Fox, Basel

FOX

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/28/2008 at 16:14:46

Basel Fox

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.224, Rockford Twp.)
Basel Fox, farmer, P. O. Loveland, was born in Putnam County, Ind., in 1827, son of James S. and Elizabeth (Enoc) Fox; he, born in New Jersey, she a native of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and emigrated to Indiana in 1826. Both are deceased. Our subject has one sister living, Mrs. Eliza Mullinex, who resides in Harrison County, this State. He was educated in his native State, where he lived until he was twenty-five years of age, when he started across the country with an ox-team and settled on his present farm in 1852. His resources at the time he arrived were $20.50 in cash, half-interest in the three yoke of oxen and wagon and anote against his brother for $55. They purchased together a claim of 400 acres at a cost of $20 in money and two yoke of cattle. Our subject bought his brother's interest for $110, and the wagon. He then got Judge Casady to enter eighty acres of the land on time, paying him forty per cent interest. In this manner he struggled on, and now owns 385 acres of the original 400, most of which is fenced and is in a state of cultivation. He has made many substantial improvements, including two barns, one of which is 22 x 75, and a two-story residence. Mr. Fox was married in Indiana in 1849 to Amanda J. Bell, born in the state State. They have had twelve children, of whom four boys and four girls are living; the eldest born in December, 1850, and the youngest September 16, 1879. April 7, 1862, our subject enlisted in the Seventeeth Iowa Infantry, Company H, and after three years' service was mustered out at Davenport, this State. He took part in many heavy engagements, including Corinth, Iuka, Miss., Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. He was twice captured, once at Spring Place, Ga., and again at Tilton, Ga. he was five and a half months in Andersonville Prison, and was under medical treatment for ten months, being moved from one hospital to another. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a Republican.