Wilcox, Fred Converse

Submitted by Mike Miller

Among the offices of the various parishes of Louisiana which he been erected for the protection of the people and the maintenance of law and order, that of the sheriff is of the greatest importance. It is conceded that to discharge the duties of such an office an individual must be Possessed not only of unquestioned courage, hut of more than ordinary executive ability, as well as intelligence and sound integrity. West Feliciana Parish has such an official in the person of Fred Converse Wilcox, who has been connected with the sheriff's office for the past twenty years, for the first sixteen as a deputy and since 1920 as sheriff.

Sheriff Wilcox was born January 6, 1884, at Bayou Sara, West Feliciana Parish, and is a son of George H. and Mary Isabelle (Thompson) Wilcox, and a member of a family which came from England and settled first in New York State. His grandfather, Dr. Whitman Wilcox, a well-known physician and sugar planter of West Feliciana Parish, of which parish he was at one time coroner, married a Miss Caroline Eugenia Henderson, and both died at Oak Grove, Louisiana. George H. Wilcox was born January 13, 1847, in West Feliciana Parish, where he has resided all of his life, and where he carried on successful agricultural operations until his retirement in 1918. He is a democrat in his political allegiance, and as a fraternalist belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious connection is with the Episcopal Church. From 1862 until 1865 he fought gallantly under the stars and bars of the Confederacy. He married Miss Mary Isabelle Thompson, who was born at Fordoche, Pointe Coupee Parish, and they had two children: Fred Converse; and Albert Whitman, a merchant near St. Francisville, who was in the United States service for about a year during the late war, being stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and Camp Stafford, Louisiana.

After attending public and private schools at St. Francisville, including the St. Francisville High School, Fred C. Wilcox pursued a commercial course at the Soulé Business College, New Orleans, in 1901. He then returned to his father's plantation, but in the following year accepted employment as a clerk in a general store at St. Francisville. In 1904 he was made a deputy sheriff, and for sixteen years acted in that capacity. When a new candidate was sought in 1920 to replace the resigning chief officer Mr. Wilcox was the logical choice for the sheriff's office, to which he was duly elected, this election being followed by a re-election in 1924 for four years. Mr. Wilcox has handled the duties of his office in a highly efficient manner and has established a record for fidelity and industry. In politics he is a democrat, and his religious connection is with Grace Episcopal Church. Fraternally he belongs to Feliciana Lodge No. 31, A. F. and A. M., and Bayou Sara Camp No. 483, W. 0. W., both of St. Francisville.

He is the owner of a comfortable home and twenty acres of land situated one mile north of the corporate limits.

At St. Francisville, September 12, 1906, Sheriff Wilcox was united in marriage with Miss Mary Alice Clack, daughter of John H. and Mary (White) Clack. In his earlier years Mr. Clack was a planter, but was elected sheriff and held that office in West Feliciana Parish until about one year prior to his death, twenty-eight years later. Mrs. Clack is also deceased. Mrs. Wilcox attended Sacred Heart Academy Convent, Louisiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox there have been born nine children: George Henderson and Ovid Bell, who are attending the St. Francisville High School; John Clack, Fred C., Jr., Mary Elizabeth and James Sterling, who are attending grammar school; and Margaret Alice, Caroline Eugenia and Alfred Clifford.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 93-94, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.