James Severson Truax was born the son of Isaac and Susannah ( Severson ) Truax on September 22, 1811 near Smyrna, Delaware. He married Mary Patterson on August 11, 1839 in Delaware. She was born the daughter of Samuel Patterson and Ann ( Stout ) Patterson in Delaware on May 9, 1819.

They first show up in the 1850 Federal Census ( recorded: August 1, 1850 ) residing on a farm in Duck Creek Hundred, near Smyrna, Delaware. James is noted as a 38 year old " farmer " and his wife Mary is noted as a 30 year old housekeeper raising their " 6 " oldest children: John ( Age 10 ) ~ Isaac ( Age 9 ) ~ Susanna ( Age 6 ) ~ James ( Age 4 ) ~ Samuel ( Age 3 ) and Benjamin ( Age 1 ) .

Also residing with them in 1850 were " William Risden " ( Age 16 ~ black farm laborer ) and " Job Edwards " ( Age 12 ).

In the 1860 Federal Census ( recorded: July 3, 1860 ) they are still residing on a farm in Duck Creek Hundred, near Smyrna, Delaware. James is noted as a 49 year old " farmer " and his wife Mary is noted as a 40 year old housekeeper and all " 11 " of their children are residing with them: John ( Age 20 ~ noted as working on the farm ) ~ Isaac ( Age 18 ~ noted as working on the farm ) ) ~ Susanna ( Age 16 ) ~ James ( Age 14 ) ~ Samuel ( Age 13 ) ~ Benjamin Franklin ( Age 12 ) ~ Mary ( Age 9 ) ~ William ( Age 7 ) ~ Robert ( Age 5 ) ~ Sarah ( Age 1 ) and Lavina ( Age 4 months ).

Also residing with them in 1860 were " Nancy Mansfield " ( Age 65 ), " Lydia Nickerson " ( Age 13 ~ black ) and " Sarah Butcher " ( Age 7 ~ black ).

" Tragedy " stuck the family when on August 4, 1864 five year old Sarah " Lizzie " E. Truax passed away. She was interred in the Glenwood Cemetery, Smyrna, Delaware.

In the 1870 Federal Census ( recorded: June 15, 1870 ) they are still residing on a farm in Duck Creek Hundred, near Smyrna, Delaware. James is noted as a 58 year old " farmer " and his wife Mary is noted as a 47 year old housekeeper and " 5 " of their children are still residing with them: Benjamin Franklin ( Age 21 ) ~ Mary ( Age 18 ) ~ William ( Age 16 ) ~ Robert ( Age 14 ) ~ and Lavina ( Age 10 ) .

Also residing with them in 1870 were " Nancy Mansfield " ( Age 70 ), " Henry Postles " ( Age 16 ~ black farm laborer ), " Edward Mount " ( Age 10 ), " Catharine Kelly " ( Age 25 ~ black domestic servant ) and " Annie Kelly " ( Age 1 month ~ black ).

In the 1880 Federal Census ( recorded: June 15, 1880 ) they are still residing on a farm in Duck Creek Hundred, near Smyrna, Delaware. James is shown as a 70 year old " farmer " and his wife Mary is noted as a 60 year old housekeeper and " 2 " of their children are still residing with them: Robert ( Age 25 ~ works on farm ) and Lavina ( Age 20 ) .

Also residing with them in 1880 is their granddaugher " Mamie B. Truax " ( Age 2 ) .

James Severson Truax preceded his wife in passing away on May 23, 1887 at the age of 75 years, 8 months, and 1 day and he was interred in the Glenwood Cemetery, Smyrna. His wife Mary (Patterson) Truax passed away on March 13, 1905 at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 4 days and was interred with her husband. They had 11 known children together.