Solomon Nox
SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878
SURNAMES: BUSEY, GILLESPIE, NOX, REED
SOLOMON NOX, a prosperous farmer of Urbana Township, is one of the oldest settlers of this county, having come here with his parents in 1827, since which time he has been continuously identified with agricultural development. He was born in Gallia County, Ohio, near Gallipolis, May 20, 1813. His maternal grandfather was of Irish descent and was a resident of Gallia County.
Our subject's father, William NOX, was a farmer by calling and born in the State of Delaware. He was twice married, his first wife, whose name was Miss REED, leaving at her death a family of ten children. The second marriage was with Miss Mary GILLESPIE, a native of Virginia. Soon after his first marriage William Nox moved to Gallia County, Ohio, and located on a farm, which he cleared and improved. Before he moved to Champaign County, Ill., he had cleared and cultivated three farms in Ohio. In 1827 he first established himself near Sidney, this county, which was at that time in Vermilion County, and on that farm he passed the remainder of his days. His death occurred April 4, 1840, and his wife died April 20, 1847. He was the father of twenty children, having ten by each marriage.
Solomon Nox was born of the second marriage and passed his early boyhood in Ohio. He was about fifteen years of age when he removed to Champaign County with his parents. He received a limited education and remained with his parents until his marriage with Miss Mary A. BUSEY, in 1837. She was the daughter of Matthew and Sarah BUSEY. Her father died in 1863, and her mother May 13, 1887, aged ninety-six years. After his marriage Mr. Nox settled on a farm near Sidney, where he remained for a number of years. He then removed to his present home on section 15, in Urbana Township, the date of his locating being in the spring of 1851. His farm contains 160 acres of valuable, well improved land.
In 1862 Mr. Nox enlisted in CO. G, 36th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served his country faithfully for three years. He was engaged in several battles but fortunately escaped being either wounded or taken prisoner. In August, 1865, he was mustered out, returning to his home, and resumed his former occupation of general farming. He is very successful in stock raising and supervises his farm without doing much active work himself. Although in the seventy-fourth year of his age he is strong and vigorous. He voted for Gen. Grant although he is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian school. Mr. Nox began his career in life with but little capital except his own energy, and has acquired a fine property, enabling him to pass the declining years of his life in comfort and ease.