Benjamin Maddox
1797 ~ 1863
Benjamin Maddox always said he was born in Kentucky, but I believe he was actually born in Fauquier Co., VA, and was so young when his family moved to Kentucky that he didn't remember Virginia. The family Bible said he was born Nov. 1, 1799. However, his tombstone said he was born Nov. 30, 1797. He was called Ben as noted in Lewis Co. Commissioners' Order Book.
LEWIS CO., KY ~
The first we hear of Benjamin was on Decmeber 2, 1819 when his father filed consent for 19-year-old Ben to marry. The record reads: "Personal consent of the father of Benjamin given and certificate from Daniel O'Neal the father of Nancy giving his consent proved by John Maddox & filed this date." Bondsmen were John Maddox and James Carr (his wife's maternal uncle) [Source: Lewis Co., KY, Mar. Bk. A, pg. 47, License #380]
FLEMING CO., KY:
People usually married at the bride's home, and Benjamin's bride apparently lived in Lewis County. But he moved her to Fleming, just across the county line. The 1820 census of Fleming Co. shows Benjamin with his new bride and no children. On the same page is brother John Maddux, father-in-law Daniel O'Neal, grandfather-in-law Henry O'Neal and brother-in-law John Oneal, all on page 32. Daniel and Henry were in the 1810 census also.
In 1821, Ben's daughter "Fanny" was born, and in 1823 son William Holman was born. That year, Ben's sister-in-law, Malinda O'Neal, married his brother, Thomas.
LEWIS CO., KY:
Benjamin, brother John, and a future inlaw of brother William were on the 1823 tax list.
The following his father "John and Ben Maddox were allotted as hands on the Kinney Road" [Source: September Legislative Acts, Lewis Co., KY]. This road went south through the middle of the county from the Ohio River to the Fleming County line. Ben and his father obviously lived along that road and were therefore told to be responsible for its upkeep. Other neighbors were appointed hands also.
PICKAWAY CO., OHIO:
In Pickaway Co., OH, Elizabeth O'Neal, Ben's sister-in-law, was married in 1825. His sisterin-law Barbara O'Neal was there also. About that time, Ben and his young family moved to Pickaway Co.
The following year, daughter Mary E. was born. Then no known children (did some die young?) until 1835 when Melinda E. and Thomas "Henry" were born, then the next year when Amanda E. was born. Sarah C. was born in 1838, Benjamin Franklin in 1840, and John Wesley in 1842.
In 1848, Benjamin packed up his family in eight covered wagons and a bu and headed west ily to Douglas Co., IL. the trip was twelve long hard days.
On December 22,1849, Benjamin signed over his 40 acres to son William Holman for $150, then moved to Coles Co., IL.
COLES CO., IL:
The 1850 census of Coles Co., IL, included Benjamin and all family members listed above. Also in the household was his sister-in-law Barbara O'Neal b. 1760. His was in household 5, Charleston Precinct.
The school was eight miles away, but Ben enrolled them anyway and paid their tuition since tax-supported schools had not come into existence yet.
The post office was in Benjamin's home. Mail was delivered by horse back on Thursdays and Saturdays. More about this in an article about Benjamin Maddox and his cemetery.
On June 2, 1858, Benjamin Maddox obtained 40 acres from the Illinois Public Domain Land Office at $9.50 per acre:
NE part of the
NW part of
Section 22 of
Township 15N of
Range 10E of
Meridian 3
which was registered in Douglas Co. which had just formed out of Coles Co. [Source: Volume 791, pg. 30].
The 1860 census of Douglas Co., IL, included Benjamin Maddox in Household 758/753; his elderly mother, Elizabeth, age 90 was living with him (she dieda month later). Living next door was his son William Holman Maddox in Comargo Twp. In Oakland Twp was his brother William.
On May 14, 1863, Benjamin Franklin Maddox died at the age of 63. He was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Sargent Twp, Douglas Co., IL. Although I believe this was originally the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, it really was always the Benjamin Maddox Cemetery. Ben's tombstone is nearly 20' high. Here is his obituary.
His will had been filed at the courthouse, but I do not have a copy of it.
His estate settlement, including his will, are file #904. At the time of his death, he had....
$ 100.00 - cash
881.81 - notes due him*
2,050.25 - appraised value of personal estate
2,480.00 - sale price of land**
$5,512.06
*Nehan? Maddox owed him $76.50
Thomas Gordy owed him $300.00
J. T. Welz (?) owed him $17.00
J. W. Gordy owed him $214.50
Jamy S. Paugh owed him $16.00
J. H. Johnson owed him $208.80
P. Cash owed him $53.00
**He had 503 acres of land. He must have bought all or nearly all of it before Douglas broke off from Coles Co., for I didn't see deeds for these in the Douglas co., courthouse.
He had 77 head of cattle, 51 head of sheep, 49 head of hogs, 4 horses, 100 bushels of corn, 22 bee hives, two wagons and a buggy and miscellaneous farm and household items. Sons John Wesley, Thomas Henry (T.H.) Benjamin Franklin, and William Holman all bought part of his estate, as well as inlaws and neighbors.
Benjamin was a relatively wealthy man. Cash was paid to his heirs as follows:
Benjamin Franklin (Ben's son):
$102.80 on 2/11/1865
Asa J. & M.L. Redden (Ben's bro-in-law):
$102.80 on 2/15/1865
C.W. & Linda Williams (Ben's dtr):
$102.80 on 2/15/1865
$133.33 on 10/9/1872
$280.00 on 12/4/1872
John Wesley Maddox (Ben's son):
$102.80 on 2/15/1865
Thomas & Millie Ann Gordon/Gordy (without the will, I don't know who this is; probably a grand dtr. Maybe a dtr. of Fanny or Mary E., Ben's dtrs):
$102.80 on 2/15/1865
$380.00 on 8/18/1870 "share in full"
$280.00 on 10/11/1870 (Margaret L.)
$133.33 on 11/9/1872 (Margaret L.)
$133.33 on 3/25/1873 ("Heirs of Millie Ann Gordy deceased)
William F. O'Neal (Ben's nephew, son of Barbara O'Neal):
$1102.80 on 2/17/1865
Sarah C. Coffee (Ben's dtr) received by William Holman Maddfox (her bro.):
$102.80 on 2/20/1865
$280.00 on 11/24/1870
$133.33 on 10/10/1872
William Holman Maddox (Ben's son):
$102.80 on 2/23/1865
Rebecca Murphy (Ben's dtr):
$102.80 on 2/27/65
$180.00 on 8/22/1870
$133.33 on 5/10/1872
L.J. & Amanda L. Cash (Ben's dtr):
$102.80 on 4/20/1866
$133.33 on 5/13/1871
$133.33 on 10/21/1872
Fanny O'Neal (Ben's sister-in-law):
$100.00 on 5/3/1866
Ben's O'Neal wife was deaf, as were her sisters who Benjamin took into his home and cared for until his death. I believe he also took care of a deaf bro-in-law and provided for him to some extent. Benjamin Maddox was a kind, comparing and compassionate person.
BENJAMIN'S CHILDREN:
Frances
William Holman
Mary E.
Rebecca Jane
Melinda E.
Thomas Henry
Amanda E.
Sarah C.
Benjamin F.
John Wesley
