An American Family History

"...never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced...-- Abraham Lincoln 1863

Josiah B. Fox was born about 1837 in St. Clair Township, Butler County, Ohio. He was the son of Levi Fox and Eliza Yerkes. 

He was thirteen when the 1850 census was taken. He was still living at home in 1860 when he was 22.

He married Emaline Nickum about 1862. Emaline was born about 1845 in Wayne County, Iowa. Her parents were Joseph Nickum and Amy Walker.

Josiah and Emaline's son, William E. (Willie) Fox, was born about 1863 and Marshall Fox was born about 1865.

In 1863, Josiah's father, Levi, sold him sixty acres of land for $50.  The deed to Josiah B. Fox, was dated and recorded March 11, 1863, and was for the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 and the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 35. It was located due east of  John N. Fox's 60 acres, but separated from it by 40 acres.

He was a soldier in the Civil War and died shortly after on July 27, 1867 at age 30. Josiah is buried in Lot 152 in New York Cemetery in Millerton, Wayne County, Iowa. This is the same lot as his father-in-law, Joseph Nickum and his father and step-mother, Sarah Hartley Teas Fox.

After he died, Emeline Nickum Fox married Henry Olmstead (Olmstie, Almstead, Almsted) on October 7 186(something). Henry was born in 1841 in Ohio. He had been married before and had a daughter Florence Olmstead (1861). 

Emeline and Henry's children were Charles Olmstead (1870), Edward Olmstead (1874), Grace Olmstead (1876), and Josie Olmstead (1878).

The Olmstead (Harry Almstead or Almsted) household appeared in the 1870 census in Benton Township, Lucas County, Iowa.  The household consisted of Harry who was a farmer, Emeline age 25, Florence age 9, William Fox age 7, Marshall Fox age 5, and Charles age 1.

In 1873, Willie and Marshall attended school at Myers school with their Aunt Nebraska Fox and their cousins, John Fox's children.

The heirs of Josiah B. Fox (by guardian) sold 60 acres to James Parsons on September 15, 1880.

The Olmstead (spelled Olmstie) household appeared in the 1880 census in Union Township, Wayne County, Iowa. The household consisted of Henry Olmstie (Olmstead) age 39 who was a farmer, Emiline Olmstie age 35, Charles Olmstie age 10, Edward Olmstie age 6, Grace Olmstie age 2, Amy McKune age 69 who was the mother-in-law and two Fox boys who are described as sons-in-law:  William E Fox age 17 and Marshall Fox age 15.

William E. Fox, died April 9, 1881 at age eighteen years, three months and thirteen days. His tombstone inscription reads son of J.B. & E. Fox. 

Emeline died on April 26, 1889 and is buried in the same cemetery with her first husband Josiah and son Willie.

Marshall died On January 29, 1918.

Marshall Fox, of near Millerton, died in the hospital at Davenport, with pneumonia, Tuesday, January 29th. The remains were taken to Millerton, Wednesday, and funeral service will be held at New York today.