Person:Elvira Fox (2)

In 1850 Elvira was living away from home. She was actually recorded twice in the 1850 census:

• 16 August in Townsend Township, Huron County, Ohio, in the home of Thadeus Fitch, Carpenter & J[oiner]^[4]
• 13 December in Milan Township, Erie County, Ohio, in a boarding house run by Charlott Merry^[5]

As the 1850 census asks for occupation of males, her occupation is not listed; but she probably was working as domestic help in both places (Fitch had two young children). Interestingly, most of the tenants at the Milan boarding house were joiners; her landlady (aged 70) was probably related to (possibly the widow of) the founder of Milan, Ebenezer Merry.

Information about parents

• Selium McGary's biography (written in 1892) states that Elvira was "a daughter of Charles Fox." This is the only direct link found so far; Elvira was not living with her family at the 1850 census, and parents names are not recorded on her wedding record with Selium.
• Selium's biography also says of Elvira's family: "The family were originally from Connecticut, and later of Pennsylvania, from which State they emigrated to Ohio in the early pioneer days. They endured the dangers and hardships incident to the Indian wars then prevailing on the frontier."
• In the 1880 census, Elvira's parents are said to have been born in Ohio (father) and New York (mother). In the 1900 census, both her parents are reported to have been born in Ohio.

Records that might be of Elvira's family:

• Charles Fox and Ann Studdley, "both of Eldridge," were married 29 Apr 1830 in Huron County, Ohio (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XZP2-CPJ). Eldridge is an alternate name for Berlin Heights Station
• The 1830 census lists four Charles Foxes in Ohio, in Seneca and Warren counties and in Cinncinatti. None of these seem like good matches
• The 1840 Census lists Chas Fox in Townsend, Huron, Co., Ohio. This is a likely match but we need to see the actual document to check ages (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHYV-2Q4)
• The 1850 census lists a number of young Foxes living with unrelated families in Huron County, as might have happened if the parents had perished:
  • Rebecca, a. 22, with the Russell M Wheeler family in Norwalk
  • Eunice A, a. 20, with the Samuel J Worcester family in Norwalk
  • Eloisa, a. 19, with the the Andrew Tillotson family in Norwalk
  • Also in Norwalk in 1850: John Fox, a. 61, b. NH, and his wife Fidelia (a. 51, b. NY), with five younger Foxes, all b. OH. The latter are presumably their children; but if John is related to Charles then perhaps some are Charles' children.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Elvira McGary, in Monroe, Wisconsin, United States. Monroe, Wisconsin, United States. Monroe County Registration of Deaths
   vol. 4, p. 109.
2. ↑ Deaths, in Norwalk Star (Norwalk, Wisconsin)
   p. 4, 7 Feb 1908.

   Mrs. Selium McGary departed from earthly scenes at 11:30 Tuesday morning after faithfully toting life’s burden for a period of 75 years. Death resulted from heart failure accompanied by a general breaking down, incident to advanced years. Deceased was born in Sandusky, Ohio. Her maiden name was Miss Elvira Fox. Fifty-six years ago last November she became the wife of Mr. Selium McGary, who still survives. Besides the husband are left the following children: Mrs. Belle Wood and Mrs. John Kier, Baraboo; Mrs. W. B. Kendall, Janesville; Mrs. Francis [sic] Reckord, Sparta; Mrs. B. L. Bohn, Wonewoc; Eugene McGary, Norwalk. Many of the relatives were in attendance at the funeral, which was held yesterday at 1 o’clock from the home, Rev. Forrester of the Methodist diocese, officiating. Grandsons of the deceased acted as bearers.

3. ↑ Elvira McGary, in Find A Grave.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Townsend Township, in Huron, Ohio, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   p. 16.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Milan Township, in Erie, Ohio, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432)
   p. 48.