My City February 2022

James B. Walker 1870-71

In 1836, Walker came to Flint and started work as a clerk at Beach & Wesson dry goods store, and then as a clerk at H. M. Henderson’s dry goods store. After a time, he went into business for himself operating a store at the corner of Saginaw and Kearsley streets from 1842-58 and engaging in the lumber business. In 1872, he and others opened the Genesee County Savings Bank. Walker’s most notable contribution to the city came from his work as treasurer and building commissioner for the Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD). Founded in 1848, the MSD was located in Flint and operated under one board along with the local asylum for the insane. In 1856, the two institutions were separated and, as trustees of the school, Michigan’s governor appointed Benjamin Pierson, John P. Leroy and Walker. Walker was a trustee until 1873 and because of his e“orts, all of the larger and more expensive build- ings of the school were built with the exception of Brown Hall. Walker died in 1877, four years after ending his time with MSD, and was buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery. During his time as mayor, Walker helped Flint begin to embrace the power of electricity as he organized the Flint Gas-Light Company with Josiah Begole, William Fenton and Jesse Atwood.

David Spencer Fox 1871-73

Born in 1817 in Sugar Grove, PA Fox came to Flint in 1856. While in PA, he engaged in multiple trades including farming, lumbering, rafting and manufacturing shingles. At 17, he went to New York to become a skilled tradesman and carpenter. Upon coming to Michigan with his wife Phebe, he rented a shop in Oakland County and began manufacturing steel-tooth cultivators. He soon moved north to Flint and opened a shop. In 1865, he started a lumber business (Walker & Begole) where he began manufacturing shingles for the growing city. After acquiring tracts of land in Lapeer County, the business of Begole, Fox & Co. became one of the biggest in the area. Fox then tried his hand at banking and helped to organize the First National Bank of Flint where he served as president. Using newly acquired capital, Fox helped to found the Flint Wagon Works where he sat as presiding o›cer. During his two years as Mayor of Flint, the Flint Union Blues were organized and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church moved to its current location. Fox died in 1901 and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery. After his death, Flint Wagon Works continued operations for a decade until it was sold to Billy Durant in 1911 to become a part of Chevrolet. 

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