[from an address upon his induction into the Agricultural Hall
of Fame,
courtesy of the Lloydminster Regional Archives]
Jonathan Fox II was born in Olmstead County, near Rochester, Minnesota, in the year 1873. His father came from London, England, and his mother from Edinburgh, Scotland. During his early childhood and youth, he learned many of the points of good farming form his father. At the age of 21, he married Jessie Lowrie; the year was 1894.
By the year 1903, he had established Pleasant View Stock Farm in Olmstead County, where he raised Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep, Shorthorn cattle, and Percheron horses. The Jonathan Fox family consisted of nine children: Floyd, Frank, Irene, Willis, Lawrence, Mae, Marguerite, Eunice and Jonathan III.
During this time, he organized the Farmers’ Co-operative Livestock Shipping Association in Rochester, Minnesota. He managed this organization for a number of years, shipping beef to Chicago.
Jonathan Fox II came to Canada in 1918, first going to Blackfoot, Alberta, where he started ranching in partnership with Kennedy & Davis. For a time, he managed a horse ranch at Rockford, Alberta for this partnership. In 1919, he moved to Lloydminster, and established Justamere Stock Farms in its present location. From this farming enterprise, he exhibited and won prizes all over Western Canada and at the Toronto Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Justamere’s prize-winning Percheron horses, the progeny of the Pleasant View Olmstead stock, are still being exhibited on the circuits today.
Although the management of Justamere in due time passed to Jonathan III, Jonathan II was still involved in the planning and development of the livestock enterprise. His specialty was raising purebred dogs and swine, which he continued until 1958. He was presented with awards and held the respect and esteem of Livestock Associations and breeders throughout Western Canada.
He passed away on Sunday, April 2, 1961.
One of the tenets of his philosophy was "Good enough is not enough." The putting into practice of this principle became evident in the continued successes of Justamere’s stock, both in show ring and marketplace. It is a principle that is still employed by his successors.
A region’s culture evolves from the experience of its people over a length of time. This being so, there will at times be exceptional examples of leadership and high degrees of excellence manifested. Jonathan Fox II, through his efforts, life style, and results, should stand unchallenged in Lloydminster’s agricultural community.