moved back to Keyesport, where he lived quietly until
his death, in 1905, while his widow still survives him and makes her home in
this city. She is the daughter of James Wellington Bourner, an Englishman,
and has been the mother of four children, as follows: Hermann; Pauline, who
married Russell Duloma; Erwin Davis; and Edith. Dr. Fox was a stanch and
active Republican in his political views, and served in various offices
within the gift of his fellow citizens.
Erwin Davis Fox spent his early life on the Fayette county farm, and until
he was sixteen years of age attended the country schools of that vicinity
and the public school's of Keyesport. He was married in June, 1898, to Miss
Jessie Davis, daughter of John M. Davis, a native of Wales and one of the
earliest residents of Keyesport, where he was engaged in the general
merchandise business until his death, in 1903. During the Civil war Mr.
Davis served four years and four months, as sergeant of company I, Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, under General Logan, and had an admirable war record.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox have had two children: Shubert and Erwin Davis, Jr.
After his marriage Mr. Fox was engaged in clerking for one year for his
father-in-law, and after Mr. Davis' death he carried on the business for
several years. Eventually he sold out and purchased the stock and business
of William Langham, and under his management it has grown to be one of the
largest business concerns in Clinton county. His ability to discern
opportunities, and then to grasp and make the most of them, has made his
name familiar in the business world of Southern Illinois, but he always
recognizes the rights of others and his dealings with his fellow men have
been without a blemish. He has been prominent fraternally for some years as
a member of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, in both of
which he is extremely popular. It is, perhaps, as a public man that Mr. Fox
has come most favorably into the notice of his fellow-citizens, for his
prominence is remarkable when it is considered that is a Republican in a
strong Democratic county. This, however, has only proved his popularity and
the confidence in which he is held, confidence that he has shown to be not
misplaced by his admirable administration as mayor, treasurer and postmaster
of Keyesport. He is known as one of the leaders of his party in this part of
the state, and has served on both the County and State Republican Central
Committees.
Extracted 10 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, pages 1320-1321.
