I received a message from a gentleman in Philadelphia asking about the architect Franz Carl Koenig and the man he was living with in 1910, George Fox. Both men were listed as 42 and single and living in a small house on Parkside Ave along with Franz's brother Ferdinand (a sculptor) and his wife Nina. It was already known that Franz designed intricate facades for theaters and George was listed as an illustrator. Although the evidence is slight, I can see the merit in the theory - two artists in their 40s living together and still single. So I'm creating this page to find out who "George Fox" was.
George Bladen Fox was born October 17, 1863 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania to William Fox (1820-1884) and Catherine George Fox (1829-1904). By 1888 George is working as an interior designer for John Bromley & Sons in Philadelphia and filed several patents on rug patterns that he had designed. His designs are very Edwardian, elegant but masculine and highly commercial - he was very fashion forward for his time. In 1889 he applies for a passport and gives his occupation as "Designer" and in 1891 he is found on a ship manifest returning from Europe on a 1st Class ticket with five pieces of luggage. He seems to have been at least somewhat well off. In 1910 he is found living in a relatively small house on Parkside Ave with the architectural artist Franz Carl Koenig and Koenig's brother and sister-in-law, Ferdinand and Annette Koenig. A year later Ferdinand and Annette have moved out but George is still living with Franz. In 1919 George goes traveling again, this time to the West Indies, British New Guinea and Trinidad for recreation and study - he is traveling alone. Cemetery records show that he died July 21, 1925 in Philadelphia and was buried with his parents at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Pottsville along with a sister Bertha who died in infancy. He had at least one older brother, Joseph C. Fox, also of Philadelphia.
Documentation
Census Records
April 15, 1910 - 4912 Parkside Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| Name | Description | Born | Immigration | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franz C. Koenig | white male 42, single | Germany | 1885, naturalized | architect in general architecture |
| George Fox | white male 42, single | Pennsylvania | - | artist - illustrative art |
| Ferdinand Koenig | white male 46, married 5 years | Germany | 1908, alien | sculptor in general sculpture |
| Nina Koenig | white female 35, no children | Bulgaria | 1908, alien | - |
January 12, 1920 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
George B. Fox: white male age 54, single, living alone, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Wales, an artist with a studio.
City Directories
Philadelphia City Directories
1908: Fox, George B., salesman, h 907 N 5th (no George listed as artist or on Parkside)
1908: Koenig, Franz C. (Phila Decorative Contractors), h4912 Parkside av
1911: Fox, George B. artist h 4912 Parkside av
1911: Koenig, Franz C. architect 4912 Parkside av
Patents
Design for a Rug - January 10, 1888
George B. Fox, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Assignor to John Bromley & Sons, of same place.
DESIGN FOR A RUG
Specification forming part of Design No. 18,011, dated January 10, 1888 - Application filed October 22, 1887. Serial No. 253,151. Term of patent 3 1/2 years.
To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, George B. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and produced a new and original Design for a Rug, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying photographic print, forming a part thereof, which conveys to any one skilled in the art of rug-weaving a clear understanding of the same, and is sufficient to enable such person to use my invention.
What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is - The design for a rug, consisting of the ornamentations shown in the photographic print accompanying this specification. GEO. B. FOX
Witnesses: John Shinn, Albert Weiss
Design for a Rug - January 8, 1889
George B. Fox, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Assignor to John Bromley & Sons, of same place.
DESIGN FOR A RUG
Specification forming part of Design [A is 18,843; B is 18,844; C is 18,845; D is 18,846; E is 18,847; F is 18,848], dated January 8, 1889 - Application filed December 17, 1888. Serial No. 293,918. Term of patent 3 1/2 years.
To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, George B. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and produced a new and original Design for a Rug, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying photographic print, forming a part thereof, which conveys to any one skilled in the art of rug-weaving a clear understanding of the same, and is sufficient to enable such person to use my invention.
What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is - The design for a rug, consisting of the ornamentations shown in the photographic print accompanying this specification. GEO. B. FOX
Witnesses: John Shinn, John Dolman Jr.
Travel Documentation
Passport Application - July 31, 1889
Name: George Bladen Fox
Occupation: Designer
Description: age 26, 5'6", high forehead, blue eyes, straight nose, medium mouth, medium chin, light hair, fair complexion, narrow face.
Address: 1516 Willington Street, Philadelphia
Identificatoin: by Joseph C. Fox, 1516 Willington Street, Philadelphia
SS Obdam: from Boulogne to New York City, arrival Dec 28, 1891
1st Class Tickets
George Bladen Fox, age 26, artist, home in Philadelphia, with 5 pieces of luggage
Passport Application - December 17, 1919
Name: George B. Fox
Born: Pottsville, Pennsylvania on October 7, 1863, son of William Fox, deceased
Residence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: artist
Travel: to the West Indies, British Guiana and Trinidad for recreation and study
Description: 56 years old, 5'6", high forehead, blue eyes, straight nose, regular mouth, round chin, grey hair, fair complexion, oval face
Identification: Charles B. Smith, "editor", of 18 N. 50th St, Philadelphia testified that he had known George for 20 years.Notes: Passport to be sent to The Philadelphia Sketch Club at 235 S. Camac St, Philadelphia. Photo above is from this passport application.
Notarized Statement: Joseph C. Fox being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that he is a Native citizen of the United States; that he is an older brother of George B. Fox; that the said George B. Fox was born at Pottsville, Pennsylvania on the 17th day of October, 1863. Sworn and Subscribed to before me this Eighteenth of December, A. D. 1919 - James H. Avery, Notary Public.
SS Chingnecto: from Denemara July 30, 1920 to St. John, New Brunswick Aug 16, 1920
George Bladen Fox, 57, single, address 37th St and 47th St, Philadelphia
Vital Records
Presbyterian Cemetery in Pottsville, Pennslvania
| Name | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|
| George Bladen Fox | October 17, 1863 | July 21, 1925 |
| William Fox | March 31, 1820 | September 3 1884 |
| Catherine George Fox | August 7, 1829 | April 19, 1904 |
| Bertha Fox | February 16, 1868 | May 11, 1869 |
| Elizabeth Fox | May 20, 1799 | November 16, 1877 |
