Sebastin C. Fox

Rebecca Fox’s marker in Fox Cemetery.
Photo by Chris Childs.

I earlier wrote about Joseph R. Tapscott and his wife Mary Emma Sanders (“Joseph R. Tapscott," blog of 30 Nov 2015). Mary Emma’s maternal grandfather was Sebastin C. Fox, a most interesting character. “Sebastin” is the name on his grave marker in Fox Cemetery and in his daughter Elizabeth’s death record and obituary, but his name was usually given as “Sebastian.” I choose to use “Sebastin” because his wife, Rebecca (Presser) Fox, was living when he died and presumably when the grave marker was carved. She should have caught any error. On the other hand, her Fox Cemetery grave marker gives the name “Rebbecca,” but I choose to use “Rebecca,” the usual spelling and the name found in other records. Sebastin’s middle name is said to be “Capital,” but no reliable source is known. 

Sebastin and Wife, Rebecca

(Collection of Penny Skinnger).

Sebastin, who in 1838 was the first school teacher in Anderson Twp, was known for his deep belief in “spare the rod and spoil the child.” It has been reported that “He kept in the school room a green, tough switch, about six feet long, and he invariably took off his coat and threw it on the one of the joists overhead, before administering his punishment. He whipped not only for violations of school rules, but he whipped for laziness and natural dullness.” That Sebastin was also a Church of Christ minister makes one wonder about his actions in the pulpit.

Sebastin’s marker in Fox Cemetery.
Photo by Chris Childs.

But it is his death that gives Sebastin celebrity. On 5 Jun 1855, he died after falling from his horse and being dragged home. But the cause of the fall is disputed. A newspaper article reported that he fell or was thrown from his horse while liquored up from celebrating the 4 Jun 1855 rejection of prohibition in Illinois. But others claim he fell and was dragged after being shot by a gunman, specifically by a member of the Birch gang (preceding blog). While it makes a good story, the latter scenario is unlikely, since the Birches had left the state by 1855. 

It is claimed that Anderson Township’s Fox Road, along which lies Fox Cemetery, where Sebastin and Rebecca rest, was named after Sebastin. It is said that on stormy nights, around midnight, his ghost returns to ride the road on his white horse.

Today the stones for Sebastin and his wife, Rebecca can no longer be found in Fox cemetery, probably the result of vandalization and theft. Luckily, before their disappearance, the stones had been photographed.