Union Cemetery

Fox, Charles


DIED: 9/6/1865
AGED: 6m


PLOT INFO: BOOK EXCERPTS:
FAMILY INFO:

BURIED IN UNION CEMETERY WITH THE SAME LAST NAME:

BURIED NEARBY IN PLOT 163:
CURRENT EVENTS:
  • 1860 The Pony Express
  • 1861 Abraham Lincoln elected President
  • 1861 American Civil War
  • 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated
From the public domain book: History of San Mateo County, California , published in 1883

Charles N. Fox

Hon. Charles N. Fox. A prominent member of the bar of California, was born in the township of Redford, Wayne county, Michigan, March 9, 1829. His father, Benjamin F. Fox, was born in Whitesborough, Oneida county, New York, April 3, 1807. His mother, Betsey Crane, a native of Mentz, Cayuga county, New York, was born July 12, 1807. Both of his parents' ancestry are of English origin, and were among the earliest colonial pioneers of New England. His paternal grandparents on both sides were active patriots during the American revolution, and participated in that memorable struggle for freedom and independence. In early childhood the subject of this sketch, during the short summer seasons, attended school in a log house, a mile from the parental residence. Subsequently he likewise attended the winter terms, until childhood ripened into youth, when his services were required on the farm. At the age of sixteen, the family having previously moved to Washtenaw county, Michigan, young Fox left the parental roof and went to Ann Arbor intending to work his way through the university in that locality. Here he pursued a course of study preparatory to admission to the university proper, supporting himself, in the meantime, at any kind of manual labor that could be obtained. Unfortunately, however, as he was about to enter the university as freshman, his health failed, compelling him to relinquish, for the present at least, the further pursuit of a collegiate course of study. Having recovered his health, he entered a printing office, and after serving an apprenticeship in the office of the Michigan Argus, had, at the age of twenty-one, become an expert country printer, and acquired some reputation as a newspaper writer. In this business he acquired the habit of putting his original matter into type without the aid of manuscript, a habit of much value to him in the subsequent practice of his profession. In 1852, having previously pursued a legal course of study in the office of Judge Morgan, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, he was admitted to the bar of that state, where he practiced with some distinction until 1856, when he removed to California. After a brief term of practice in San Mateo county, he opened an office in San Francisco, where he has continued to enjoy a large practice during the past fifteen years. His reputation as an able lawyer has likewise given him an extensive practice throughout the state. As a legislator, he is distinguished for his attainments in the preparation of laws, clearness of conception, conciseness of construction, power of analysis, and great capacity for work in committee, or elsewhere. Upon attaining his majority, Mr. Fox united himself with the democratic party, and participated in all its campaigns until after the first election of Mr. Lincoln. In that campaign he supported Mr. Douglass. Upon the breaking out of the rebellion he ardently espoused the Union cause, and became zealous in the support of the republican party, with which he has ever since continued. He has participated in every canvass as a speaker of prominence and influence. He was chairman of the republican state convention of California, and was nominated for presidential elector, and made a thorough canvass of the state, but was defeated, with his ticket. He represented Alameda county in the Assembly in the session of the legislature of 1880, was chairman of the judiciary, and a member of several other important committees. Mr. Fox was district attorney of San Mateo county from 1857 to 1861, and town trustee of Redwood City two years, and has since served four years in the board of education of the city of Oakland, of which for two years he was the president. In 1864-5-6 Mr. Fox was the senior member of the law firm of Charles N. and George W. Fox, with offices at San Francisco and Redwood City; subsequently of the law firm of Campbell, Fox & Campbell, of San Francisco, composed of Alexander Campbell, senior, Charles N. Fox and H. C. Campbell; and is now senior member of the firm of Fox & Kellogg, composed of Charles N. Fox and M. B. Kellogg. Mr. Fox has always been prominent in benevolent and fraternal societies. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has been particularly active. He has passed all the chairs, and received all the honors of the subordinate and state grand bodies; and three times has represented California in the sovereign grand body of the world. By his advice and influence he has contributed largely to the introduction of American Odd Fellowship into Australia, and was the author of the legislation which placed it there on an equal plane with the Manchester Unity in those colonies. Mr. Fox has extensive acquaintance with the eminent men of the United States; but little with those of foreign countries. In social life he is neither averse nor particularly attached to society. His extensive professional duties require his entire attention, and leave him but little time for social enjoyment. He finds his greatest happiness in the society of his family, and in the pleasant intercourse with a few genial and familiar friends. Mr. Fox has a wife, a lady of French extraction, descended from one of the brave men who volunteered with Lafayette to aid in the struggle for American independance. Such, in brief, is the sketch of Hon. Chas. N. Fox, truthfully expressed; being one of the best types of the self-made men of America. His courage in the hour of adversity, his determination to succeed in the face of repeated reverses, and above all, his sublime confidence and hope in himself and the future are characteristics that stamp their possessor with true greatness.


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