William Fox, Committee

~William Fox~
b. 13 May 1790, Pennsylvania d. 4 Oct 1868

Committee Members

Wanda Deitemeyer rdeitemeyer@staffnet.com
Mary Helen Ross MRoss83944@aol.com

What We Know About The Family Of William Fox:

William Fox was born in Pennsylvania on 13 May 1790.Ž23 probably in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He may be the son of John Fox who died in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania in 1833. He married Reba Watts about 1810 in Pennsylvania William enlisted in the War of 1812 but did no active duty. He moved to Fairfield County, Ohio about 1818 and rented land there. He is listed in the 1820 Census in Hocking Township of Fairfield County, Ohio. Reba died about 1823. William married Elizabeth Whaley about 1826. No marriage record has been found for them, but William is on several documents relating to estate settlements for the Whaley family in Fairfield County in 1826. From there he moved to Seneca County, Ohio, first settling on a small farm south of Tiffin. He is on the personal property tax lists from 1829 until 1831 in Bloom Township of Seneca County, Ohio. During this time his personal property grew from 4 cattle valued at $32 to 1 horse valued at $80 and 5 cattle valued at $40. It was said that William Fox, John Hooper, and James Wiseman were the first 3 white men in Fostoria, Ohio area.Ž54 Fostoria was then known as the villages of Rome and Risdon. An old history book says, "The year 1833 brought into this township (Washington Township, Hancock Co) William Eckels, Caleb Roller, Elijah R. Anderson, William Day, William Fox and Robert Hales."Ž19 When he moved to Fostoria it consisted of 21 cabins. William bought one from
Eli Williams but soon sold it to Roswell Crocker for $30. On March 15, 1833 he made a purchase of 2 lbs of tobacco at 2/$.50 and 1 pair of compasses at 1/$.15 at Crock and Foster's Store. Ž21 William is listed in the Hancock
County, Ohio tax records from 1833 thru 1837. Elizabeth Whaley died in 1837. William married Elizabeth Gobel or Jacobs in January of 1839. She also died and he married a fourth time in September of 1839. His fourth wife was Catharine Males who he was married to for the rest of his life. His personal property at this time, consisted of 1 horse and 7-9 cattle. He owned the southeast 1/4 of the east half of section 12 on range 12 in township 2. I was
told by my father, Waldo R. Fox, that this land is on West Independence Road where the old Fostoria reservoir stands today. In 1860, this farm on the West Independence Road outside of Fostoria was worth $3600. He willed this farm to his sons William, Nick, and Milton when he died. He also had $1068 in personal property in 1860. Ž1 Also mentioned in his will are his daughters Malissa, Mary Catharine, Elizabeth, Mary A., Elizar, Malinda, and Hannah and sons Abyah and Elias. He was owed money by several people including Isaac Fox, (son in
law) Benjamin Knestrict (in law of William's son Nicholas) , J. M. Sidons (son in law), James L. Matthew, John Fox, (son) William Hersey (son in law) Abijah Fox (son), and John Edwards. Many of these never paid him back. The executor of his will was Anthony Fox. Anthony Fox was Justice of the Peace of Washington Township for quite a while and the son of Tobias Fox of Richland County, Ohio. I do not know if he was related. Other information from the inventory and sales bills were bills from Dr. Hudson of Fostoria for $9.04, funeral expenses and a coffin from L. S. Wells for $40, digging the grave by J. Lewis for $2, and medical attendance by J. W. Brickner for $6. William was
a rugged pioneer type. Once a traveling carnival passed through Fostoria. A wrestler with the carnival would pay money to anyone who could beat him in the ring. Several of the townsmen ran to get Bill Fox. Legend claims that Bill
"beat the hell" out of the wrestler. He was called "Uncle Billy" by everyone. He died on October 4, 1868, although his tombstone and some other records will say October 4,1869. He was buried in section a, lot 55 , grave 3 of Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria, Ohio Ž17 Many of William and Reba's children moved to Wisconsin. A few stayed near Fostoria, Ohio and some went to Michigan. William and Elizabeth Whaley Fox's only living child, Elias moved to Wisconsin, but didn't like it and came back to Fostoria, Ohio. .Most of William and Catharine's children stayed in Ohio.

Descendants of William Fox