 |
|
Elijah Fox (1834 – 1916)
|
Elijah Fox was born in
Parsonsfield, Maine, December 22, 1834, son of Thomas and Elmira (Baker) Fox
and lived and worked on the family farm until he was twenty-one. His family believed strongly in education and
he attended Limington Academy. Like many
Maine youths of that time, Elijah Fox had an ambition to find work in the
vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts. He
finally found work at a store in Haverhill, Massachusetts and apprenticed himself as a grocery clerk in order that he
might learn the business thoroughly.
Later he and his brother opened their own store and successfully
conducted one of the leading grocery establishments on Merrimack Street in
Haverhill, for more than 30 years. In
1886 he retired from the grocery trade, and engaged in the real estate
business, mining interests and other business projects from which he amassed a
large fortune.
He married Eliza Ann George on December 6, 1864 and they
had one daughter, Florence Louise, who died in 1874 at age seven. He resided all his adult life in Haverhill,
Massachusetts and passed away at his home on White Street, Haverhill on March
18, 1916. His wife continued to live at
that address until her death in 1921.
Mr. Fox was very active in the Haverhill community and the
Grace Episcopal Church and gave generously of his time and money and to
whatever cause needing his assistance, he gave intelligent and loyal
service. His biographies spoke highly of
him in every way for his unbending honesty, his faithful observance of all
public and private duties, his devotion to home and church and his cheerfulness
and optimism.
Although Elijah did not live in Kezar Falls as an adult,
his interest in his home here remained strong all his life. In 1880 he, along with George W. Towle and
John Devereux were the investors who built the original woolen mill building
and organized the Kezar Falls Woolen Manufacturing Company on the Ossipee River
in Kezar Falls, Maine. He contributed to
other worthy causes here throughout his life including Parsonsfield Seminary.
