Elmer L. Fox

As printed in 1909

ELMER L. FOX.

Elmer L. Fox, a native of Clark township, born May 11, 1873, has been the popular and enterprising postmaster of Blissfield for almost ten years, having received his appointment to this office September 29, 1898. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, having passed the days of his boyhood and early youth on the farm of his maternal grandmother, Margaret Miller. He received a common-school education and early improved his vacation periods by becoming a wage earner. He was but fourteen years of age when he accepted his first position, which was that of water carrier on the railroad then being built through Blissfield. His next venture was that of running a threshing machine, no small undertaking for a youth as it not only involved the handling of a number of men but also considerable mechanical skill. Alert to the opportunities which the times afforded, Mr. Fox next engaged in running a sawmill, an occupation which he followed for six years, at the expiration of which time he purchased a small farm in Clark township and engaged in farming for a time. In his twenty-sixth year he received the appointment as po:?master, which necessitated his residing in Blissfield and, as the duties of this office were light and left considerable spare time on his hands, in April, 1906, he traded his farm land for the mercantile business of W. F. Lang and has since supplemented his work of handling of the mail by the sale of merchandise.

On December 31, 1898, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Laura Stareheim, who was born in Monroe township, August 25, 1876, a daughter of Phillip and Louisa (Bretzie) Stareheim. Her father was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1835 and came to America when but a youth and located in this county. He was married at Chili in 1859 to Miss Louisa Bretzie and they became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom* are now living. The father died in Coshocton in 1903. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fox has been born one daughter, Margaret Vern, who died in infancy.

In his political affiliations Mr. Fox is a republican, while fraternally he is a member of Blissfield Lodge, No. 13056, M. W. A. Religiously, he and his estimable wife are members of the Evangelical church, and they are highly esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Fox has passed his entire life in the county and the sterling traits of his manhood have been such as have won for him unfaltering trust and high regard.

As printed in Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio; (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.