JAMES H. MADDOX. The family name of Mr. Maddox is one which is ineffaceably traced on the history of Fort Worth and which figures on the pages whose records perpetuate the principal events from early days to the present time. He was born in Claiborne parish, Louisiana, in 1862, his parents being Colonel W. A. and Mary A. (Mays) Maddox. The father was born in Troop county, Georgia, April 15, 1825, but removed from that state to northern Louisiana in 1848 and purchased a large plantation. In 1877 he located in Tarrant county, Texas, and for a number of years cultivated a farm a few miles south of this city, retiring from active labors several years before his death, which occurred at the home of his son, E. P. Maddox, April 25, 1904, age eighty. During the Civil war he was a gallant Confederate soldier, and for meritorious service was made the colonel of his regiment. He was twice wounded, and participated in many of the leading engagements of the war. His funeral services were conducted under the auspices of R. E. Lee Camp, No. 158, United Confederate Veterans. Mrs. Maddox’s death occurred at Fort Worth in 1877. One of their sons, Colonel R. E. Maddox, is now president of the National Bank of Commerce of Fort Worth, was tax assessor and collector of this city for nine years, later was extensively engaged in farming and breeding blooded stock in Tarrant county, and for some years previous to the panic of 1893 was one of two men who were the largest taxpayers in the county. Another son, Walter T. Maddox, served as sheriff of Tarrant county for several years, and is now engaged in the real estate business here.
James H. Maddox, the seventh son, came to this state in 1876, a short time previous to his father’s arrival, although some of his brothers came previous to that time. For about four years he was engaged in work on his father’s farm, and was then made the deputy sheriff of Tarrant county, in which capacity he served for fourteen years. In 1891 he was made the chief of police, this office being technically known as city marshal, for whoever becomes city marshal is appointed ex-officio chief of police by the city law, and in this position Mr. Maddox served for six years, following which, for nearly four years, he was manager for the Fort Worth branch of the Pabst Brewing Company. In April of that year he was elected chief of the fire department, and has served as such continuously to the present time, proving an efficient officer.
In this city Mr. Maddox was united in marriage to Miss Josephine B. Douglas, a member of a well known Virginian family, and whose death occurred April 5, 1899, leaving two sons, Douglas and Victor. In his fraternal relations Mr. Maddox is a member of the Independence, Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and the Eagles.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 57-58.
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