
Buster Brown Was An Early Resident Of Pampa
Some Pampans recall that they wore Buster Brown shoes when they were children and they remember Buster Brown and his dog Tige (Tiger). But they do not know that the real Buster Brown was four-foot tall Jack Fox who was an early resident of Pampa .
Eloise Lane
John Alexander Fox, born August 21, 1883 in Tennessee , was a son of the Reverend William Petway Fox and Nancy J. Fox. In 1885 the Fox family moved to Peaster (PEA-ster) in Parker County , Texas .
When Jack entered Peaster School , the teacher thought he was in the wrong class because of his small size. He was quick to inform the teacher that he was right where he belonged.
In 1903 Fox came to Pampa as timekeeper for the Santa Fe Railroad. About two years later, his friend, J.E. Whitsell of the First National Bank at Weatherford, brought about an offer from the Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis . The shoe company, manufacturer of Buster Brown shoes for children, wanted an advertising agent to portray Buster Brown, the famous Outcault cartoon character.
Fox, who had never done any acting, was reluctant to leave the railroad for he had become chief clerk at Pampa . However, persuaded by his banker friend, he changed his career and trooped the nation’s movie houses, delighting thousands of children for nearly a quarter-century.
Richard F. Outcault’s popular comic strip first appeared in newspapers in 1902. Later the strip made its way into comic books dealing with the devilish mischief of Buster Brown and his companions and including the consequences of their misdeeds and often some sermonizing. The serial was so popular that thousands of baby boys were named Buster and countless canines were given the name of Tige.
The character Buster Brown wore a pageboy hair style and dressed in a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit consisting of knee-length pants and a jacket with a round collar and loose neck-bow.
About 1930 Fox retired to the Meadowbrook section of Fort Worth in Tarrant County where he was scoutmaster of a troop for several years. Because of his four-foot-height, he was given the title, “Smallest Odd Fellow in the World,” by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows where he was a familiar figure. He was a Methodist and a Mason.
Fox died of natural causes on May 14, 1961 in Fort Worth and was buried beside his parents in Peaster Cemetery . He was survived by three brothers and three sisters.
On Saturday, March 16, 1996, a ceremony was held at Peaster Cemetery which is on FM 920 between Bridgeport and Weatherford. The ceremony was to dedicate a Texas Historical Marker for Peaster Cemetery and a monument for Jack Fox, Peaster’s most famous citizen.
Crystal McCarty, president of the Peaster Cemetery Association, spearheaded the effort to obtain the marker and monument and donated funds necessary for the marker. Her sister-in-law, Doris Dodson, spent two years researching facts about Jack Fox and the cemetery.
Ron Gaskill donated granite for the Buster Brown Monument and also did the etching and engraving. In addition to the inscription, the monument shows a plastic-enclosed picture of Buster Brown and Tige. Boy Scout, Oddfellow and Masonic symbols are also shown.
Bernice Maddux wrote an article about Jack Fox which appeared on page 3 of the August 1996 issue of Texas Highways. Ann Galloway, senior editor of Texas Highways, supplied information and made it possible to contact the above named persons who most generously provided material for this article.
Over 200 Articles, written by Eloise Lane, were published in the Pampa News. These articles may be accessed by clicking on each section below. A list of articles will be revealed that are linked to a page containing the text of the article.
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Articles 1-20
- Origin Of The "White Deer" Name
- The Log House On White Deer Creek
- Obtaining The Land
- The Lands Organized
- Cattle Brands Tell Story
- Ghosts And All
- Southern Kansas Railroad
- Fire Guard Dam
- When The Railroad Came
- The Sutton RR Station
- Post Office At Pampa
- The Bell Family
- J.C. Short
- Pampa 1892-1902
- Pampa Laid Out In 1902
- Crystal Palace Founded
- Gray County Organization
- Organization - Continued
- Gray County - Lefors
- McLean - The Largest Town
Articles 21-40
- Gouge Eye
- The "Mother Road"
- German Family Reunion
- Desks From Hopkins
- Grandview School Begins
- The Oil Money
- History Wall Painted
- Boydston Or Boydstun?
- Ontario???
- Laketon - Early Farming
- Laketon - Continued
- First Couple To Marry
- Hoover
- Water Well Drilling
- Kingsmills Visit Pampa
- George Tyng Left
- Tragedy In Utah
- T.D. Hobart - Manager
- M.K. Brown Arrives
- Rider Livery Stable
Articles 41-60
- The Pioneer Cottage
- Pampa's First Doctor
- Doctor Makes House Calls
- A Red Cross Nurse
- Pampa's First School
- Hobart Went To London
- Cemetery Began In 1904
- First Business District
- C.P. Buckler Arrives
- Five Barrett Brothers
- Influence Of The Santa Fe
- Trains Still Roll
- John V. Thomass - Teacher
- Cattle-loading Center
- Rolla J. Sailor & Arrowheads
- A.H. Doucette Arrives
- Lands Are Advertised
- The Holland Hotel
- Wheat Left Pampa
- First National Bank Begins
Articles 61-80
- Pampa News Begins
- First Denominational Church
- 2nd Office Of WD Lands
- J.N. Duncan Arrives
- Nels Walberg Sells…
- Dormer Simms
- Fourth Of July Celebrations
- Pampa's First Cars
- Pampa In 1907-08
- J.S. Wynne Family Arrives
- Gray Count State Bank
- Baptist Church Organized (Under Construction)
- Joe & Lizzie Bowers
- Threatened By Prairie Fire
- Library Began In 1907
- J.R. Henry
- Sir Gordan & Lady Cunard
- Three Vicars Brothers
- Dodd Grain And Produce
- December 29, 1991
Articles 81-100
- D.C. Davis Family
- Long Christmas Celebration
- First Christian Church
- Facts About Pampa
- Buster Brown
- The Last Hanging
- Bones Hooks
- The "Red Brick" Is No More
- The Purviances Family
- The Dr. E. von Brunow Park
- Boards Of First Headquarters
- Mary Jane Purvis
- Cook - Adams Addition
- Nativity Scenes
- Clyde Carruth
- The Mine Tragedies
- Additions To Pampa
- Third Family In Pampa
- Frank Dittmeyer
- Bricklayer Indian Jim
Articles 101-120
- A.A. Tiemann
- First Movies And Lights
- Pampa Incorporated
- Mark And Sara Fletcher
- Annie Baker Daniels
- Pampa's Business District
- Birthday Tea Of 1919
- Former Pampa Minister
- John Mack Patton
- The First Brass Band
- Early Graduating Class
- "How We Met"
- F.P. Greever Is Assassinated
- George Tyng's Father
- L.H. & Lula Greene
- John & Lena McKamy
- Robert & Mary Yeager
- "Dear Old PHS"
- Supt. Believed In People
- William A. & Ruth Green
Articles 121-140
- Jason A and Alice Poole
- Wayside School
- Pampa Football Begins
- The Pampa School Building
- Rev. C. E. Lancaster
- Panhandle Lumber Co.
- Will Wilks & Mora Hughey
- An Unusual Valentine
- Charles A. Tignor
- O. A. Barrett
- Poppies In Flanders Fields
- Barnard & Williams Families
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Cuyler Street Underpass
- The King Family
- Kretmeier and Baer Families
- Stephen B. Oates
- Phebe Worley
- Organization of Gray County
- First Courthouse
Articles 141-160
- Pampa Laid Out in 1902
- Pampa in 1902
- W. R. Kaufman
- The Pampa Country Club
- Living In Pampa in 1902
- Pampa Buildings of 1902
- May Foreman Carr
- Scaffers - Early Residents
- Nita Luna
- Former Sub Debs Reminisce
- PHS In 1932
- PHS Appreciated
- The Forth Worth and Denver
- From Pampa to Childress
- The Origination Of "Taps"
- The Warners
- J. C. Studer
- Floyd, John and Otto
- Our American Flag
- Stories and Memories
Articles 161-180
- Museum in Pampa?
- The Franklin Farm
- The Franklin Family
- Beryl Wayne Vicars
- Historian Made Cookies
- The Pioneer Cottage
- The Orginial Swastika
- Library Clerk
- Women's Clothing Store
- Jon and Pat McConal
- Whitey Walker Gang
- How Rudolph Began
- Gwendolen Avenue
- Jerry Kerbow
- Two Paintings
- Second Part - Paintings
- Bones Hooks
- Original Nativity Figures
- Why "V" Instead of "U"
- Pampa Incorporated