Union Cemetery

Fox, George W


BORN IN: Michigan
DIED: 4/1/1899
AGED: 60
CAUSE OF DEATH: Degeneration of Heart Muscles
DEATH LOCATION: Redwood City

OCCUPATION: Attorney at Law
MEMBER OF: PIONEER IOOF

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BURIED IN UNION CEMETERY WITH THE SAME LAST NAME:

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BURIED NEARBY IN PLOT 152:
CURRENT EVENTS:
  • 1845 Texas annexed into U.S.
  • 1846 Mexican-American War
  • 1849 California Gold Rush
  • 1850 California became the 31st State
  • 1860 The Pony Express
  • 1861 Abraham Lincoln elected President
  • 1861 American Civil War
  • 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated
  • 1866 Ku Klux Klan
  • 1869 National Woman Suffrage Assoc.
  • 1871 The Great Chicago Fire
  • 1876 Telephones (Alexander Graham Bell)
  • 1876 Baseball's National League
  • 1877 Phonograph (Thomas Edison)
  • 1879 Light Bulb (Thomas Edison)
OBITUARY ---------------

GLORGE W. FOX

Redwood City Democrat

Thursday. April 6, 1899

George W. Fox quietly passes from his earthly labors. George Fox, the pioneer attorney of the county, quietly passed from the living at 9 o’clock Saturday morning at his home on Main Street. Although in shattered health for the past year, there was no indication that his end was near, and the news of his death as it was heralded about town, caused a flutter of surprise mingled with feelings of regret that the old attorney, so well known and whose form was as familiar as the oldest landmark, was no more. When the fact of his death was made known, the flags about town were placed at half mast in respect to his memory.

Driving the long period that Mr. Fox was a resident, he enjoyed the best of health. He was full of vigor in his practice of his profession, active in public affairs, and unstinting of his time and talents. With advancing years came wasting disease, though the desire and idolized children, seemed to sustain him, while his tattering and palsied limbs and waning faculties gave evidence of the inevitable approach of death. Mr. Fox was about as usual the day before he died. On Saturday morning he became restless, complained of feeling much worse and was obliged to take to his bed. His son Claude and his eldest daughter were with him when the end came. Mrs. Fox was in San Francisco, where she had for some weeks been undergoing medical treatment.

George W. Fox was born in Wayne County, Michigan, May 13, 1838. He came to this county with his father and mother in 1855. His father, Benjamin Fox was the county’s first judge. Mr. Fox engaged in farming near San Mateo, and later moved to this city where he began the study of law with his brother, Chas. N. Fox and was admitted to the bar in 1863. Previous to this time he served two terms as deputy sheriff. After graduating in the legal profession he entered into partnership with his brother and the firm of Fox and Fox handled an immense practice. During the war, Mr. Fox wrote editorials for the Gazette and did much to foster the Union Sentiment in the county. He was married to Sarah T. Donald at San Mateo in 1864. Four living children are the result of the union — Claudius, Mrs. T. Thorpe, and Ethel and Beatrice. He leaves two brothers Chas. N. and Benj. F. and two sisters Mrs. A.J. Quigley of Plumas County and Mrs S. Palmer of San Jose.

Deceased was a life long Democrat, active in the interests of his party. In 1890, he was elected District Attorney, serving one term. He was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, A O U W and Knights of Pythias, in which latter order he held a grand office He was also a member of the Exempt Fireman and the Society of San Mateo County Pioneers.

The funeral took place Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Two representatives of each of the fraternal organizations to which the deceased belonged officiated as pallbearers Mrs. Fox’s success in professional life was largely due to his own efforts. He enjoyed none of the advantages that are provided to students of the present generation. He had no other equipment than the courage and detemination of youth and with those weapons began life’s battle. Deceased was looked upon as an able attorney and possessed oratorical ability that was far above the ordinary. He came with the pioneers at a time when the law and order element in California was largely in the minority, and as an officer participated in many of the stirring events that took place and marked the early history of the county. Of these, he retained a recollection, accurate as to date and detail and when humored into a reminiscent mood proved a raconteur whose fund of narrative seemed inexhaustible. Mr. Fox was not only an eloquent speaker and entertaining narrator but as a writer he possessed those elements that would have distinguished him had he cast his lot in the field of literature. Many of the articles in the local journals concerning the county residents whom death had called away were written by him, and in those thoughts of former companions he showed a vein of pathos that might not have been accredited to him. If in life he felt some of the sorrow to which humanity is heir, he profited therefrom and more than one will recall his advice and admonition, often kindly given, to seek higher aims and shun those habits that lead to the garnering of thorns and thistles in the end. Perhaps some have lived better lives through his council and now that he is gone, will recall his words as a benediction.

Lot 152

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