Fred Damon was born at Lubec, Washington County, Maine on December 7, 1856, son of Joseph S. and Susan S. (Clarke) Damon. His mother was a lineal descendant of Thomas Clarke, the first mate of the historic Mayflower, which bought early pioneers to the shores of America. His mother was a great-granddaughter of John McNeill, the first man killed in a naval battle during the Revolutionary War. Fred was also a descendant of Abraham Clark of New Jersey, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Fred entered public life at an early age when he carried mail at age eight to earn money for his family while his father served in the Civil War. His parents moved the family to Adams County, Wisconsin in 1869, to Spencer in Marathon County in 1875, and in 1890, moved to Athens. While in Athens he served two years as under-sheriff.
Fred Damon came to Wausau in 1905 when he was elected Sheriff of Marathon County for the 1905-1906 term. He was also appointed deputy sheriff in 1917 for one term by Sheriff Fred Schroeder and again in 1921. He served on the Marathon County Board of Supervisors, representing the town of Halsey before Athens was organized into a village. During his career he also held other responsible political offices at various places in Marathon County.
Throughout his life, Fred Damon worked in the lumber industry, logging and cruising. He inspected timber in all the lumber districts of the United States for various Wausau and Marathon County lumber companies. For many years he was associated in the real estate business in Athens with Frank Chesak, a prominent Marathon County politician.
On August 6, 1880, Fred Damon was united in marriage at Spencer, Wisconsin to Miss Jennie Leonard. Their marriage was blessed with nine children.
Fred Damon died on December 23, 1927 from injuries suffered in a logging accident incurred seven years earlier. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau, WI.