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Joanna Painter Fox was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, on 24 September 1838, the daughter of James C. Fox and his wife Catherine Bessonett. James was a brickmason who moved his family to Natchez, Mississippi when Joanna was a baby. Three of Catherine's brothers moved with them. The Bessonetts were Huguenots who were in Pennsylvania very early.
There is a reference which indicates Joanna attended a convent school. When the War Between the States broke out, she and two other young ladies from Natchez left to become nurses. The nurses moved around to where the need was and Joanna is thought to have served in hospitals in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Near the end of the War, she was matron of Wayside Hospital near Meridian, Mississipp --and that is where she met George Daniel Waddill, stationed there as Hospital Steward. He was a druggist and his knowledge was valuable.
Dan Waddill's family which had come to Wilkinson County, Mississippi and the Felicianas in Louisiana from Darlington District, South Carolina, about 1807. His father, Abel, was a prominent man in Baton Rouge --a school teacher, one of the founders of First Methodist Church, and twice magistrate, the forerunner of Mayor.
Joanna is described by a grandson as being tall, probably 5'8", brunette, thin, with a thin face and pointed nose; she was industrious, intelligent, smart, and hard-working.
She and Dan were married in Lauderdale, Mississippi (near Cornith) on 26 September 1864 with only her brother Billy (William H. H. Fox) of her family in attendance.
Billy Fox was a member of the Natchez Rifles and at some point during the war, Joanna protected his regimental flag from capture by wearing it as a petticoat. The remnants of this green and white flag were removed to the Department of Archives and History in Jackson, Mississippi in 1977 by Billy's daughters. A young lady from Natchez is said to have donated her silk dresses to make it.
Dan Waddill signed his parole at Meridian, Mississippi on 11 May 1865. His daughter Catherine Loretta was born on 26 Jun 1865 at the home of G. M. Bessonett near Brookhaven, Mississippi. Known as Kate, she died 10 Nov 1866.
Dan ran his own drugstore after the war on Main Street, Baton Rouge and his family lived about a block away at 710 Main.
Joanna and Dan's other children were Benjamin Fox Waddill b 1867; Hugh born 1869, Sylvania Helen born 1873; Laura Leona born 1875; George Daniel b 1877, and William Robert born 1880. They raised at least four other children.
In addition to raising her family, Joanna was active in the Confederate Memorial Association that preceded the organization of the UDC ®. Meanwhile, it was not uncommon for country kin visiting Baton Rouge to drop in for the mid-day meal.
Joanna died on 3 January 1899, aged 61. On 8 April 1899, Joanna Waddill Chapter, UDC ® was chartered. Dan survived until 21 May 1904. Both are buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge.
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