FOX, SAMUEL C., an enterprising business man of Riverton, Ill., has established himself in the confidence and respect of the people of his community and has built up a good trade through honest dealing and ability in his line of work. The family of which Mr. Fox is a member is one of the older ones in Sangamon County and has always had a good standing there. He was born in Pleasant Plains, Sangamon County, May 24, 1849, a son of Aaron and Phoebe (Buck) Fox, natives of New Jersey and the father a farmer by occupation. The parents came west and settled on the old Peter Cartwright farm, where they remained many years, moved thence to Lanesville Township, and for many years carried on farming there, then moved to Buffalo, where for many years the father conducted a tavern. They finally located on the George Mann farm at Lake Fork, where the father carried on agricultural operations until his death. The mother died in Riverton in 1894. Ten children were born to Aaron Fox and wife, five sons and five daughters, of whom the following are now living: Samuel C., Charles W. and Smith, of Riverton; Frank, of Springfield; Sumner, of Nebraska; Elmira, wife of George Sharp, of Riverton; Mrs. Millicent Branch, of Mason City, Ill.

Samuel C. Fox spent his boyhood on his father's farm and received a common school education. As young man he learned the trade of plasterer, which he followed several years, then began contracting in this line of his own account, carrying on this enterprise seventeen years, after which he engaged in mining, but later he again took up plastering, and has ever since taken contracts on his own account. He is wide awake and enterprising and devotes himself closely to building up his business. He is a splendid workman and endeavors to employ the best help obtainable so that he has established a good reputation in his line of work.

Mr. Fox was married, in Lincoln, Ill., to Miss Ada J. Freeman, born in Knox County, Mo., December 17, 1859, daughter of Edward Freeman and his wife, the former born in New York State May 4, 1818, and died December 18, 1885, and the mother born in Canada February 26, 1829, and died July 30, 1894. Te parents came to Illinois before the time of the Civil War and settled on a farm near Dawson where they lived many years. They had one son and five daughters, and three of these children are living: Mrs. Fox; her brother Silas, of Macon, Mo., and Henrietta, wife of Charles Cantrall, of Springfield.

Three children were born to Mr. Fox and his wife, namely: Mary, wife of Frank Hott, of Riverton; Edward married Miss Nellie Radigan, of Riverton, and they have three daughters - Ada E., Veda M. and Nellie M.; John W., of Riverton. Mr. and Mrs. Hott have one child, Charles H.

Mr. Fox has a nice home in Riverton and has many friends in the vicinity. In politics he is a Republican, he and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and both are interested in any worthy cause which comes to their notice. He is a member of Industrial Lodge No. 550, I.O.O.F., of Barclay, and his wife belongs to the Yeomen of America, being affiliated with Springfield Lodge No. 136.