An American Family History

Levi Fox on right
photo courtesy of
Patricia Crim Dietlein

ELLEN
Dau. of
A. & S. Hutchison
Died
Sept. 9, 1887
aged
28 Y  6 M  22 D

Charlie Fox
photo courtesy of Patricia Crim Dietlein

Otto Fox
photo courtesy of Patricia Crim Dietlein

Levi Fox, Jr. was born July 23, 1854 in St. Clair Township, Butler County, Ohio. He was the son of Levi Fox and Sarah S. Hartley Teas Fox. His death certificate indicates that his mother was Rebecca Hartley.

Prof. D. P. Hulburt, who has been teaching a class, in this city, in the management and care of horses, will commence another class on the coming Saturday and Monday. Those who have attended the former classes of the Prof. bear testimony as to their worth. Parties wishing to obtain insight as to what constitutes real horsemanship should not fail to attend. Below we append the names of those belonging to the former class: S. H. Mallory; Thos. Volland; J. G. Foulks; F. S. Feight; E. Wright; D. R. Blair; G. Holmes (Sheriff); J. E. Wood; D. S. Huntley; P. P. Bartlett; C. Cunningham; A. McFarland; E. Lewis; M. A. Sweet; C. B. Livermore; J. M. Young; J. Sanborn; J. D. Lewis; Levi Fox; J. E. Wright; J. A. McKlven; J. Conoway; G. Howard; E. J. Hatcher.
The Chariton Leader, Saturday, September 4, 1875

Levi married Ellen Hutchison when he was 21 and she was seventeen on December 2, 1875 in Lucas County, Iowa. Ellen was the daughter of Absalom and Susanna Hutchison. She was born on March 18, 1859.

In 1877 when his father, Levi, Sr. died, he was the executor of the estate. According to the provisions of the will, he inherited forty six and two thirds of the west end of the land, including the house, improved land, and timber enough to complete his share of the estate.

Levi appeared in the 1880 census of Washington Township. He was a 25 year old farmer, born in Ohio. His father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania and he was living with his wife Ellen Fox, age 21 who was born in Pennsylvania. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in New York. By the time of the 1885 Iowa census, Ellen was living with her parents in Wayne County. She was living next door to Emeline Olmstead, Josiah Fox's wife.

From the December 11, 1875 issue of The Chariton Ledger "The hopeful youths who have been made to rejoice through the influence of double harness, and whose yokes are easy and burdens light in the matrimonial line for December thus far are. "Levi Fox aged 21, who was caught by Ellen Hutchinson aged 17. . .

Ellen died on September 9, 1887. She was buried in her family plot in Wayne County, Iowa under the name Ellen Hutchinson. Pat Dietlein wrote that

although her parents are buried in the same cemetery, her grave appears to be separate from other known members of her family. There is empty space to the right of her grave, leading to speculation there may be one or more unmarked graves there. Further speculation, without any proof whatsoever, is that IF Ellen and Levi had children who died early, an unmarked grave(s) there could be for them. The middle section (a square block atop a larger square block) of Ellen's grave marker bears the name "Hutchison" in large letters. The top section is in the shape of a vertical rectangular column with rounded peaks on each side at the top (unique among markers I've seen) with her name and identifying information engraved at an angle.

Levi married Sophia Commelia Ray on December 19, 1886, in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Sophia was the daughter of James M.and Mary Ann (Reid) Ray. She was born on June 20, 1866 in Alabama.

Pat Dietlein wrote

my mother, Helen McGiboney Crim, remembered her grandfather and said he never talked about his past, leading both her and her mother (Levi's daughter, Eva Lena) to conclude that either there had been a family tragedy or some kind of bitter separation. Mother believed (without any proof) that he had been married before he married her grandmother.

Sophia and Levi's first son Charlie R. Fox was born on September 15, 1887 in Tennessee and died on February 9, 1907 in Alabama. He was buried at Hueytown, Jefferson County, Alabama at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

Richard K. Fox, Sr. was born in April, 1889 in Alabama and died on September 1954 in Chatanooga, Tennessee. He married Maude Osborne Wells who was born in 1881 in Snow Hill (outside Chattanooga ), Hamilton County, Tennessee. Maude died in 1965 in Chattanooga. They are buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chatanooga.

Eva Lena Fox was born on July 4, 1891 in Abilene, Texas and died on December 2, 1971 in Alabaster, Shelby County, Alabama.

She married Thomas Eugene McGiboney, Sr. on February 6, 1913 in Lowndes County Mississippi. Tom was born April 25, 1874 in Columbiana, Shelby County, Alabama, and died on December 1, 1952 in Longview, Shelby County, Alabama. Tom and Eva Lena are buried at Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, Oakland Cemetery.

Otto Leroy Fox, was born on January 29,1893 in Texas and died on October 18, 1918 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He married Sarah Dee Heard. "Dee" was born June 21, 1892 in Alabama and died in September, 1948 in Birmingham, Jefferson County , Alabama. Otto is buried at Hueytown, Jefferson County,

Alabama in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

Loretta Fox was born on September 8, 1899 and died May 6, 1906 at age 6. Loretta fell off a porch and later died from blood poisoning caused by the fall. She is buried at Hueytown, Jefferson County, Alabama in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

Everett E. Fox was born on October 15, 1895 in Texas and died in May 16, 1972 in Pocatello, Idaho. He married Mary Grace Sims. Grace was born July 8, 1896 in Shoshone, Idaho and died May 24, 1975 in Pocatello, Idaho. Everett is buried at Pocatello, Idaho.

At the time of the 1900 census, the Levi Fox family was in Ellis Texas. Forty-five year old Levi was a farmer. The household included Sofia age 33, Charlie age 12, Ritchert age 11, Ever L. age 8, Oto age 7, Evert age 3, and Loretter May, 8 months. Levi's sister, Nebraska Stephens' sons were also in Ellis, Texas.

James Coy Fox was born on July 13, 1902, probably in Texas and died October 25, 1966 in Odenville, St. Clair County, Alabama. Coy married Author Lee Fair. She was born May 14, 1904 in Gordo, Pickens County, Alabama , and died December 29, 1977 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.. They are buried at St. Clair County, Alabama.

John Otis Fox was born on July 23, 1904 in Texas and died on January 20, 1965 in California. He married Mary Ellice Stevens. She was born November 23, 1904 and died December 10, 1986. He is buried at San Diego at Rosecrans Cemetery.

The Fox Brothers
Otis, Everett, Coy, and Richard
photo courtesy of Patricia Crim Dietlein

A baby girl was born and died on November 15, 1906. She is buried at Hueytown, Jefferson County, Alabama at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pat Dietlein wrote

mother (Helen) also remembered that Levi was intensely devout (so far as is known, he was always Methodist) and always prayed the longest prayers she had ever heard -- while all the children were lined up and on their knees. Richard K. Fox, Jr., another grandson of Levi's, remembered his grandfather was a strict and stern disciplinarian who, when one of his six sons misbehaved and the others wouldn't tattle, would line them all up and "give 'em all a lickin'." R.K. also had pleasant memories of Levi and told of an incident when Grandpa Levi took the boy R. K. squirrel hunting -- and that Grandpa Levi was an excellent marksman. "We had plenty of squirrel for supper." Levi's grandson, R. K. Fox, Jr., also told me of another memorable childhood time -- sitting on a hillside with Levi and discussing family. He told of Levi's relating to him that an ancestor (maybe grandfather?) was buried at Westminster Abbey, England.

Levi died on Sunday, September 2 1928, at home, 4327 49th Street in the Central Park community of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama . He probably died of a heart attack. His funeral was the first from the "new" (second building) Central Park Methodist Church. Sophia died February 25, 1951 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. They are buried at Oakland Cemetery (Lot 299, Section 9) in Fairfield/Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama . The Fox - McGiboney headstone there is shared by them, their daughter Eva, and her husband, Tom.