San Francisco County
Biographies
HON. CHARLES NELSON FOX
HON. CHARLES NELSON FOX was born in
a frontier home, surrounded by dense forests, in Wayne county, Michigan,
March 9, 1829. He was the eldest of a family of eight children, and his
parents, like most of the pioneers of that country, were poor. Until
fifteen years of age his time was divided between attending school in the log
schoolhouse and working on the farm. He then went to Ann
Arbor, determined to make his own living, and, if
possible, work his way through the university; and while doing this was taken
sick. Upon his recovery he entered a printer’s office, and mastered every
department of the art then practiced. At an early age he became noted as a
country editor. At twenty-one he was made Chief Deputy in the office of
Recorder of Deeds for his county, and for two years was practically the chief
of that office. During this period he was also elected City Recorder of
the city of Ann Arbor. A
vacancy occuring in the office of Mayor, he served ex
officio in that capacity for a portion of the term, in all these places
serving acceptably to the people.
Entering
the office of Kingsley & Morgan, he completed his preparation for the
practice of law, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of
Michigan. The following year, his parents and all other members of the
family having already settled in California, he came
hither, arriving in August and locating in San Mateo
county. In November of that year he was appointed
to fill a vacancy in the office of District Attorney, and by successive elections
held that office five years, when he declined further election.
For
twenty-five years before his elevation to the Supreme bench, Judge Fox had his
office in San Francisco. Besides
his duties as general attorney of the Spring Valley Waterworks of this city, he
was engaged in general practice, about half of the time in partnership with A.
and H. C. Campbell, and the rest of the tie in partnership with M. B. Kellogg
until 1889, when F. R. King was added to the firm. During these years of
his active connection with the San Francisco
bar he has met with eminent success.
In
1889 he was commissioned a Justice of the Supreme Court by Governor Waterman,
to fill out the unexpired term of Hon. Jackson Temple, resigned, and took his
seat on the Supreme bench July 1.
Judge Fox and his wife are the parents of four children,
three of whom are married. Since 1876 he has resided in the city of
Oakland.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
page 461, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Donna L.
Becker.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library