Benjamin Franklin Fox (1800 - 1881)

Born 31 Aug 1800 in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Eliza Jane (Herring) Fox — married 27 Nov 1827 in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Nov 1881 at age 81 in Knox, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Benjamin was born in 1800 in Pennsylvania and passed away in 1881 in Illinois. Census records show that in 1850 the family was still in Pennsylvania, and by 1855 they had relocated to Warren County, Illinois. The obituary for his son, WIlliam, states he lived in Cameron, Illinois from about 1860 so one can surmise the family was landed from at least that point onward.

The 1800 census was taken August 4th, 1800^[1], so Benjamin would not be listed since he was born later that month.

The boys are listed on census records as "laborer", which might mean they were farm hands. In early 1800's they would perhaps been poor and uneducated, looking to better their lives by moving west. According to the 1850 census everyone in the family could read and write.

Their son, WIlliam, is not present on the 1850 census in Pennsylvania but appears on a census in Indiana. Likely William worked his way to Illinois and the rest of the family followed later.

Benjamin's parents are not known but many have speculated a relationship to the Fox families of Brown County, Ohio. There are no documented stories of the family traveling to Brown County or any connections there. Brown County was a common departure location from the trip down the Ohio river due to the geography of the river there, so many early settlers stopped at that place.

The migration of Benjamin and his family happened late in this period so it seems doubtful they spent much time in Ohio, if any.

One researcher notes an Asher Fox^[2] holding land in a county to the S.E. of Lycoming. Since Asher is a family name there is much more likely a connection to those Foxes.

Agnes Shawver says^[3] Benjamin had a nephew, Eliza, that lived with him. No last name is given.

Samuel Sulivan Fox

Their grandson, Samuel, does not appear on the 1850 census although he should have been about a year old according to his grave marker. Other records indicate he was born later.

Agnes Shawver's Letter

The following is an excerpt from a letter^[4] to Rose Berhenke of the quad cities, Iowa, from Agnes Shawver of Long Beach California. Agnes was the daughter of Levi Owen Fox.

Prince Wing m. Geneiah(?) Roe/Row and lived in Alton Iowa(?) after 1881. Had 13 children. One of them, Josie Beety, lives in Santa Anna, Calif. very near me. She is my father's first cousin - is 87 and bright as a new penny.

A brother, Will, lives in Rapid City, S. Dak. Another sister, Emma, is in a home in Atlantic Iowa. I know Laurence Pigsley, a son of Will. They live here. Will married an Indian girl.

R. (private) in abingdon had contacted a granddaughter of Margaret Ann Rowe. She is Mrs. private, Abingdon. Another Fox wrote me from Abingdon. We are all distant relations. He thinks he will have data for me shortly. I hope. He hinted our family went back to George Fox, ??? of Wm. Penn. I know our ancestors were Quakers. Then I think there was Samuel and Daniel in Knoxville(?) who was somehow related. I think brothers of Benjamin F.

One Plympton and wife are buried in family plot. Can you find anything on them? The family lived in Tyrone, Pa., before coming to Ill. Grandfather and father took that prop. for years.

Read a letter from Elija Fox in Wabash Co., Ill. to his cousin in Tyrone, Pa. mentioned Uncle James Herrington. So I know they are related. If must be on the Fox side rather than on Eliza Herring's. Eliza Herring had a brother James, I am sure it was a brother. I will write the story about them later, but James Herring and James Herrington were two different people.

Movement

The following locations are noted in the census records. According to the obituary of his daughter, Margaret Rowe, the family came to Warren County, Illinois in 1855.

• 1830 Jersey Shore, Lycoming, Pennsylvania
• 1840 Warriors Mark, Warriors Mark Township, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
• 1850 Snyder Township, Blair, Pennsylvania
• 1855 Township 8N Range 1W-Township 12N Range 3W, Warren
• 1870 Coldbrook, Warren, Illinois
• 1880 Village of Cameron, Coldbrook, Warren, Illinois

Obituary

Cameron Ill., Nov. 9, 1881

The funeral of Benj. Fox was preached at the Baptist church last Sunday, at 1 o'clock, by the Rev. Mr. Adams, of the M.E. church. Mr. F --- was quite an old man, honorable in all his dealings -- an honest man, and one that commanded the respect of all that knew him. As will be remembered we spoke of his illness two or three weeks ago, of his being at his daughter's house (Mrs. Primpton) in Centre Point, at which place he died on the 4th last. We deeply sympathize with the family in their sad bereavement.

Sources

1. ↑ 1800 Census Overview
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL5-XMV : Thu Oct 05 06:46:26 UTC 2023), Entry for Asher Fox, 1820.
3. ↑ Letters from Agnes Shawver.
4. ↑ Letters from Agnes Shawver.

• "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPW-B14 : Thu Oct 05 08:58:47 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Fox, 1830.
• "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTB-M39 : Wed Oct 04 20:54:10 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjn Fox, 1840.
• "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M442-GP1 : Sat Oct 07 00:08:31 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Fox and Eliza Fox, 1850.
• "Illinois State Census, 1855", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:61RN-D6Z : Fri Oct 06 05:53:32 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Fox, 1855.
• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6WL-1Z5 : Sat Oct 07 00:20:06 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Fox and Elizabeth Fox, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB6-9QWH?cc=1417683&wc=XW36-SP8%3A1589399935%2C1589400897%2C1589402218%2C1589396784 : 24 December 2015), Illinois > Warren > Cameron > ED 285 > image 1 of 2; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #66913711

Questionable Sources

The following sources don't match the family demographics.

• 9/15/1837 Land sale 300736 to Fox, Benjamin, 40 Acres, Arch. Vol. No. 696, page 76, County 29 (Fulton), Section 13 NESE, Township 4N, Range 2E, Meridian 4.
• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBQ-9K5B?cc=1786457&wc=31S2-WQS%3A1588665988%2C1588667337%2C1588665902 : 24 August 2015), Illinois > Fulton > Not Stated > image 169 of 179; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Daniel Milton and Nancy Fox

Daniel Milton and Nancy (Bowman) Fox are often cited as the parents of B.F. Fox. Sources need to be provided that demonstrate this relationship. Since all of Daniel and Nancy's children appear to have been born in Ohio, not Pennsylvania, this relationship seems unlikely.

Other Foxes in Lycoming, Pennsylvania

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania originally encompassed most of north central Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Fox is reported to have both been born and married in Lycoming, Pennsylvania. The following Fox families are from Lycoming in 1820 but the family demographics suggest they are not matches for Benjamin's parents.

• "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL5-C28 : Wed Oct 04 14:01:37 UTC 2023), Entry for John Fox, 1820.
• "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL5-C2R : Wed Oct 04 14:01:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Matthias Fox, 1820.