The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-03
177l1971.
DANIEL FOX, THE 100-YEAR OLD FARMER
OF JEFFERSON co.
From the Rural Ne W Yorker.

OF JEFFERSON co.
From the Rural Ne Yorker.
The subject of this sketch, Daniel Fox.
is plain, substantial farmer. residing
near the charming village of Adams. New
York. He was born at Groton. Conn
March 1st 1771, and hence completed and
celebrated his centennial birthday ONLY
few months ago. During childhood he
removed to Guilford, VT, and when he
gained his majority he again removed to
Galway, Saratoga Co. He tarried at that
place only short time, but pushed on to
"the wilds of the West" and located at
Rome. He found no permanent resting
place around "Fort StanWix," though he
remained through the season. While
there he entered into negotiations with
the late Henry Huntington for the pur-
chase Of township in Chenanoo Co.
and started on foot, with two comrades,
to pay a visit to the promised land. The
party proceeded for some distance, but.
finding the country too rough and unin.
wiling, they soon turned Their steps
homeward, and on their eturn informed
Dir. Huntington, to his infinite disgust,
that they would mot take his township
as gift"
Soon after this, MI Fox set his face
toward the Black River country, or rather
toward Lake Ontario, and finally located
in the splendid valley of the Big Sandy
Creek, about two miles above "Sm;th's
Mills" now Adams village Here he
"took up" in connection with his partner.
five hundred acre lot. This partner
was Zaccheus Walsworth, who has now
been dead almost half century, but he
was we'll known to the early settlers for
his kindness of heart, shrewdness and
ready Wit
After few years Wllsworth sold out
entirely SON after which tMr. Fox re-
duced ais farm to its present dimensions
OF 1875 acres; this must have been as
early as 1898 or 1899 Thus has this
veteran agriculturist witnessed more than
seventy annual crops in succession on
the same farm His experience dates
back to the time when no more conven.
lent and profitable implement than the
sickle could be found with which to cut
his wheat and other English grains. He
has seen the cradle supersede the sickle,
and the mower and reaper brought out,
leaving both sickle and cradle, where the
locomotive left the oX.cart and stage
coaches; he has seen single horse driven
by boy, perform easily the work of
dozen sturdy laborers with hand rakes, in
the hay field; he has seen horse or steam
power thresh in q single day the golden
sheaVes which he was wont to fail all
winter In short, H. has witnessed and
protted by all these wonderful improve
ments in agriculture which, renders the
business as unlike farming half century
ago as propelling modern freight train
to market is unlike the six horse wagon
arrangement of early days.
"Uncie Daniel" as he is Familiarity
known to large circle of friends and
descendants, is In many respects re-
markable man. He is considerably be.
low the medium height, bu5 he possesses a.
singularly strong, iron frame, wonder
full equanimity of temper, and even now,
at his great age he Is not bowed down;
but, as his neighbors say, sis straight as
an Indian" while his step has almost the
elasticity of youth. His faculties seem
scarcely impaired, except that his eye
sight is partially affected. He seems to
feel undiminished interest in the proper
culture and management of his farm, and
looks after his stock and attends to his
Chores" about as we'll as he ever did,
Only last summer he clambered up a
ladder to "help," as he said, in re-shin-
Cling one of his barns, and descended to
the ground without accident or assistance.
His memory of early days, even to the
closing years of the Revolution, is quite
clear and distinct. He says he remem-
bers the Frenchmen who came over to
help u.s. and had an encampment near
Brattleboro'; but they had little or no
fighting left to do. OF course Mr. Fox
is pattern of temperance, regularity and
frugality, and these habits date back
to early youth He is a splendid speci-
men of thrifty, independent and con-
tented farmer. He is surrounded by his
descendants of the second and third gen.
GRAFTON, many of WHOM are among our
most respected and enterprising citizens,
and all of whom venerate and strive to
make happy the remarkable man to whom
they are under so many obligations.
Many of these relatives, and the villagers
generally, attended his recent birthday
celebration, which the old gentleman
seemed to enjoy greatly, assuring them
all that he expected to repeat many of
these happy demonstrations.
Such a record as the foregoing of the
men who have watched our National
growth during century, is not without
a significant value. It is connecting
and living link between the Past and
Present, and brings into close compari:.
son the character, purpose, motive and
life of the representatives of each.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of New York has fitted up room
where strangers who have baggage, but