Back in May, I did a post about the old letters and other documents we have that relate to various family members. In it, I referred to a couple of old letters that another researcher had purchased in Arkansas and had given to me (Thank you, Jill!). Those letters (and copy of Fleming's will) started me on a search for descendants of Fleming and Elizabeth (Braden) Hixon. This post is my attempt to sketch out what I know of their orphaned daughter, Bettie and her descendants.
As I said in my bios of Fleming and Elizabeth, Bettie was born in Harper's Ferry (then Virginia; now West Virginia) on 21 January 1836. While she was usually called "Bettie," she was actually named Margaret Elizabeth, apparently for both grandmothers.
On 3 October 1838, Bettie sailed with her parents from Baltimore, Maryland for Florida. Her mother was ill and they hoped the climate in Florida would help her health. Bettie was about 2 1/2 years old.
On 10 October 1838, Bettie's mother, Elizabeth Wright (Braden) Hixon, died aboard the ship they were traveling on. Elizabeth was buried on Stirrup Cay. See my post about her for details.
Bettie and her father, Fleming Hixon, arrived in Florida on 19 October 1838. They were staying at "Clifford" plantation outside Tallahassee where Bettie's Uncle Hector (brother of her mother) was living.
Bettie's father, Fleming, died at Quincy, Florida, on 27 July 1841, of yellow fever. Bettie was 5 years old. In his will, her father had named her uncle, Hector Braden, as Bettie's guardian. Hector was also executor of Fleming's property in Florida. Another of Elizabeth's brothers, Noble S. Braden, was executor of Fleming's property in Virginia.
Noble Braden filed an accounting of Fleming's estate in the court in Loudoun Co., Virginia on 6 February 1844 that listed expenses for clothing and tuition for Bettie. He filed another accounting on 13 July 1846 listing expenses for clothing, dental work, and tuition for Bettie.
On 14 October 1846, Bettie's guardian, Hector W. Braden, died. Bettie was 10 years old.
On 13 June 1848, Noble filed another accounting of Fleming's estate that listed expenses for clothing, tuition, and board for Bettie for 1846 and 1847. A similar filing on 11 June 1850, covered Bettie's clothing, tuition, and board for 1848 and 1849.
In September 1851, Bettie started school at Miss English's boarding school in Georgetown. This, I suspect, was Miss Lydia English's Finishing School for Girls. Bettie was about 15 years old.
On 12 April 1853, Noble filed an accounting of similar expenses for January 1850 to January 1852. This accounting also mentions rental receipts for a house and lot owned by the estate in Waterford, Virginia.
In 1857, Bettie turned 21 and Noble was finished with his guardianship but not done with his duties as executor of Fleming's estate. Accountings were filed in 1857 and in 1860 that detail the estate's income and expenses, including payments to Bettie and her cousin, Elizabeth A. "Lizzie" Dulaney, who was also a beneficiary of Fleming's will.
At some point, Bettie evidently traveled to Indiana. She had relatives there: the family of her uncle Burr Braden. She may also have traveled to Illinois with her cousin, Lizzie Dulaney. Lizzie is known to have been in Jefferson, Indiana (where Burr and his family lived) in 1859. I think it is very likely Bettie was with her. If this is true, then this may have been when she was given her mother's letters to Nancy Jenners. I am speculating here, though.
We do know that on 13 August 1862, Bettie was in New Albany, Floyd Co., Indiana, when she married William H. Fenton.
William H. Fenton was born 8 October 1835 in Jeffersonville, Clark Co., Indiana. He was a son of James Fenton and Mary Bowman.
On 8 July 1863, William was listed as eligible for military service in June 1863 (document dated 8 July 1863) in Jeffersonville, Clark Co., Indiana. He was 24 years old, married, a clerk, born in Indiana. He was a private serving in the 135th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Co. K.
Bettie and William's first child, a son, named Robert Dulaney Fenton, was born in July 1864. Since we know Bettie was close to her cousin, Lizzie Dulaney, it seems likely that is the reason for the middle name. Robert was probably for Bettie's grandfather, Robert Braden.
On 27 August 1866, their second child, daughter Martha Braden Fenton was born. She was usually called "Mattie." William had a sister, Martha, and I suspect Mattie B. was named for her. Her death certificate gives us her middle name: it was "Braden" for Bettie's mother's maiden name.
On 12 November 1869, Bettie's Uncle Noble made his will. In it, he left his gold watch and chain to Bettie's son, Robert D. Fenton. Robert was only 5 years old at the time.
I don't find Bettie or her family on the censuses for 1850, 1860 or 1870.
Apparently by 1872, the family was living in Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Kentucky. We find them there on the 1880 census. The information from the census follows: "W.H. Fentan, married, male, white, age 44, born IN, Clerk in a R.R. shop, father born VA, mother born IN; Bettie Fentan, married female, white, age 44, born VA, keeping house, father born VA, mother born VA; Robert Fentan, son, single, male, age 15, born IN, father born IN, mother born VA; Mattie Fentan, daughter, female, age 13, born IN, at school, father born IN, mother born VA."
A news story in the Elizabethtown section (page 6) of the Louisville Courier-Journal dated 23 December 1883, states that "Mrs. W. H. Fenton, who has been visiting friends and relatives in Louisville, returned home Monday." Bettie was probably visiting with her cousins, Lizzie Dulaney and Woodford Hector Dulaney and his family. Her son, Robert, may have also been in Louisville by this time.
It seems that at some point, Bettie and William moved to Pensacola, Florida. They were there in 1888 and in April 1889, a news item stated that "Mr. W. H. Fenton of Pensacola, Fla. visited his family in Elizabethtown." According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, published 2 June 1889, under the news for Elizabethtown, "Mr. Robert Fenton, of Louisville, spent the early part of the week here with his mother and sister." Interesting to note that his father is not mentioned.
In 1890, son Robert was employed as a traveling salesman by Peaslee, Gaulbert & Co.
On 5 March 1890, Robert married Ruth Brady in Louisville. The following notice appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal on March 6, 1890 (page 6): "A Wedding in Lent. Mr. Robert Dulaney Fenton, a young traveling salesman for Peaslee, Gaulbert & Co., was married last evening to Miss Ruth Braday, by Father White, at the home of the latter's sister, Mrs. Downey, 1014 Fourth avenue. On account of the lenten season the marriage was strictly private, and immediately after the ceremony the young couple started East on a bridal tour. Mr. Fenton is one of the best-known men about town."
Ruth (Brady) Fenton was born in October 1869 in Arkansas. I have not pursued any background on her.
Robert and Ruth moved to Marrilton, Arkansas where their son, Robert Dulaney Fenton, Jr. was born on 17 June 1891.
By 1893, William had returned to Kentucky and was intending to start a drug store. He had, in the past, worked for a railroad.
The 1900 census shows the William and his family back in Elizabethtown: The household included William Fenton, born Oct. 1836 in Indiana, married 37 years; Bettie, wife, born Jan. 1836 in Virginia, married 37 years; Mattie, daughter, born Aug. 1866 in Indiana. Bettie indicated that she had given birth to 2 children and they were both living.
Son, Robert, and his wife, Ruth, and their son Robert, Jr. were living in 1900 on Scott Street in Little Rock, Arkansas.
On 25 February 1901, Bettie's husband, William, died at their home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He was buried in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery.
An unidentified newspaper found in Hardin Co., Kentucky news abstracts dated 15 November 1901 stated that "Mrs. Elizabeth Fenton is very sick and there is little hope of recovery. Robert Fenton of Little Rock, is her only son, arrived yesterday and is at her bedside."
Bettie Hixon Fenton died 19 November 1901 at her home in Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Kentucky. She was 65 years old. She was buried in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
An unknown newspaper found in the Hardin Co. newspaper extracts printed this obituary on 22 November 1901: "Mrs. Elizabeth Fenton, widow of W. H. Fenton, died at her home in Elizabethtown on Wednesday. Was 67 years old. She was born at Harper's Ferry, Va. Raised in Loudon Co., Va. Married 39 years ago. Her husband died last February. Survivied by 2 children, Robert Fenton of Little Rock, Ark., and Miss Mattie of Elizabethtown. Burial in Elizabethtown City Cemetery."
Bettie and William's son, Robert Dulaney Fenton, is found on the 1910 census in Little Rock, Arkansas. The family was listed as lodgers. Robert was 45, married 20 years; Ruth was 37, mother of one child; Robert Jr. was 19 and single.
Martha Braden "Mattie" Fenton died 5 September 1912 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She never married. Cause of death was breast cancer. She was 46 years old. She is buried in Elizabethtown City Cemetery. I have not found an obituary.
On 25 May 1917, Robert Dulaney Fenton, Jr. registered for the draft. He was single and living in Little Rock.
The 1920 census shows the family still in Little Rock. They were living in an apartment at 215 E. Capital. The household consisted of R. D. Fenton, age 55; Ruthe, wife, age 49; and Robert D., son, age 27.
The 1930 census lists them on East Fifth in Little Rock. The household consisted of Robert D. Fenton, Sr., 63, age at marriage 25, born Kentucky, father born Indiana, mother born Virginia; Ruth Fenton, wife, 54, age at marriage 18, born Arkansas, parents born Arkansas; Robert D. Jr., son, 36, single, born Arkansas.
Sometime between the 1930 census and about 1934, Robert Jr. married Betty C. (surname unknown). Betty C. was born about 1911 in Oklahoma.
About 1934, a daughter was born to Betty C. and Robert Jr. Since she could possibly still be living, I will not give more information on her.
On 27 March 1936, Ruth (Brady) Fenton died. I have not found her burial or an obituary.
The 1940 census shows Robert Sr. living with the family of his son, Robert Jr. on 1523 Broadway in Little Rock. The household consisted of Robert D. Fenton, Jr., 48, born Arkansas; Betty C., wife, 29, born Arkansas; a daughter, 6, born Arkansas; and R. D. Fenton, father, 72, born Kentucky. The family was living in the same house in 1935. This is the last reference I have found to Robert Dulaney Fenton, Sr. I have not found his death, obituary, or grave.
In the 1940s, Robert Jr. worked for Citizens Loan and Investment in Little Rock. He died in April 1965. I have not found his burial place or an obituary.
I have not found any more information on Robert Jr.'s wife, Betty C., nor do I have more information on their daughter or whether they had any other children.
So, it is clear now how the letter written by Fleming Hixon in 1838 in Florida describing the death of his wife, Elizabeth, made its journey to Arkansas. My friend who found the letter can't remember the name of the person whose sale it was where she bought that letter and saw the others. We don't know if the sale was due to the death of Robert and Betty's daughter, but I suspect it was.
I would love to find those letters! But I suspect they are gone.
Here is an outline of the family:
Fleming Wilson Patterson1
Hixson, b. after 1800 VA, d. 27 Jul 1841 Quincy, FL
+Elizabeth Wright1 Braden, b. 16 Dec 1813 VA, m. 11 Sep 1834 Baltimore, MD, d. 10 Oct 1838
└── Margaret Elizabeth2 Hixson, b. 21 Jan 1836
Harper's
Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), d. 19
Nov 1901 Elizabethtown, KY
+William H.2 Fenton, b. 8 Oct 1835 Jeffersonville, IN, m. 13 Aug 1862 New Albany, IN, d. 25 Feb 1901 Elizabethtown, KY
├── Robert Dulaney3 Fenton, b. Jul 1864 Indiana or Kentucky
│
+Ruth3 Brady, b. Oct 1869 AR, m. 5 Mar 1890 Louisville, KY, d. 27 Mar 1936 AR
│
└── Robert Dulaney4 Fenton Jr, b. 17 Jun 1891 Marrilton, AR, d. Apr 1965
│ +Betty C.4
(--?--)
│ └── daughter may be still living
└── Martha "Mattie"
Braden3 Fenton, b. 27 Aug 1866 IN, d. 5 Sept 1912
Mysteries:
I have not been able to find Bettie or her family on these censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870.
I have not found a photo of Bettie or William.
When did Robert Dulaney Fenton die? Where is he buried? I have not found an obituary.
Where is Ruth (Brady) Fenton buried? I have not found an obituary.
I have not found photos of Robert or Ruth.
I have not found an obituary of Martha B. "Mattie" Fenton.
I have not found a photo of Mattie.
and the biggest mystery: Where are the rest of the letters?
Thanks Sue for the information on Fleming, his wife and his daughter Betty. I would have never known what happened to my 1st cousin 6 X removed and his family.
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