Between 1840 to 1880, there were two families with the surname "Fable" and/or "Foeble" in Jennings County. It is believed, but not proven, they were related.

The first was that of Johann Phillip Fable. Phillip, as he was called, was born circa 1815 in Germany. In 1837 he emigrated via Havre de Grace, France, for New York City. After spending several months in Ohio, he settled in Jennings Co. He was granted U.S. citizenship in 1844. He married Lucy Ann Payne on 2-16-1840 Jackson Twp., Washington Co. IN, and was granted citizenship in Jennings Co. in 1844. In his later years, Phillip was a lay pastor in the German Methodist Episcopal Church. He died 4-26-1889 in Jennings Co. IN.

The second family was that of Jacob Fable, Sr. He too was born circa 1815 in Germany, but is not believed to have come to the United States until the 1850s. By the time of the 1870 census, he was a widower and his wife's name is unknown. It is possible he brought his children to the U.S. after the death of his wife. Jacob was last known to be living in Vernon, Jennings Co. in 1880. He is found in the census under the spelling "Foebel" (in the 1870 census the "Fable" spelling was used).

I believe Phillip and Jacob may have been brothers.

Here are all the known descendants of these two Fable/ Foeble families:

Fable/Foeble, Albert: son of Jacob Jr. and Catherine (Wetzel) Fable/Foeble; born circa 1870 Jennings Co. IN; lived 1880 Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; fate unknown

Fable/Foeble, Barbara: daughter of Jacob Fable/Foeble Sr.; born circa 1853 Germany; never married; lived 1920 Springfield, Hamilton Co. OH; fate unknown

Fable, Edwin C. Fable: son of Johann Phillip and Lucy Ann (Payne) Fable; born circa 1868 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; married circa 1895 to Grace M.; died post-1938 Topeka, Shawnee Co. KS; fate unknown

Fable, Frank M.: son of Edwin C. and Grace M. Fable; born 1896 Indiana; married to Ruth D.; lived 1930 Glendale, St. Louis Co. MO; fate unknown

Fable/Foeble, Jacob Jr.: son of Jacob Fable/Foeble Sr.; born circa 1846 Germany; married 10-29-1868 Jennings Co. IN to Catherine Wetzel; lived 1880 Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; fate unknown

Fable, John: son of Johann Phillip and Lucy Ann (Payne) Fable; born circa 1846 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; married 8-21-1866 Jennings Co. IN to Ella Whitcomb; died post-1920 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; fate unknown

Fable/Foeble, Katherine: daughter of Jacob Fable/Foeble Sr.; married 6-5-1865 Jennings Co. IN to Powell Ritter; fate unknown

Fable, Margaret (Maggie): daughter of Johann Phillip and Lucy Ann (Payne) Fable; born circa 1852 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; married 10-23-1878 Jennings Co. IN to Frank Beckley; died 8-1-1917 Springfield, Clark Co. OH

Fable/Foeble, Margaret: daughter of Jacob and Fable/Foeble Sr.; married 7-8-1862 Jennings Co. IN to Jacob Grouber; fate unknown

Fable, Marilyn: daughter of Philip C. and Lillian M. Fable; born 1929 Jackson Co. MO; fate unknown

Fable, Mary Jane: daughter of Johann Phillip and Lucy Ann (Payne) Fable; born 1-11-1842 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; married 7-4-1859 North Vernon, Jennings Co. IN to James Marvin Hogshire/Hodshire; died 5-9-1886 Wolcott, White Co. IN

Fable/Foeble, Mary: daughter of Jacob and Fable/Foeble Sr.; born circa 1859 Germany; lived 1880 Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; fate unknown

Fable, Philip C.: son of Edwin C. and Grace M. Fable; born 4-19-1900 Kansas; married to Lillian M.; lived 1930 Blue Twp., Jackson Co. MO; died 10-00-1970 Cape Coral, Lee Co. FL.

Fable/Foeble, Walter: son of Jacob Jr. and Catherine (Wetzel) Fable/Foeble; born circa 1873 Jennings Co. IN; lived 1880 Vernon, Jennings Co. IN; fate unknown

Beckley, Earl: son of Frank and Margaret (Fable) Beckley; born post-1880; fate unknown

Beckley, Ralph: son of Frank and Margaret (Fable) Beckley; born 1883 Ohio?; married? to Inez J.; lived 1930 Bellevue, Huron Co. OH?; died? 5-7-1961? Ohio?
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There are two additional records on the Fable surname in Jennings Co. during this period that are a mystery.

The first is a marriage record dated 7-8-1862 for a Phillip Fable and Louisa Willman. The second is the 1880 census of Center Twp. which has a Mary Fable (born circa 1860 in Indiana, parents both born in Saxony) living in the household of Charles and Julia Willman.

One would assume that the Johann Phillip Fable referenced at the beginning of this message remarried. I have a date of death for his wife of 1-6-1900 in North Vernon, Jennings Co., and assumed (perhaps prematurely) that it was the date of death for Lucy. Now it appears it may be the date of death for Louisa. If it that is the case, then when did Lucy Ann (Payne) Fable die?

Sorting out Lucy and Louisa is obviously complicated by the fact of their names' similarity, but also that both appeared to be born circa 1819 and both had the middle initial "A" (in the 1850 census Phillip's wife is listed as "Lucy A." and in the 1870 census his wife is listed as "Louisa A.").

Furthering complicating this matter is the birth of Phillip's son Edwin circa 1868. Regardless of whether Phillip had one or two marriages, both Lucy and Louisa would have been in their late 40s when Edwin was born. It is therefore unlikely Edwin was born to either women.

Could Edwin actually have been born to Phillip's son John and his wife Ella Whitcomb but given over for some reason to Phillip to be raised as his own? The census records of 1870 and 1880 list Edwin as a son of Phillip, but given the age of Phillip's wife (either Lucy or Louisa) that is probably not the case.

Finally, there is the Mary Fable born circa 1860 living in Charles Willman's household in 1880. Since the Mary Fable/ Foeble who was the daughter of Jacob Fable/Faeble is living with her father in 1880, who is this other Mary Fable? Clearly finding two separate instance where the Fable and Willman names intersect indicate some sort of relationship.

I would welcome any additional information on any of these individuals, or any information that clears of some of these mysteries.