Hoxsey was born in Staunton, Illinois, on October 15, 1884. He moved with his parents to Pasadena, California. In his early twenties he worked as an auto mechanic and chauffeur.
Hoxsey's birth occurred in Staunton, Illinois, on October 15, 1884. His family later moved to Pasadena, California, where he began working as a mechanic and driver during his young adulthood.