Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing
full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and
biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors
of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 609;
Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Charles F. Hoxworth. This young gentleman is the manager
of a thriving trade in general merchandise at Middle Grove, the firm
being Hoxworth & Son. The father, William Hoxworth, a senior
member of the firm, occupies a farm in Fairview Township, leaving the
business in the hands of the son, who although but twenty years old, is
manifesting exceptional financial ability. Already he has taken
his place as one of the leading dealers of the village although it has
been less than a year since he took charge of the store. Should
his life be spared he has a brilliant future before him, and all who
know him look with interest upon his career.
William Hoxworth was born in Pennsylvania, and is of German
descent. He married Sarah Hill, a native of Pickaway County,
Ohio, and there began his wedded life. The couple came to the
Prairie State first in 1850, but returned to Ohio, coming again to
Illinois in 1870. They then settled on a farm in Knox County, but
later removed to that they now occupy, which consists of one hundred
and sixty acres of well-improved land. They are still in middle
life, Mr. Hoxworth being fifty-eight and his wife fifty-six years
old. They have seven children living, named respectively, Lizzie,
Laura, Martha, Mattie, Mary, Edward and Charles F.
The young gentleman whose name introduces these brief paragraphs
was born September 13, 1870, and reared on a farm. He attended
the district schools until he was fourteen, then entered the High
School at Ft. Madison, Iowa, from which he was graduated with the class
of 1887. He returned home and took up the study of telegraphy at
London Mills, ere long becoming proficient as an operator. He
worked as an extra at various places until September, 1889, when he
took charge of the Iowa Central office at Middle Grove. In
February, 1890, he resigned this position in order to take charge of
the mercantile establishment of Hoxworth & Son. He is
undoubtedly the youngest business man represented in this volume and it
affords us great pleasure to include this notice of a life, which,
though brief, has already been marked by the display of mental ability
of a high order, persistence, tact, and genuine worth of character.
On another page of this volume the reader will notice a view of the commodious store occupied by Hoxworth & Son.
