Joseph Fozard was a native of Yorkshire, England, born at Batley January 15, 1853, to Martin Fozard and Sarah Mortimer. His father was a woolen manufacturer in England, and went to work at the same business on coming to this country, about 1859. He settled in New Jersey about the beginning of the Civil War and brought up his son to the same trade.
In 1868 the family came to Marion, and not long after the Edwards Woolen Mill was started, and for about 25 years the family found employment there.
When the business declined, Joe turned his attention to bee-keeping and the manufacture of the Langstroth patent hive, but that business declined also, and he gradually left it and worked more and more at the carpenter contractor trade, which he followed through his life.
He was married August 26th, 1879, to Miss Emma Evans, daughter of pioneer Dr. William Spratley Evans, M.D., of Marion, by whom he has had two sons, Walter E. Fozard and Joseph Fozard.
With the exception of one term, he served as Alderman of the city continuously for fourteen years, being twice elected by the voluntary concurrence of opposing parties, and the last time unanimously. His first election to the Council was in 1887.
He was re-elected in 1890, but having moved a few feet over the line outside of the cities incorporated limits when he built his shop and wind mill, he was thrown out by the opposition and only served two months. In 1901 and again in 1903 he became Alderman of Ward 4 and served through 1905. Ward 4 consisted of Northeast Marion, east of N. Market and north of E. Main.
In the old State Militia Fozard always took an active interest and served for sixteen years in that and the Illinois National Guard, which grew out of it. He went from the ranks to Captain on July 20, 1889, to which he was elected three times.
When the Spanish War broke out he offered his services, but as the war closed suddenly, he was not needed and was never accepted. As recognition, however, of his merit, by special act of the Legislature under Governor Tanner, he was made Honorary Commander of Cavalry, with the grade of First Lieutenant.
Since 1876 he had been a Royal Arch Mason and Odd Fellow and his wife, Emma, was active in the Easter Star.
In 1907, the Fozard family was living at 205 S. Buchanan. He is listed in the business directory as a carpenter/contractor.
In the 1910 census, Joseph 57 and Emma 50 are in their home on S. Buchanan with children; Walter aged 28 and Joseph 18. They are also housing a 17 year old niece from Emma’s side of the family named Grace Clauson from Missouri. Joseph is occupied as a carpenter and Walter is a paper hanger.
Joseph Fozard died in 1914 at 61 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery. Fozard Street in Marion is named in his honor.
By the 1920 census and confirmed in a 1922 directory, their son Joseph and his mother Emma are living at 404 E. College Street and Joe, Jr. is working at the City Milling Co. (The City Milling Co. was in the 500 block of N. Madison next to Bracy Supply Co. mills on N. Market St.) In the same directory, son Walter E. Fozard is now married to Nora Ann Troutman and they are living at 408 E. College Street.
In 1924, Emma Fozard passed away and is buried with her husband Joseph in Rose Hill Cemetery.
A 1927 city directory, finds Joseph, Jr. still working for the City Milling Company and living at 306 S. Madison St. His brother Walter Fozard had died in 1925 and his widow was still living in their home at 408 E. College St. She continued the paper hanging business with a location at 100 E. College St.
Sam’s Notes:
Walter Evans Fozard, born August 25, 1880 in Marion. Married Nora Ann Troutman around 1914. He was a painter/paper hanger and died at Anna, Illinois on May 10, 1925. His wife Nora died January 13, 1972. Both are buried at Rose Hill. The couple had three children. John Edward Fozard (1915-xxxx), Emma Louise Fozard (1/12/1916-1/12/1995) and Walter Evans Fozard, Jr. ( Feb. 1919-xxxx)
Joseph Fozard, born on November 26, 1891. Supported his mother after his father’s death. In 1918 when he filled out WWI draft record he was living at 404 E. College St. and working as a pipe layer for Lamb Construction in West Frankfort, Illinois. It was noted that he was epileptic. He worked at City Milling Co. in the 1920’s. After his mother’s death the 1930 census located him lodging at 419 E. Main Street and was a laborer at a feed mill. When he filled out his WWII draft record he was living on RFD 3 in Dixon, Illinois working for O.M. Stanley. His contact person on the draft record was Miss Jessie Davis at 412 E. College St., Marion, Illinois. No death record or marriage record was found for him.
(Photo and some data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 05/31/2013)