29. Documentation for Susannah Hilligass
(30 November 1819 to 11 August 1894)
mother of Daniel Alexander Fox
(13 January 1860 to 29 July 1932)
Susannah Hillegas, Second Great-Grandmother of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) Susannah Hillegas, wife of John L Fox, parents of Daniel Alexander Fox
2) Daniel Alexander Fox, husband of Elizabeth Jane Ricketts, parents of Ethel Belle Fox
3) Ethel Belle Fox, wife of Robert William Gouty, parents of Mavis Lorene Gouty
4) Mavis Lorene Gouty, wife of Truxton James Older, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 29. Susannah Hilligass - (The file has the following text plus images.)
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 03 August 1840 Letter from Michael Hillegas Junior to Jacob Kriebel of PA.
Download Adobe Acrobat File - Reverend John Hillegas - (A brother of Susannah Hillegas)
Download Adobe Acrobat File - Hillegas Family - (From History of Allen County, Indiana)
Susannah Hilligass was born 30 November 1819 in Montgomery County, Ohio.(1) Susannah Hilligass was the daughter of Michael Hilligass Jr. and Anna Yeakel.(2) Susannah Hilligass married John L. Fox on 11 November 1845 in Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, by the Reverend George Long.(3) John L. Fox was born 18 October 1818 near Miamisburg, Ohio.(4) He was the son of George Fox and Elizabeth Ann Link.(5)
John L. Fox and Susannah Hilligass were the parents of seven children: Anna Elizabeth, Mary Susannah, Catherine Florence, Martha Jane, Margaret Persilla, John Adam, and Daniel Alexander Fox. All of the children were born in Ohio except Daniel, who was born in Vermillion County, Indiana.(6) The will of John L. Fox lists the following children: Margaret Ricketts, John A. Fox, Anna E. Goff, Mary Burnett, and Daniel A. Fox.(6A) See APPENDIX A.
Susannah Hilligass Fox died 11 August 1894 in Gessie, Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana.(7) John L. Fox died 06 January 1899, probably in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana.(8) Both Susannah (Hilligass) Fox and John L. Fox are buried in Hopewell Cemetery west of Covington, Indiana.(9)
John L. Fox is listed under the U. S. Census of Ohio, 1850, Miami Township, Montgomery County, as age 32 value of real estate = $2,500. Also listed with him are Susannah age 30, Ann age 2, and Mary Fox age 8 months. All are listed as born in Ohio.(11) John L. Fox and family moved to Vermillion County, Indiana, about 1857.(12)
John L. Fox appears in the U. S. Census of Indiana, 1860, Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana. His real estate was valued at $6,560 and his personal property was valued at $1,500. Also listed in the household is: Susannah Fox, age 40, born in Ohio; Ann E. Fox, age 12, born in Ohio; Mary S. Fox, age 10, born in Ohio; Catherine F. Fox, age 8, born in Ohio; Margaret P. Fox, age 6, born in Ohio; John A. Fox, age 3, born in Ohio; Daniel A. Fox, age 5/12, born in Indiana; and Allen Rager, age 45, a laborer, who was born in Indiana.(13)
John L. Fox is listed under the U. S. Census of Indiana, 1870, Highland Township, Vermillion County, Post Office - Perrysville, enumerated June 21, 1870, by A. J. Adams, pages 14 and 15, dwelling number 94, family number 94. John L. Fox is listed as age 53, real estate value = $6,780 and personal estate value = $1,400. Susannah Fox is listed as age 50.(14)
John L. Fox is listed in the U. S. Census of Indiana, 1880, Highland Township, Vermillion County, dwelling 16, family 16, age 60, a farmer, living with Susannah Fox and Daniel Fox.(15)
John L. Fox owned 331 acres of choice land at one time in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana. He was farming 186 acres in 1888.(16) John L. Fox and family resided one and a quarter miles north east of Gessie, Vermillion County, Indiana.(17)
A letter dictated by Michael Hillegas Junior to his daughter, Susannah, dated 3 August 1840 has been preserved at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. The letter was written in German. An English translation appears in APPENDIX B. Also see APPENDIX C.
The letter was addressed to Mr. Jacob Kriebel of Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The letter informed Mr. Kriebel that Anna, wife of Michael Hillegas Junior, died on 17 July 1840 from "cholera marbus." "She was born in the year 1780 on the 20th of October, died the 17th of July 1840, she reached the age of 59 years, 8 months and 27 days."(18)
The letter states that Michael's "two youngest, Jacob and Susanna", are still with him. Michael's son Daniel was living with son Joseph near Dayton. Daniel was "still unmarried as are the two youngest."
Children (Fox):
i. Anna Elizabeth, born 25 February 1848 in Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio
ii. Mary Susannah, born January 1850 in Ohio
iii. Catherine Florence, born in 1852 in Ohio
iv. Martha Jane born in Ohio
v. Margaret Persilla, born in 1854 in Warren County, Ohio
vi. John Adam, born in July 1857 in Warren County, Ohio
vii. Daniel Alexander, born 13 January 1860 in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana
ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL to support the RELATIONSHIP between
SUSANNAH HILLEGAS and her son DANIEL ALEXANDER FOX
1) Susannah Hillegas married John L. Fox. Ohio County Marriages, 1774-1993, Michael Hillegoss – father, Susannah Hillegoss – bride, John L. Fox – groom. Film Number 001030835, the marriage record includes the notation, "her father Michael Hillegass." Date appears to be 1st November 1845; Susannah Hillegas married John L. Fox on 11 November 1845 in Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, by Reverend George Long. (The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, page 94, Sketch of John L. Fox); Susannah Hilligass and John L. Fox marriage record, source #492.000, Yates Publications; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3.
2) The tombstone of Susannah Hillegas reads as follows: "Susannah Hiligass wife of John L. Fox died Aug 11, 1894 aged 74Y. 8M. 11D."
3) Will of John L. Fox, Court House, Newport, Vermillion County, Indiana, pages 520 and 521. The will names Daniel A. Fox as an heir along with four others identified as sons or daughters.
4) Ethel Belle (Fox) Gouty Family Bible in the possession of Curtis Lynn Older which gives a date of birth as 13 January 1860 for Daniel Alexander Fox, her father. Copies of pages from the Ethel Belle Fox Family Bible are in a CD-rom disc entitled Fox's Gap in Maryland, which is at the Frederick County Historical Society, Frederick, Maryland; Indiana State Board of Health Certificate of Death, Daniel E. Fox, date of death 29 July 1932, Highland Township, Vermillion County. Name of wife Elizabeth Fox. Date of birth January 13, 1862. Informant William Fox. Age 70 years 6 months 16 days. The 1860 federal census for Vermillion County, Indiana, lists " Daniel A. Fox, age 5/12, born in Indiana"; The 1880 John L. Fox census record shows Daniel, age 20, son.
5) The tombstone for Daniel Alexander Fox and his wife, Elizabeth Jane Ricketts Fox, is adjacent the tombstone for his parents, John L. Fox and Susannah Hilligass at the Hopewell Cemetery in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, west of Covington, Indiana.
6) Daniel is listed in the John L. Fox obituary as born in Vermillion County, Indiana. John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3.
7) Daniel Alexander Fox is listed as a son of John L. Fox in The Fox Genealogy. The Fox Genealogy including the Metherd, Benner, and Leiter descendants, giving biographies of the first and second generations, with sketches of the third generation, compiled by Daniel Gebhart Fox, 1914. (n.p) 1924. 1 p. 1., (5)-172 p. 20 com. 37-9439 CS71.F79 1924 Library of Congress, page 94, Sketch of John L. Fox.
8) History of Vermillion County, Indiana, Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana, Lewis Publishing Company, 1888, Chicago, page 491, Sketch of John L. Fox. The children of John L. Fox and his wife, Susannah Hilligass, are listed in this article. Daniel is listed and it is stated he was born in 1860 in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana.
9) Letter from Michael Hillegas Junior at Montgomery County, Ohio, to Mr. Jacob Kriebel, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, State of Pennsylvania, dated 03 August 1840, in the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, PA. The letter was dictated by Michael and written by Susannah due to the fact Michael was partially blind. The letter states the dates of birth and death of Michael's wife, Anna, and indicates that his two youngest children, Jacob and Susanna, are still living with him and are unmarried. See www.schwenkfelder.com
REFERENCES
1. Tombstone of "Susannah Hilligass wife of John L. Fox", Hopewell Cemetery west of Covington, Indiana. Date of death is given as August 11, 1894. The tombstone indicates she was 74 years, 8 months, 11 days old. Tombstone photograph taken by Curtis L. Older.
2. The Fox Genealogy including the Metherd, Benner, and Leiter descendants, giving biographies of the first and second generations, with sketches of the third generation, compiled by Daniel Gebhart Fox, 1914. (n.p) 1924. 1 p. 1., (5)-172 p. 20 com. 37-9439 CS71.F79 1924 Library of Congress, page 94; Tombstones for Michael Hilligass and Anna, wife of Michael Hilligass are at the St. John, or Gebhart Cemetery, Miamisburg, Ohio; Samuel Kriebel Brecht, editor, The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families: Seekers of Religious Liberty Who Fled from Silesia to Saxony and thence to Pennsylvania in the Years 1731 to 1737. (Pennsburg, Pa.: Rand McNally & Company, 1923), page 475, [38-35] Anna Yeakel; Ohio County Marriages, 1774-1993, Michael Hillegoss – father, Susannah Hillegoss – bride, John L. Fox – groom. Film Number 001030835, the marriage record includes the notation, "her father Michael Hillegass." Date appears to be 1st November 1845.
3. The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, p. 94; Susannah Hilligass and John L. Fox marriage record, source #492.000, Yates Publications; Ohio County Marriages, 1774-1993, Michael Hillegoss – father, Susannah Hillegoss – bride, John L. Fox – groom. Film Number 001030835, the marriage record includes the notation, "her father Michael Hillegass." Date appears to be 1st November 1845; The tombstone of Susannah Hillegas reads as follows: "Susannah Hiligass wife of John L. Fox died Aug 11, 1894 aged 74Y. 8M. 11D"; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3.
4. The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, p. 94, Sketch of John L Fox; tombstone for John L. Fox, Hopewell Cemetery west of Covington Indiana. The tombstone states, "John L. Fox, died January 6, 1899, aged 80 years, 2 months, 28 days"; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3.
5. The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, p. 94; Estate Papers of George Fox, Warren County Genealogical Society, 300 East Silver Street, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, includes a receipt in the amount of $50 signed by Susannah Fox for John L. Fox; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3.
6. The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, p. 94-96; will of John L. Fox, Court House, Newport, Vermillion County, Indiana, pages 520 and 521; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3. U. S. Census for Indiana, 1860, Highland Township, Vermillion County, enumerated by A. J. Adams on June 30, 1860, Dwelling 76, Family 76, John L. Fox, age 41, farmer, real estate value = $6,560, personal property value = $1,500, born in Ohio; Susannah Fox, age 40, born in Ohio; Ann E. Fox, age 12, born in Ohio; Mary S. Fox, age 10, born in Ohio; Catherine F. Fox, age 8, born in Ohio; Margaret P. Fox, age 6, born in Ohio; John A. Fox, age 3, born in Ohio; Daniel A. Fox, age 5/12, born in Indiana. Apparently Martha Jane Fox died prior to the 1860 census.
6A. Will of John L. Fox, Court House, Newport, Vermillion County, Indiana, pages 520 and 521.
7. Tombstone for "Susannah Hilligass wife of John L. Fox", Hopewell Cemetery west of Covington, Indiana. Date of death is given as 11 August 1894. The tombstone indicates she was aged 74 years, 8 months, and 11 days. Tombstone photograph taken by Curtis L. Older; The Fox Genealogy, page 94, Sketch of John L Fox.
8. Tombstone for John L. Fox, Hopewell Cemetery west of Covington Indiana. The tombstone states, "John L. Fox, died January 6, 1899, aged 80 years, 2 months, 28 days"; John L. Fox obituary, The Hoosier State newspaper, Newport, Indiana, Wednesday 11 January 1899, page 1, column 3; The Fox Genealogy, page 94, Sketch of John L Fox.
9. Hopewell Cemetery is located in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, west of Covington, Indiana; N 40° 06.547 W 087° 29.439;
11. U. S. Census for Ohio, 1850, Miami Township, Montgomery County, enumerated August 4, 1850, by J. Hokidry, Dwelling 473, Family 473, John L. Fox, age 41, John Fox, age 32, farmer, real estate value = $2,500, born in Ohio; Susannah Fox, age 30, female, born in Ohio, Ann Fox, age 2, female, born in Ohio, Mary Fox, age 8 months, born in Ohio.
12. The Fox Genealogy by D. G. Fox, p. 94.
13. U. S. Census for Indiana, 1860, Highland Township, Vermillion County, enumerated by A. J. Adams on June 30, 1860, Dwelling 76, Family 76, John L. Fox, age 41, farmer, real estate value = $6,560, personal property value = $1,500, born in Ohio; Susannah Fox, age 40, born in Ohio; Ann E. Fox, age 12, born in Ohio; Mary S. Fox, age 10, born in Ohio; Catherine F. Fox, age 8, born in Ohio; Margaret P. Fox, age 6, born in Ohio; John A. Fox, age 3, born in Ohio; Daniel A. Fox, age 5/12, born in Indiana.
14. U. S. Census for Indiana, 1870, Vermillion County, Highland Township, Post Office - Perrysville, enumerated June 21, 1870, by A. J. Adams, pages 14 and 15, Dwelling number 94, Family number 94, John L. Fox, age 53, male, white, farmer, real estate value = $6,780, personal estate vale = $1,400, born in Ohio, citizen of the U. S.; Susannah Fox, age 50, female, white, at home, born in Ohio; Anna Fox, age 22, female, white, at home, born in Ohio; Mary Fox, age 20, female, white, at home, born in Ohio; Catherine Fox, age 18, female, white, at home, born in Ohio, attended school within the year; Margaret Fox, age 14, female, white, at home, born in Ohio, attended school within the year; John Fox, age 13, male, white, at home, born in Ohio, attended school within the year; Daniel Fox, age 10, male, white, at home, born in Indiana, attended school within the year.
15. U. S. Census for Indiana, 1880, Highland Township, Vermillion County, enumerated June 8, 1880, by Joshua Lewis, Dwelling number 16, Family number 16, John L. Fox, age 60; Susannah Fox, age 59; Daniel Fox, age 20.
16. History of Vermillion County, Indiana, Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana, Lewis Publishing Company, 1888, Chicago, page 491, Sketch of John L. Fox.
17. The Peoples' Guide, a business political and religious directory of Vermillion County, Indiana, by Cline and McHaffie, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Printing and Publishing House 1874: John L. Fox, farmer, 1 1/4 miles north east of Gessie, born in OH, 1818, settled in Vermillion Co., IN, 1858.
18. Anna Yeakel Hillegas and her husband, Michael Hilligass Junior, are buried in the Gebhart or St. John's Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio. Her tombstone reads, "Anna wife of Michael Hilligass died July 17, 1840 aged 56 Ys. 8m. 27 D."; Letter from Michael Hillegas Junior at Montgomery County, Ohio, to Mr. Jacob Kriebel, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, State of Pennsylvania, dated 03 August 1840, in the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, PA. The letter was dictated by Michael and written by Susannah due to the fact Michael was partially blind. The letter states the dates of birth and death of Michael's wife, Anna, and indicates that his two youngest children, Jacob and Susanna, are still living with him and are unmarried. See www.schwenkfelder.com
APPENDIX A
WILL of JOHN L. FOX
Will of John L. Fox
John L. Fox
Vermillion County, Indiana
Court House, Newport
520 John L. Fox
WILL RECORD
In the name of God, Amen:
I John L. Fox of the County of Vermillion and State of Indiana being weak in body and of sound mind, memory and understanding but considering the uncertainly of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, to wit:
First, - It is my Will and I do order that all my just debts and Funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease,
Second, -
Item, - I give unto my Daughter Margaret Ricketts ($5.00) Dollars.
Item, - I give unto my son John A. Fox Five ($5.00) Dollars.
Item, - The balance of my Estate shall be equally divided between my Daughters Anna
E. Goff, Mary Burnett and Daniel A. Fox.
The said Margaret Ricketts and John A. Fox have already received more of my estate than their shares.
And, lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint W. H. Goff of Gessie, Ind. To be the Executor of this, my Will, hereby revoking all other Wills, legacies and bequests by me heretofore made, and declaring this, and no other, to be my last will and testament.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8 day April, in the year
1898.
John L. Fox (seal)
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said John L. Fox as and for his last Will
and Testament, in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the
presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Alexander Swisher (seal)
Jacob B. Swisher (seal)
State of Indiana, Vermillion County, SS:
Before me, John T. Lowe Clerk of the Vermillion Circuit Court, personally came Jacob B. Swisher one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last Will and Testament of John L. Fox late of Vermillion County, Indiana, deceased, and being duly sworn on oath says that he was present at the exectuion of said last will: that the same was duly executed: that said testator requested said Jacob B. Swisher and Alexander Swisher to sign said will as Witnesses thereto, which they accordingly did in the presence of said testaor, and in the presence of each other as subscribing witnesses thereto.
Jacob B. Swisher
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of January 1899,
John T. Lowe clerk
521
VERMILLION COUNTY, INDIANA
State of Indiana } SS:
Vermillion County}
I John T. Lowe Clerk of the Vermillion Circuit Court do hereby certify that the above and foregoing last will and testament of John L Fox late of Vermillion County State of
Indiana deceased was this day duly admitted to probate and record and the proof thereof duly made by Jacob B. Swisher one of subscribing witnesses thereto which said Will together with such proof have been duly recorded in Record of Will Lo 3 Page 520 in this office
Witness my name and the seal of said Court this 28th day of Jany 1899
John T. Lowe Clerk
APPENDIX B
03 August 1840 Letter
Dictated to Susannah Hillegas by her father,
Michael Hillegas Junior,
and sent to Jacob Kriebel in Pennsylvania
Mr Jacob Kriebel
Upper Milford Township
Lehigh County
State of Pennsylvania
Auroran[?], PA
In haste
Montgomery County, state of Ohio, August the 3rd, 1840
Well-beloved brother-in-law Jacob Kriebel and children I must write to you a very sad letter so that I can report the death of my dear wife, Anna, she died the 17th of July, 1840. She was sickly for a fairly long time until the 13th of July then she fell ill with a case of diarrhea a few days after then with vomiting and convulsions, Friday morning she was bed-ridden and then the convulsions got out of control, from morning until afternoon, around four o’clock, she had very great pains and after then she was very weak until night around 11 o’clock when she died. Three doctors were called but all remedies and effort were futile, on Sunday the 19th of July her remains were laid to rest among a number, it was estimated, it had been the largest funeral ever in our church, at which the opportunity the Reverend Lange, Reformed preacher, spoke preached a very sad and [?] sermon on the holy words of Isaiah, chapter 57, verse 2, which is as follows: Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
The doctors said that her illness was cholera marbus. She was born in the year 1780 on the 20th of October, died the 17th of July 1840, she reached the age of 59 years, 8 months and 27 days. (may her ashes softly rest).
The hymns sung were “At The House Of Mourning“, three verses were sung from the 393 Hymn “Jesus Died For Me” and so on, “At The Grave Now We Bring The Body To Rest,” first in the church the 396 “There Is Still A Rest” as two first verses, the first verse out of the 394 hymn, “My Spirit O God Was Totally Delighted”, finally the final verse from the 461 hymn “Honor The Father And The Son.”
As far as I am concerned, I cannot write that I am healthy this summer but I hope it will be good again, God knows what to do.
The children as far as I know are all still healthy. The two youngest Jacob and Susanna are still with me. Daniel lives with my son Joseph near Dayton, he is still unmarried as are the two youngest.
Further, I know nothing to write for this time as still a heartfelt greeting to you all. [May God] bless us and you under the protection of the most highest who is merciful to us and you
Michael Hillegas —
Dear Friend be so good,
To make known all that has occurred in [or, to] the Friedens-Bote and Republican Newspaper in Allentown, we wrote it to the Wieandens. My wish is that you let Benjamin Anders know too. We do not know his address. My youngest daughter has written this letter because my eyes are so blind that I can no longer write. Write us as quickly as possible.
Susanna,
Dear Father, writing is hard for me this time, but I hope you can forgive me because I have been lonely, these ten months back I have my mother and sister with me now, no longer but to comfort us with the words … “What God does is well done.”
Forget us not —
Susanna Hillegas
APPENDIX C
E-MAIL FROM SCHWENKFELDER HISTORICAL LIBRARY
Thank you for your research request. I have what I believe are most of the letters in the H.K. Gerhard collection, but am not sure how many of them actually contain relevant genealogical information yet, since they are in German script. So far the only letter that I know which contains Hillegas family data is one written to Jacob Kriebel on August 3, 1840 from Ohio. The 1839 letter referenced in the 1923 Schwenkfelder Genealogical Record (G.R.) in not among these letters, and I have no reference of it at all in any of our inventories. Nonetheless I will keep looking for it since it may have been misplaced or separated from these letters during the writing of the G.R. In the mean time I am sending the 1840 letter. It is 3 pages long (four files including the address page). The letter mostly talks about the recent death and funeral of Michael Hillegas’s wife, Anna, on July 17, 1840. He also mentions information about some if his youngest children but not all of them, as listed in the G.R. As the letter is in German and four pages long if you do not know German or someone who knows German (and German script) I could transcribe and translate it for you.
Hunt Schenkel, Archivist
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
105 Seminary St.
Pennsburg, PA
(215) 679-3103
www.schwenkfelder.com
