You don't know Jack!

Who was Jack Fox really?

According to my genealogy Jack Fox was born abt 1920 in Nebraska (not sure where that info came from but its perpetuated all over the internet) BUT his obituary, headstone, and wife say he was born in 1911. Perhaps you just got his date wrong you say? Well, ya, except there is a Clinton Edward Fox on the Census's that has Jacks birth year and no mention of Jack....So is Jack also "Clinton Edward Fox"? Why did he change his name and when?

While we may never know the why of it, I have found compelling evidence that "Jack" is indeed Clinton Edward. In the 1930 Census there is a Clinton E. married to Alice M. living exactly where Alice says they were during that and whose parents birthplaces, while not an exact match, are close enough given the wandering nature of Jacks father Charles Fox. In the 1940 Census we have a Jack and Alice Fox living in Oregon which leaves me to believe that Jack changed his name somewhere between Colorado and 1940 Oregon. The children listed in both census match as well.

I can imagine using a nickname or even a different name if you hate your given name but what would compel a person to so completely give up their given name that it isn't even on your headstone?