Henry Fox
Reproduced from The Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Beers Chicago, 1903, pp 1088-1089Submitted by Chris Fox
HENRY FOX was during his life one of the leading business citizens of Gap, Pa. and a man of reliability and integrity. He was born May 28, 1841, in Benhousen, Germany, and passed away at his home in Gap, Pa., Jan. 29, 1895. He was interred in Bellevue cemetery. His parents were Henry and Henrietta (Baker) Fox, both of Germany.
Henry Fox, the father of the late Henry Fox, came to America in 1852, With his family and settled in Paradise Township, in Lancaster county, Pa. He was all accomplished musician, but also possessed a talent for mechanics, being able to manufacture many articles. He was all excellent broom-maker and carried on this business to some extent in Paradise Township, where the family, resided until the death of both parents. Mr. Fox possessed ample means. He died in 1872, at the age of sixty years, his widow surviving until 1886, dying at the age of eighty years. They were members of the Mennonite Church. The children born to this union were as follows: Jacob, a retired farmer of Stroudsburg; Barbara, deceased, who married Lawrence W. Ludwig; Peter, deceased; Henry; Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Etchels, of Lancaster; Mary, deceased; Christian, who is a machinist, painter and photographer in Parkesburg, Pa.; and Uriah is a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad, living at Harrisburg.
Mr. Fox was a tailor by trade and this business he followed through life, beginning work on the table at the age of eighteen, in time widening its scope until it embraced all branches of merchant tailoring and clothing. He served his apprenticeship in Williamstown with John Falk, and there he did business on his own account for five years, re- moving then to Paradise, Pa, where he worked for two years. He was then engaged at various places until 1871, when he returned to Gap, where he found an excellent opportunity for opening up a first-class clothing and tailoring business. Mr. Fox had found just the place he desired and he concentrated his energies on this business to its great success. In 1879, with a careful father's forethought, he obtained possession of an adjoining store, which he fitted up as a restaurant, confectionery and tobacco store, in order to give his children employment and interest, and the excellence of his judgment has been demonstrated by the success which has attended this enterprise. Although the kind and provident father has passed away, the business is in the hands of his children, who have reason to be thankful for his care for their welfare.
Mr. Fox was for a long period a notary public, filling that office for some thirteen years. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party. In religious belief he was a member of the Bellevue Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he belonged to the Knights of Pythias and the Mystic Chain.
On July 25, 1863, Mr. Fox was united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Brown, and the family born to this union consisted of the following members: Henrietta, deceased, who married Adrian Stone: Christian, who is a telegraph operator married Catherine Baldwin of Lancaster, and has three children; Mary died in infancy; Samuel M., the Chicago collector of the Philadelphia Press, who married Anna G. Fisher, of Tacony, Pa., and has two children; Harry, at home, an assistant in the business, as are also Lizzie V., Thomas, Annie and Charles B.
Mrs. Margaret J. (Brown) Fox was born in County Derry, Ireland, daughter of Samuel and Margaret J. (Scott) Brown, of County Derry, who came to America in 1850 and settled in Gap, Pa. Mr. Brown was a linen weaver in his native land and followed the business of carpet weaving in his new home. He died in 1867, at the age of sixty-five years, his wife dying in 1878, also aged sixty-five years. They belonged to the Scotch Presbyterian Church, and they were interred in the Bellevue cemetery. Their children were as follows: Joseph, deceased; Robert, who enlisted for service in the Civil war, but never returned home; Sarah, deceased wife of John Patterson; Matilda, late wife of Lincoln Beck; Mary, who married Albert Gray, of West Chester, Pa.; Margaret J., who married Henry Fox; Elizabeth, who married Uriah Fox, a railway conductor at Harrisburg; and William, deceased.
Few women could have more successfully managed the cares of at large business than Mrs. Fox has done ever since the death of her husband. She was appointed notary public in his place and has also filled the duties of that position with excellent judgment. The business established by Mr. Fox is now a large department store filled with an 'assortment of both ladies' and men's furnishing goods of all kinds, fully up-to-date in every particular, comprising also clothing, while the restaurant continues to be as successfully conducted as formerly. Mrs. Fox with her very capable force is enabled to manage the store, the restaurant, and the cigar, tobacco and confectionery connection without outside assistance, and the same honest methods are employed which brought this business to the notice of the public in its beginning. Patrons are certain to meet with pleasant and careful attention, their wants are studied and in consequence no more popular, first-class establishment can be found in Gap. The family is held in high esteem, the children all having grown up to be thrifty, self-supporting, independent and respected.
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