The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-02-05
Scraps Of History.
JOHN FOX.

Perhaps about the middle OF the
eighteenth century, among the plo-
peers of the then unsettled country,
the first member of this family to
reach America, came from England
and settled first in Virginia and
subsequently took up a section OF
land in this State. Whether he ever
lived here is not told, but near the
close of the century his son jesse
the father of the subject Of this
sketch-settled on Chinquepin creek,
a few miles from Batesburg. He
had married Miss Ward, of Vir-
ginia, whose ancestors likewise came
from England.
There is before the writer record
of only four children. J. Il. Fox,
who died recently near Westmore-
land, in this county, after long and
useful life, and Mrs. Louisa Sawyer,
Of Aiken, and Mrs. Harris OF Texas,
who are still living. "Col. Claude E.
Sawyer, SO long prominent in the
State and was a son Of Mrs. Louisa
Sawyer"
The eldest son John, of whom we
now write, was born at the home OF
his parents a few miles from the
present town of Batesburg, Decem-
Der 18th, 1905. The first twenty
years of his life were passed at the
old homestead. Schools in those
days were very poor and taught at
irregular intervals and his educa-
tional advantages were naturally very
limited. He moved to Lexington
Court House, then a "town in the
forests" in 1925 and became a
Deputy for A. H. Fort, (who was
Clerk of the Court and Ordinary
and soon after entered the Office Of
Amos Banks as Deputy Sheriff.
After three years service in this ca
pscit7 he was elected to the office OF
Sbar;ff in 1893 Under the laws of
those days the Sheriff could not re-
main in Office for two successive
terms and he retired in 1882, but was
reelected in 1886. Four years later
he was elected Clerk of the Court,
and held this Office ior three terms Of
four years each. In 1852 he was
elected to the House Of Representa-
tives and sgain in 1854? In 1856
after a spirited contest with MIR.
John C. Hope, Of the Fork, he was
elected to the Senate. The race was
hoely contested and the vote exceed
ingly close. Four years later the
same two gentleman entered the
field and after an earnest canvass
the majority was reversed and Mr..
Hope was chosen. Among the recol-
lections of the boyhood of theauthor
of this paper these contests stand
out in bold relief. It is doubtful
whether they have been surpassed in
the history Of the county, when con-
sidered with reference to the zeal
and earnestness and enthusiasm of
the adherents on either side.
Mr.. Fox was too old for active SER
vice during the Wa between the
States, but his patriotic heart beat
warmly for his native State, and ne
was in full sympathy with his people
in their brave efforts = to establish a
Southern Confederscy. Still retain
ing the confidence Of the people he
had served so long and faithfully, he
was chosen to represent his county in
the constitutional convention called
together by Governor B. F. Perry IN
1866.
He served subsequently, as Jury
Commissioner, and as Clerk of the
Board of County Commissioners.
He was thus il the public service for
nearly all his life and held the conf
dence of those who knew him best
and longest to the end Of his useful
and eventful career. He was modest
as woman, man Of sterling integ-