Marion was born on 25 October 1865 in Ashville, North Carolina.
1,2 Marion L. Fox married
Jessamine Lee, daughter of
Andrew Ericson Lee and
Annie M. Chappell, on 7 June 1900 in Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota, when she would have been about 25 years old. The marriage took place during her father Andrew E. Lee's second term as governor of South Dakota [1897-1901] The Thursday, 14 June 1900, issue of the Vermillion (Clay County, South Dakota) Plain Talk contained the following article (on page 5):
WEDDING BELLS
Married: At the Baptist church, Vermillion, South Dakota, June 7, 1900,
Marion L. Fox, of Sioux Falls, to Miss Jessamine Lee, of Vermillion,
Rev. Craig L. Thomas officiating The marriage of Jessamine, the fair and accomplished daughter of Gov. and Mrs. Lee, to Marion L. Fox of Sioux Falls was one of the most brilliant events in the fashionable history of Vermillion and South Dakota. The popularity of the bride and groom, the high position and the great esteem of the father of the bride, the large acquaintance they all have made during their years of residence in South Dakota, gave the affair more than local importance.
If the brightness of the day is a criterion of wedded life, happy indeed will be Mr. and Mrs. Fox. If the number of loving friends can be proportioned by those who were able to and did attend the ceremony at the Baptist church last Thursday [7 June 1900], pleasant will be their journey, and if the union proves as entirely successful as did the wedding day, great things may be expected.
The Baptist church, newly frescoed and carpeted, was resplendent with flower and verdant leaf, by Mrs. Maynard tastefully arranged in huge banks along the wall and around the altar.
Long before the hour set the church began to fill with the invited guests, and when Mrs. Lathrop at the pipe organ began playing, fully 200 people occupied seats and gazed with rapt attention at the elaborate decorations.
At 1 o'clock, Mrs. Lee, mother of the bride, and Miss Pinkum, a friend from abroad, were shown seats, and a moment afterward the door of an anteroom opened and the wedding party marched up the broad aisle to the music of Mendelsshon's masterpiece. The four ushers, dressed in conventional black, led the way, followed by Miss Kathryn Prentis [presumably the daughter of Gov. Lee's business partner], bridesmaid. Miss Prentis wore a gown of pink silk crepe, made over taffeta, trimmed with cream insertion and liberty silk waist made with yoke of embroidered muslin and fissue of liberty silk with long ends.
Following, on the arm of her father, came the bride, radiantly beautiful in a gown of ivory satin with trimmings of Duchese point; the long bridal veil was fastened to her hair with jessamine flowers and a diamond pin, a gift of the groom.
As the party neared the altar, the minister, accompanied by the groom and best man, Mr. E. N. Staples of Sioux Falls, advanced from another door, meeting the bride and her retinue in from of the flower-laden pulpit.
The music ceased, and the minister, in a voice clear and distinct, recited the beautiful marriage service, pronounced the couple husband and wife, and asked God's blessing upon the union. The organ again took up the merry note, the party re-formed, bride and groom, bride's father and mother, best man and bride's maid, ushers and minister, again marched down the spacious aisle, into the anteroom and the ceremony was over.
At the home of the bride after the ceremony a reception was held for the immediate friends. The time was spent in congratulating the happy couple on the step they had taken and in partaking of viands prepared and served by loving friends. Misses Jolley and Lathrop presided over ice cream and coffee, Mary Lathrop, MIss Newton and May Jolley served in the dinning room, and Miss Brdgman and Laura Lathrop served at the bride's table.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox left on the 4 o'clock train for the wedding trip. Their journey took them to Chicago, along Lake Michigan, up the St. Lawrence river, through New York and other eastern states. They will be gone about three weeks, returning to Vermillion for the summer. In the fall they will reside in Sioux Falls.
Never were young people more happily mated. Mr. Fox, a young man of brilliant [. . . missing line . . ] promising future, a writer of merit and an author of note, with sufficient means and large and fashionable acquaintance, is joined in marriage to Miss Lee, one of South Dakota's fairest daughters, a lady with a fine education, many accomplishments, a natural and well trained literary and musical instinct, supplemented by a good family and strengthened by a wholesome supply of common sense and fellow-feeling making her at once a companion and helpmate. As we look at the sky of their wedding future, not one cloud can we discern to cast even a shadow on their usefulness, happiness or prosperity.
Marion L. Fox and Jessamine Lee were divorced on 20 February 1906 in Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota, when she would have been about 31 years old. She filed for divorce alleging non-support. The judge was E. G. Smith. [South Dakota Department of Public Health, Division of Public Statistics].
Marion L. Fox married
Mary Orahood, daughter of
Edward L. Orahood, on 15 March 1906 in Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan. Caveat: This is not definitely sourced.
3,4 Marion L. Fox died on 15 September 1942 in 401 North 13th Street, Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico, at age 76. The Wednesday, 16 September 1942 edition of the Alburquique Journal carried the following obituary on page 10, column 1:
FOX - Mr. Marion L. Fox, age 76, passed away at his home, 401 North Thirteenth Street, early Tuesday evening. He had made his home in this city for the last 32 years, coming from Johnson City, Tenn. He is survived by his wife and one son, Vernon S., who are here, and a son Charles T. in Rolla, Mo. Private services will be held Wednesday morning at Fairview Park Crematory. The family requests that there be no flowers. Strong-Thorne Mortuary, Directors. He was buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico.
5 Marion L. Fox was editor of the Sioux Falls [SD] Daily Press between 1895 and 1904. He was graduated in 1899 in Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Marion L. Fox and
Jessamine Fox appeared on the census of 11 June 1900 in 205 Spring Avenue, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, which lists Marion . Fox, 35, born October 1865 in North Carolina, both parents also born in North Carolina; and his wife Jessamine Fox, 21, born May 1879 [sic, actually 1875] in South Dakota, born parents born in Norway [sic, her mother was born in Rhode Island]. They were roomers in the Richard Woods household.
1 He was an editor in 1900.
1 He was graduated in 1908 in University of Chattanoga, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, a law degree.
Marion L. Fox and
Mary Fox appeared on the census of 1910 in Johnson, Washington County, Tennessee.
4 He lived between 1912 and 1942 in Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico. He was editor of the Alburqurque [NM] Journal. between 1912 and 1920. He was awarded an Honorary LLD degree in 1919 by Tusculum College. In 1920, he obtained a passport for travel to Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama. United States Senator A.A. Jones from New Mexico wrote two letters in support of his passport application.
6 Marion L. Fox and Mary Fox appeared on the census of 1920 in Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico.
3 He was a newspaper editor in 1920.
3 Marion L. Fox and Mary Fox appeared on the census of 1930 in Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico.
7 He was a writer in 1930.
7 Marion L. Fox and Mary Fox appeared on the census of 1940 in 401 North 13th Street, Albuquerque, Bernalilllo County, New Mexico.
8 There is a Marion L. Fox Memorial Park in Alburqurque, New Mexico.