Sources for William L. Fenix, Sr. (1820-1871) and Sarah Sinclair/St. Clair (1824-1871)

 William Lane Fenix was the father of William Lane Fenex.

1843 Marriage Record for William Lane Fenex to Sarah Ann McKinney. 

Married 25 January 1843.

“Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002,” digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1169/images/VRMUSATN1780_054195-00016?pId=1911455 : accessed 5 August 2020), William Fenex and Sarah Sinclair, 20 January 1843, solemnized 25 January 1843.

1850 Census Record for William Lane Fenex and Sarah Ann McKinney: 

William L. Phenix, age 30, male, clergyman C. Baptist, born in Tennessee. Sarah, age 26, female, born in Tennessee. Robert C., age 5, male, born in Tennessee. Thomas L., age 2, male, born in Missouri.

1850 U.S. census, Perry County, Missouri, population schedule, Cape Cinque Hommes, dwelling 290, family 290, William L. Phenix; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4200569_00103?pId=3961134: accessed 20 July 2020).

March 1856 Land Patent Grant

Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records (https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=MO1000__.116&docClass=STA&sid=or3s5o1q.gft : accessed 5 August 2020), entry for Franklin Pierce (warrantee) to William L. Fenix (grantee), Maries County, Missouri, no.25817.

September 1856 Land Patent Grant 

Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records (https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=MO1010__.109&docClass=STA&sid=or3s5o1q.gft: accessed 5 August 2020), entry for Franklin Pierce (warrantee) to William L. Fenix (grantee), Maries County, Missouri, no. 27015.

1860 U.S. census for William and Sarah Fenex

W. L. Ferna, age 34, male, Christ Clergy, born in Tenn.. Sarah, age 36, female, born in Tenn.,Robert, age 15, male, born in Tenn., Thos, age 10, male, born in Missouri, Mary J., age 8, female, born in Missouri, William, age 1 or 6 (it’s hard to read), male, born in Missouri 

 There are a number of errors, which lead me to believe that maybe William or Sarah were not the informants. W. L.'s age is incorrect and is not consistent with either the 1870 or 1850 censuses. Sarah’s age is not correct either. Robert’s age is consistent, but Thomas’s age is not. 

1860 U.S. census, Bates County, Missouri, population schedule,  Mount Pleasant, p. 49 (penned) dwelling 332, family 33w, W.L. Ferna; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4233391_00101?pId=40047203 : accessed 5 August 2020). 

Civil War Volunteer Missouri Militia 

Phenix Taney County Volunteer Missouri Militia, Capt. William L. Fenix, 1865; privately held by Tiffany Wacaser. 

1870 U.S. census

WILLIAM L. FNEX: age 50, male, white, farmer, real estate $10,000, personal estate $1500, born in Kentucky. SARAH: age 46, female, keeping house, born in Tennessee. MARY J.: age 19, female, without occupation, born in Missouri. SARAH M.: age 12, female, attending school, born in Missouri, JOHN C: age 9, male, attending school, born in Missouri. WILLIAM L. JR: age 5, male, at home, born in Missouri. (enumerated on the next page) 

1870 U.S. census, Dallas County, Missouri, population schedule, Buffalo Post Office, p. 22-23 (penned), dwelling 141, family 139, William L. Fnex, Jr. in the household of William L. Fnex; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 July 2020); citing FHL microfilm 552272.

1870 U.S. census, Dallas County, Missouri, population schedule, Buffalo Post Office, p. 22-23 (penned), dwelling 141, family 139, William L. Fnex, Jr. in the household of William L. Fnex; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 July 2020); citing FHL microfilm 552272.

1871 Death Notice of Sarah (Sinclair) Fenex

“Mrs. Fenex, wife of Capt. W. L. Fenex Died Suddenly,” Buffalo (Missouri) Reflex, 21 Jan 1871; digital database, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 July 2020), p. 5.

Find a Grave Entry for William L. Fenex 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 06 August 2020), memorial page for William Lane Fenix (1820–8 May 1871), Find a Grave Memorial no. 120875739, citing Prairie Grove Cemetery, Buffalo, Dallas County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by WRVHS (contributor 46931506) .

1878 Letters of Administration for William L. Fenex's Estate

Dallas County, Missouri, Administrators and Guardians bonds and Letters, Vol B, 1871-1894, p. 199, Letters of Administration to James Southard (1878), for the estate of William L. Fenix, 8 March 1878; digital database, “Missouri, Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988,” Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 22 July 2020); image 110 of 337.