Charles Fox
Charles Fox—The student of human nature, in his observation of men in this generation of business activity, feverish pursuit after wealth and the pleasure of life afforded by our present civilization, finds much to condemn and little to commend, more especially among what may be termed the younger element of those now in active life, for often those qualities which should predominate are lost in the advancement of self, and finds "self" the ruling spirit governing actions. And the spirit of mankind, on the other hand—"the exception which proves the rule"—is present, yet an example is occasionally found of the sterling, honest, upright man, whose wealth but adds to his interest in the welfare of his fellows, whose character is a fitting guide to the young men growing up around him, and whose actions are guided by unselfishness, honestly and upright moral character, and to this latter class belongs the subject of this sketch, Charles Fox, who was born at Ann Arbor, Mich., December 15, 1853, the youngest of six sons, children of the late Rev. Charles and Anna M. (Ruckert) Fox.
The Rev. Charles Fox was of English parentage, a native of Westoe county of Durham, England, and one of that old Durham family which sacredly preserves its family tree with all its branches, tracing its root back to the sturdy Englishman of the twelfth century. He first visited this country in 1833, making many friends in his travels among those who have since gained prominence in various spheres of life, and developing a taste for natural history. He made a valuable collection of birds, fish, and mineralogical specimens, which through his father formed the nucleus for a museum of natural history in Durham, and, returning to America, completed his preliminary studies for the ministry, and was ordained a deacon on June 11, 1830, at Hartford, Coon. His first call was to the Episcopal church at Jackson, Mich., and two years later he resigned to accept the pastorate of the Trinity church, Columbus, Ohio, and shortly after became the assistant of the bishop of Michigan in St. Paul’s church, Detroit.
In 1846 Mr. Fox purchased a farm on Grosse Isle, and severing his church connections in Detroit, devoted his energies to mastering the art of farming, practically as well as theoretically. e afterwards spent three years study at the university at Dur In 1852 he began the publication of the Farmers’ Companion; his untimely death July 24, 1854, however, brought to an end this most valuable and successful enterprise. Mr. Fox had been instrumental in establishing a school of agriculture in the university of Michigan, and while occupying the chair of professor of agriculture, wrote and published the American Text Book of Practical and Scientific Agriculture. His was a most promising career, and much of good to the people of his adopted state and country was lost by his all too early death. His widow, daughter of John Anthony Rucker, a native of Newark, F. J., was born September 7, 1816, and in her old age is surrounded by all the comforts and happiness which can be procured with money, and gracefully presides over the beautiful home of her sons, at Grand Rapids, Mich.
Charles Fox, the subject of this sketch, was taken, shortly after birth to Grosse Isle by his parents, and there his early childhood was spent. In 1861 his mother located in Detroit, and the next seven years of his life were devoted to study at the private schools of Prof. P. M. Patterson; later the family removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., and after graduating at the high school in 1871, Charles entered the university of Michigan, graduating from there in the classical course in 1875. Mr. Fox seems to have early developed a desire "to see the world" in a literal sense, as much of his time since early manhood has been devoted to travel and exploration, and it is perhaps to this excellent educator that much of his success in life may be attributed. In 1872 he spent eight weeks on the gulf of St. Lawrence on a mackerel schooner for the benefit of his health, and immediately after graduating from the university, in company with his mother, his brother, Dr. G. T. Fox, and his uncle and aunt, Sir William and Lady Fox, of New Zealand, spent a year in England, and on the continent, visiting Frances, Germany, Italy and Egypt.
In March, 1876, Mr. Fox came to Grand Rapids and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, as a member of the Osterhout & Fox Lumber company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. In 1883 he again visited Europe, traveling in Ireland, Scotland, France and Spain; also Algiers, in Africa, and other countries, devoting six months to the trip. In 1886 he visited the province of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Island, and in 1890 made an extended tour through the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, traveling about 700 miles on mule back over the Sierra Madre mountains. Another trip he made in 1892 to Japan and China, among other places of interest visiting Pekin, touching at Corea and journeying to Seoul, the capital.
In 1885 Mr. Fox organized the firm of Fox & May, which was afterwards changed into the Grand Rapids Tie & Lumber company, of which he became president. He also organized the South Grand Rapids Improvement company, which has extensive interests in the southern part of this city, of which he was also made president. He is also director of the Michigan Trust company, and the Grand Rapids board of trade, of which he was for several years first vice-president, where, as chairman of the lumber committee, he, with the remainder of the committee, lately issued new rules for the inspection of lumber, which have been very generally adopted.
Mr. Fox became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1881, in which he has taken all the degrees to the thirty-second, as well as the knight templar and also the mystic shrine. He is also a member of the Country and Golf clubs, being now president of the Country club. Politically he has always been an ardent republican and has exercised a potential influence in the ranks of his party in Western Michigan.
On December 14, 1893, Mr. Fox married Miss Corrine Hinsdill, daughter of Col. C. B. Hinsdill, of Grand Rapids.
The following is from the pen of an intimate friend and fellow-townsman of Mr. Fox: "Socially, Mr. Fox has by his suavity of manner and speech, his superior intelligence and upright bearing, gained an enviable position; endowed with a generous public spirit, he is quietly and unostentatiously doing his full share as a private citizen towards the advancement of the city’s best interests, and is a liberal contributor of his means to charitable purposes, whether the call be from private or public source. Popular among his fellows, his success in life is a matter of gratification and pride to the numerous friends his individual worth has won for him."