Sarah Jane Fox was born in Clay County, Indiana, January 12, 1840 and died April 19, 1927, aged 87 years, 3 months and 7 days. She is survived by 12 living children, 101 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. One son, 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren have died. The living children are Chas. H., Payson, Okla.; Geo. W. and J. P., Glencoe; Clara E. Wilson, Morrill, Neb; Van D., Sadie Waite and Jacob E., Glencoe; W. M., Stillwater; I.J., Hydro; Eva A. Wickham, Salem, Neb.; Della J. Purscell, Stillwater and Peter C. Glencoe. John W., the second son died May 5, 1925. Her husband Isaac T. Hesser, died April 20, 1906, at the age of 69. She came west with her kindred in 1849 during the gold rush in California, her grandfather, Geo. W. Wills, being the captain of a band of 100 emigrants to Oregon Country. She, with her parents, stopped in Iowa, then an outpost of civilization, where in 1856, she met and married Isaac T. Hesser. Taking their few belongings they journeyed on horseback further west, living in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, where her sons, J. P., Van D, John W. and W.M., had previously secured claims in the Cherokee Strip. They settled near Ingalls and bought a deeded farm as they had used their homestead rights. In 1891, the children wishing them to be closer, persuaded father and mother to sell their farm and buy in Henry Township which farm they owned until their death. She was the oldest of sixteen children, three of whom are living; Paul Fox, Clayton, N.M.; Katie Tyler, Des Moines, Iowa; and Elizabeth Darling, Stillwater, Okla. At the age of 19, she and her husband became Christians and through her entire life, she was a faithful worker for her master, Jesus Christ, assisting her husband who was a pioneer Oklahoma Minister in the Christian Church. "Grandma" as every called her, styled herself "The Peace Maker and Chimney Corner Preacher." Her faith grew stronger as she saw her life nearing the end and, though many years suffering from paralysis, she never heard to complain. During her last years she often said she would not care to live her life over. She had done the best she could and was ready to go. The change was all she had to make. Her greatest wish was that all might hear the story of the cross. She was a life member of the Oklahoma Missionary Society and often contributed of her means that the gospel might be preached to those who has not heard it. She had the satisfaction of seeing her children obey the call of the Savior and all her grandchildren who lived near and came under her influence became Christians. "Mother is gone, we will not forget her, tho her face we cannot see, she is happy with the Savior, there we some time hope to be." P.C.H.
The Glencoe Mirror, Glencoe, Oklahoma, 29 Apr 1927, Friday