John Fox Sr. is founding father of the Fox family in Palestine, Crawford Co. Illinois.His birth was recorded at Racoon and Penn's Neck Swedish Lutheran church (although it was common for many Swedish Lutherans to later become Methodist)
Mary L. Veneman (Vennaman) came from one of the oldest Swedish colonies in America: Swedesboro in Gloucester Co, New Jersey - which is just north of Salem and across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. (She was called Polly by her Veneman relatives)

It is presumed that John was a farmer until entering the ministry in 1809 - joining the ranks of traveling preachers or circuit riders. He entered the Methodist ministry when he was 34 years old. For 7 years he served stations from Burlington, north of Philadelphia, on down to Salem and then 2 years across the River at Bristol and Snow Hill in Pennsylvania - until the family moved to Illinois Territory in 1818.

John and Mary brought their family to the wilderness of the Wabash country in 1818, the same year that Illinois Territory became a state and Palestine was plotted and laid out as a village. He entered the one half section of land in what is now Montgomery Township in Crawford Co. The north and south boundries of this property were the present roads going east and west from the crossroads, north and south of Wesley Chapel (now Grace Methodist church).

John left the ministry for 9 years to clear out forest trees and develop the farm. The early settlers had to live off the land. The family made their home in a log cabin about 1/2 mile west of what is now Wesley Chapel Cemetary. They picked a spot near a big spring to have a water supply close to the cabin.The first camp meetings in the area were held near here and the area came to be known as Camp Spring.

Rev. John Fox was one of the earliest Methodist ministers of Crawford County. He labored 30 years as a clergyman. He was a very energetic worker. The Methodist Episcipal Church is the oldest religious organization in Palestine, Illinois. Most of it's original members were from Wesley Chapel. Rev.Fox and old Father McCord were the early preachers and the church was organized about 1828-1829. The Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is among the oldest in Crawford County dating back to it's organization in 1825.

In the early 1840's Fox deeded 3 acres of land along the State line for a church to be built and a cemetery. His wife Mary had died in late June and was the first person buried there.

He is described as "a nice man and a good singer" He was a rigid disciplinarian - neat in person and attire - correct in his preaching - diligent in his pastoral visitation - strict in administration of discipline and powerful in prayer - his labors never failing to result in the salvation of souls. He died in holy triumph. The last words he spoke were, "Jesus, Jesus"

His tombstone reads:
Here lies the remains of
Rev. John Fox
A minister of the Methodist E.P.Church
Who died August 26, 1846
In the 71st year of his age,
In full assurance of a glorious immortality