My Genealogy Hound

John Wesley Fox, M. D., a successful physician and surgeon located at Orion, Oakland County, and one of the town’s leading and representative citizens, was born June 3, 1871, at Leamington, County Essex, Canada. He is a son of Russell and Jane (White) Fox, both of whom were born in Canada, where the former still resides, aged 79 years, the latter having passed away in July, 1901. The family is of English extraction and was founded in Canada by the paternal grandfather who came to the Dominion as an artillery officer with the British Army.

Dr. Fox is one of a family of 10 children, all of whom still survive, all except our subject still being residents of Canada. His education was secured in the schools in the locality of his father’s farm in Mersey township, and later at Windsor. He then took a classical course at Detroit and later graduated from Windsor business college. The succeeding five years were spent in the mechanical department of the Canadian Pacific Railway. His medical studies were prosecuted under the well known Dr. Summers of Detroit, where he was prepared for entrance to the Detroit Medical College in 1894, from which he was graduated in 1897.

Selecting Orion as the field of his professional labor, Dr. Fox opened an office in the old Grange Hall, where he met his patients until he purchased his present very desirable property in 1899. He is a general practitioner and has been very successful in his treatment of many complicated cases. He gives most careful attention to his patients, sparing himself in no way when life or health are in the balance. Thus Dr. Fox has won the confidence and affection of the community and he enjoys as much practice as he is able to handle. He is a close student and has associated himself with the various medical organizations of the county and State, taking advantage of every chance to learn new methods to conquer and control disease. His ability has been recognized by his election as coroner of Oakland County. In politics he is a Republican and for some years he has served as a justice of the peace and as school inspector.

On May 22, 1901, Dr. Fox married Ina Voorhees, who is a daughter of C. S. Voorhees of Pontiac. He has a pleasant home, agreeable surroundings, a fine library and a host of warm friends. Fraternally he is a member of a number of organizations of a social or beneficial character, among which are the Masons, Knights of the Maccabees, Tribe of Ben Hur, Foresters and Modern Woodmen of America. His interest in all these is sustained and in all he is a valued comrade. Ever since locating in Orion he has been the chosen examiner for nearly all the old line insurance companies. On a preceding page, in connection with this sketch, a portrait of Dr. Fox appears.