ROANE COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA 
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@aol.com
November 28, 1999
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FORE: Early settler of Middle Fork of Reedy. George W. Fore, born in Prince Edward County
Virginia, about the year 1837, came to the Reedy country about the year 1850, with a small
‘Show” of the Punch and Judy, and prestidigitor class. On one of these vi sits he married Irena
Chancey, about the above date; she a daughtr of Hiram and Elvira Chancey, large farmers and
popular people at the time. George W. and Irena settled in a home on part of the Chancey lands,
and lived the full span of their fruitful lives there. He had a lame hand and lame foot from
infancy. He taught school and was for many years the county’s popular auctioneer. To George
W. and Irena (Chancey) Fore, were born and reared the following children—names from
recollection of the author—in order of respective births are as follows: Martha or Tabitha
(“Bide”), James D., Elvira, William F., Ida, Thomas Hoyt, George D., Bailey B., Susan and
George W., Jr. Further: Martha married William D. Board, April 15, 1896, her age 30, his 44.
Elvira married E. Adam Fore, born in Southern Virginia. Ida married Peter Hall, May 2,1883.
William F. married to Roane County, in 1874, settled on a tract of 230 acres of land lying on
Bear Run, which he had purchased just before coming here, all in woods except some small
narrow fields along the run. Here in the next ten years following his arrival they made a good
farm. To Jasper Newton and Elmira, his wife, were born twelve children, eight in Monongalia
and four after coming here. Of these twelve children only four are yet (1926) living. Their
names are, Theodore M., John M., William 0. and Joseph A. Theodore M., born 1861, never
married, lives with his brother, John M., at Hartford City, W. Va. Rev. John M. Fox, of the
above family, was born February 17, 1865, has been twice married. His first wife died and his
second is yet with him. John M. Fox became a preacher of the Gospel some fifteen years ago, is
a Baptist, and is now, 1926, stationed at Hartford City, W. Va. William 0. Fox, a son of Jasper
N. and Elmira, was born February 18, 1869, married twice. First wife, Mahala, daughter of
Albert Gough, of Reedy, made their home on Bear Run at once. Of this marriage one son and
two daughters were born. Mahala died and for a second wife William 0. married Glennie,
daughter of Alexander Snyder, of Calhoun County, W. Va. One son—died—and two daughters,
Chloe, born 1919, and Willa, born 1923, are both with the parents on the old farm. Joseph A.
Fox, son of Jasper N. and Elmira, was born March 27, 1876, married Flora Freeland, of Lower
Spring Creek, daughter of Cornelius Freeland. Of this marriage one child, a son, was born. Soon
Flora ded and Joseph A. next married Corda, daughter of Jackson Walters, of upper Sandy
Creek, Jackson County. Of this last marriage four sons and two daughters have been born.
Joseph A. Fox has a large part in the old home farm on Bear Run and lives there; one of Reedy’s
substantial farms. Jarret N. Fox, son of Martin P. and Anne (Jones) Fox, (Martin P. being a
brother of Jasper N. Fox), was born in Monongalia County, Virginia, August 14, 1848; in Green
County, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1874, was united in marriage with Mary A., daughter of Philip
and Catherine L. (Mauch) Mclnturff, formerly of Shennandoah County, Virginia, where their
daughter, Mary A., was born, 1857. Came to Roane County and settled on his farm on Bear Run,
in 1874, coming at same time that his uncle Jasper N. came. To Jarret N. and Mary A.
(Mclnturff) Fox were born, all in Roane County, one son and four daughters, two of which
daughters died in infancy. The names of the living are Annie L., born December 22, 1874; Mary
A., February 20, 1879, and Ethel A., November 14, 1881. The above Jarret N. Fox was an
appreciated Baptist preacher for many years, serving numerous congregations and encouraged
building of churches. Franklin Pierce Fox, brother of Reverend Jarret N. Fox, mentioned above,
was born in Monongalia County, western Virginia. June 27, 1854; married in Preston County,
1877, Regina M., daughter of Samuel G. and Martha Sapp. Regina, however, was born in
Washing­ton County, Pa., 1861; came to Roane County in 1880, settled on their own farm in that
part of Reedy District lying on Spring Creek. To Franklin P. and Regina have been born two
daughters in Monongalia County and one daughter and a son in Roane. Their names, Clara M.,
born February 13, 1878; Bertha Dell, 1879, Ada and Samuel’s births we do not have. Franklin
Pierce Fox has been elected by the people and served two terms as a Justice of the Peace of this
District. 

Source:
History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 523-524