Box Family Papers, 1857-1864
William Irby Box (b. ca. 1839) was a shoemaker from Simpson’s Mill, Laurens District, South Carolina. He married Margret Culbertson (b. ca. 1841) on Christmas Day 1859. At the time of the 1860 Census, William and Margret were living in the household of William’s parents, Joseph and Mary Box. William and Margaret Box has two children, Rachel Lueller Box (September 22, 1860 – July 31, 1863) and William Irby Box, Jr. (b. November 8, 1862). William Box enlisted as a private in Co. C, 3rd South Carolina Infantry Battalion (Lauren’s) (James’) on April 1, 1862. His name is listed as William J. Box in his service records. William was detailed as a shoemaker in Richmond from November 1862 through June 1864. In July 1864 he was admitted to a Richmond hospital and was reported to have deserted from there on August 4. This may be an error, since he was again making shoes from September through December 1864. William appears to have died in 1865, and his wife remarried to Joel W. Moore. William's parents were still living in Laurens in 1870.